International stage with Sensei Pascal Lecourt, 6th dan

Zeisst / Netherlands, 3rd-4th October 2009
Report: André Brockbernd

From 3rd until 4th October 2009 Sensei Pascal Lecourt was for the 5th time teaching at the dojo of the Dokan Karate foundation Zeist. Just like the past 4 seminars this was an inspiring karate stage. To speak with the words of a participant, sensei Pascal Lecourt's trainings will make your karate blood flow more rapidly.

When I started in 1980 with karate, the masters of karate where only Japanese. They were an example for every karate practitioner. They were the karate masters which could perform fast and hard techniques, low stands and they had very fast displacements.

The Japanese masters were an example to many karateka up to in the nineties. But with the progressing of the years the Japanese masters became older and their development stopped, training was always the same routine. Hence I did no longer visiting karate training sessions which were given by Japanese. Except Sensei Kase, he was not only karate master I knew, who continuously worked on self development, but he also helped his students to grow in karate.

Nowadays we have European masters who are at least as good as the old Japanese masters. Last weekend there was such a new master in our dojo. I dare to say that he is even better then some Japanese masters. The interest in European senseis like sensei Lecourt is growing which is reflected in the attendance on stages.

Several regular visitors who know for a long time that these trainings are marvelous joint the stage in Zeist. These trainings are from Kase-Ha-Shotokan-Ryu, a Shotokan-form based on the reality of fighting and the Budo-Etiquette. Sensei Pascal has an open mind for each development. But Sensei Pascal questions all techniques, das it work in reality or not!?

1st Training session - Saturday 3 October 2009

The emphasis of this training was the closed-hand-kihon-techniques. Sensei Kase has developed a kihon in shizentai with closed hands; Jodan Age Uke, Jodan Tate, Jodan Soto Uke, Chudan Soto Uke, Chudan Uchi Uke, Chudan Otoshi Uke, Gedan Barai and Gedan Nagashi Uke. And all these carried out with the same arm. These forms are extremely tiring when you train this not frequently enough. Also Sensei Pascal repeated these techniques with the seminar participants. After that he teaches a kumite-from with four closed hand techniques. The attacker must step with oi tsuki chudan and gyaku tsuki chudan forward, with chudan mai geri followed and jodan gyaku tsuki. The defender stepped reverse with gyaku uchi uke, soto uke, gedan barai and age uke, with (waza) tate chudan followed tsuki as a counter-attack. These basic forms was well practicing by everyone. For the lower kyu graded karateka to gain experience, and for the brown- and black belts an exercise to examine if it masters all well.

Sensei Pascal Lecourt Spirit an Good Harmony

Training Uke with Closed Hands

Cooling down with Sensei Pascal Lecourt

Sensei André Brockbernd - Sensei Pascal Lecourt - Mwrvyn Lew

2nd Training session - Saturday 3 October 2009

The second training session was ment for the higher belts. During the seminar of end of March this year in the Haque, Sensei Pascal showed us a special form of Kankudai. These oyo-form of this kata characterize themselves because all recurrences have been obtained. This kata become shorter because of this and the embusen are also differently. A consequence of this is that the omote and ura kata become mixed. It not only an attack on your motoric memory but also requires your direction feeling. After the Kata, bunkai were practiced. Sensei Pascal left us a very beautiful and effective throw in kosa-dachi. (In Kankudai: the movement after the mai-geri, shuto age uke, gyaku shuto uchi and otoshi uraken.) Sensei Pascal showed us a high feat of karate skill. It was so fast, when you blinked with your eyes it was in fact already beyond.

Kanku Dai - Sensei André Brockbernd

Kankudai - Sensei Pascal Lecourt

Spirit - Speed - Good Harmony Seminar

Group photo Saturday 3-10-2009

3rd Training session - Sunday 4 October 2009

Just like the first training on Saturday this was a training for all grades. Sensei Pascal showed a simple form the Heian Oyo kata. The first combinations of 5 the heians were combined in one kata. Because of its simplicity, everyone could train this with a lot of kime. It was thus a fantastic view to see how the group run the kata with full power. Sensei Pascal made a bunkai for the lower belts, one for the brown belts and one for the black belts. Especially the bunkai for the black belts were realistic. He showed for example, that you can use the kake wake uke from the heian yondan to defend itself against catching to the throat. Also when the throat is already gripped there were possibilities from this kata that to use.

Heian Oyo - Sensei Pascal Lecourt

Oyo Bunkai Heian Oyo - Sensei Pascal Lecourt and Mervyn Lewi

Oyo Bunkai Heian Oyo - Sensei Pascal Lecourt and Mervyn

Oyo Bunkai Heian Oyo - Sensei Pascal Lecourt and Mervyn

4th Training session - Sunday 4 October 2009

In his last session for the brown and black belts, Sensei Pascal spent time on kumite form. A combination of beautiful displacements, open hand and kicking techniques were practiced. All this had to be carried out with maximum speed and maximum spirit. Sensei Pascal Lecourt is not only karateka with an extremely high skill of technique and kime, but he also is a person who observe people as a life art. Not only in karate one must prevent over tension but also in normal living. If you are stretched in daily living it will have effect on your karate. Just like a horse which eyes are partly blocked your surroundings are no longer tot see free.

Group photo Sunday 4-10-2009

Kumite Sensei Pascal Lecourt - Mervyn Lewis

Mokuso Sensei Pascal Lecourt

Ura Mawashi - kumite - Sensei Pascal Lecourt and Mervyn Lewis

It was a weekend with full inspiration, harmony and good spirit. Many karateka went tired and satisfied home. The photographs of this seminar speaks for itself. We planned to obtain Sensei Pascal Lecourt somewhere in 2010 for a whole week to the Netherlands. It was very considered by many as welcome act.

I thank all karateka which have participated to this splendid karate seminar. And those who were not there, you really missed something good!

André Brockbernd
The Dokan Karate Foundation


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