Once again, after more than 35 years, on November 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th 2018 JKA SPAIN celebrated its annual International Karate JKA Course. This time it was held at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Región de Murcia in Los Alcazares, on the south of Spain by the Mediterranean Sea. This year Japan and Spain celebrate their 150 anniversary of relationships, and we had the opportunity to be among the activities programmed by the organising committee and the honour of receiving a representative from the Japanese Embassy to support our work.

In this occasion we have been honoured, for the first time in Spain, with the presence and instruction of Shuseki Shihan UEKI Masaaki and Sensei SHIMIZU Keisuke invited by our JKA SPAIN Chief Instructor Shihan AOKI Osamu.

The classes started on Friday afternoon with a special course, in which we worked on the basics of kihon. This was a limited class.

On Saturday and Sunday we had 220 students, and we continued with different trainings and teaching. During the first class, Sensei Aoki, who is 70 years old, masterfully explained how to use our body in a rational way, taking advantage of all our potential to be able to improve and develop our karate. On the second class Shihan Ueki taught us and made emphasis on the basics and the pure kihon, a very instructive class. We ended the morning with Sensei Shimizu working on kumite techniques, very active course.

At night we had a very nice dinner with more than 100 students who wanted to share a pleasant evening with the senseis.

On Sunday we did a review on the different examination programs and basic katas. Afterwards there were examination for dan grading and qualification, all the candidates passed their exams.

It was a very intense and productive weekend, we are very thankful and proud that JKA/WF Shuseki Shihan UEKI visited Spain and was pleased with the general level of karate we have in our country. All participants were also very satisfied with the event, once more it has been an occasion to create a nice and convivial atmosphere.

We keep working for next year´s edition and continue spreading karate JKA.

Oss!

Jeanin Sabah
JKA Spain Secretary