Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West

The virtue of commitment

my-admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:30:08 +0000

Often it’s a difficult choice, training should be hard and with a sacrifice to commit to a certain path. ‘Man who chases two Rabbits ends up with none! ...

The post The virtue of commitment appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Thoughts on being a Karate-ka from a Karate-ka

Ash Hawkes — Sat, 02 May 2020 11:38:34 +0000

Following the usual ‘shenanigans’ this week ended on something that provoked some thought. I’ll share that here. The Pandemic has made us all think and treat life differently, act differently and train differently. But what difference has it made to our training? I have always said that the shared physical experience of the training in the Dojo is not enough to develop at the given rate. I have always said that Students should practice at home between sessions in the Dojo. Haven’t I? It’s clear that although this time has been difficult for us all, some have still improved in their Karate, some have found new problems, some have worked on a different aspect of their physical and mental self and some have fulfilled a certain prophecy and some have proved a certain prophecy true. Karate is many things to many people. That’s fine. As my wife and Son are always pointing out to me “not everyone lives and breathes Karate like you”. That’s a perception, but is it the truth? That’s the trouble with perception and interpretation. I’m finding this out whilst trying to understand and apply the new Coronavirus Legislation! So I was reminded by a Student and […]

The post Thoughts on being a Karate-ka from a Karate-ka appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

COVID-19 Fund Raiser

Ash Hawkes — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 14:05:53 +0000

These are unprecedented times, we’ve heard that a few times this year! It is true though and at times like these we need to think of others. We need to think of others all the time anyway, not just during a Pandemic. It’s the Karate way. All the restrictions in place are there to help stop the spread of the Virus and protect the NHS together with other front line services. You personally may be ok but you may affect someone else or require access to the already stretched Emergency Services. But you’ve no doubt heard all this from other media sources. We are grateful for our members loyalty during this very difficult time and therefore we are offering through Private media means and to only our Chi Rei Kai Members, online Karate resources and one to one Video Consultation. This is being received very well indeed and enables the progress of their development through a designated Instructor. Being a Student of Karate means so much more than learning physical movement. It’s an attitude it’s a demeanor, it’s being a certain way, it’s a discipline. It’s also a very tall order ! At Chi Rei Kai Karate we have decided […]

The post COVID-19 Fund Raiser appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Wax on Wax off

my-admin — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 08:41:10 +0000

Recently I was teaching in one of our Dojos. It was a wide range of Students from Beginners to Sandan. Ido Kihon was the original theme and in particular one block from our syllabus that was used in various combinations and increasing in complexity as the grades increased. The Beginners tried to get their head and body around just about everything they were asked to do. Finding it difficult to perform the correct route of the technique and by moving into the correct position and employing the right principles. Further up the line the mid range Kyu grades were more proficient but struggled to keep consistency and bring in power through the correct mechanism whilst they performed the technique as the ‘Block’ that they were under the impression that they were practicing. Moving further up the line again and not only were they performing the given block but also combining it with other techniques and different stances. Then higher grade students were trying to be dynamic and powerful whilst starting by moving into the block then switching to other techniques and in a certain order, moving through various stances before they then move off again to repeat on the their […]

The post Wax on Wax off appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Karate ~ A study of movement

my-admin — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 13:05:04 +0000

For Beginners … To teach Karate we need have some understanding deeper than just ‘Harder Faster’. We, as Instructors, must understand that we are to lead by the right example. We are mentors and Students will look up to us. Students will copy us at first and then, as they develop in knowledge and grade so does their Karate develop. Therefore as Instructors we are to be mindful of what examples we are giving our Students. They do what they see without necessarily understanding the complexity of how the movement ultimately ends up or indeed it’s application. As Instructors we need to be mindful that our physical demonstration is appropriate to the audience and must be congruent with the topic of the class. In so doing this we must also Inspire! Let’s take teaching Age Uke as an example. At the same time as becoming familiar with Dojo Etiquette a beginner should first learn the ‘shape’ of the technique. They will learn with Chi Rei Kai Karate from Shizentai (Natural Stance) becoming familiar with the route in terms of how to move the arms. They will learn how to make the last Hikite the new block, the block the new […]

The post Karate ~ A study of movement appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Chi Rei Kai to open new Dojo in Cornwall

my-admin — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 11:59:30 +0000

Following a successful grading test 3rd Dan Karate Instructor Billy Tucker will be opening his own Chi Rei Kai Dojo in Falmouth, Cornwall. Billy Sensei (19) is off to Falmouth University and in his spare time he’s going to continue his Karate journey and teach to the local community in and around Falmouth. Billy Sensei is going to do this under the guidance and auspices of the seniors and executive of Chi Rei Kai Karate. With a 20 year history of teaching in their current area it’s great that the organisation is spreading it’s wings with their 7th Dojo. Once opening times are decided then further notification will be given.

The post Chi Rei Kai to open new Dojo in Cornwall appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Why take up Karate?

my-admin — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:09:40 +0000

It’s a good question right? Why take up Karate? So for example. In Karate you have Kata. Kata are set ‘Patterns’ consisting of particular Karate techniques, Blocks, Punches, Kicks, it’s all there. Some Kata are more complex than others and are all studied according to a syllabus. So here’s the thing…if a Kata is made up of Karate techniques then you have to learn the Techniques! So normally there’s a syllabus that has a bunch of techniques that you should learn in a specific order. Get this…. the first Kata (Heian Shodan) has 21 steps each one a particular Karate Technique (there’s 5 in this Kata) all performed in a particular stance (that’s to do with your Legs, don’t do Leg day? No need now!) So a quick recap…Shotokan Karate Kata there are around 26 of them. The first one… what’s it called? (see, you’re already learning Karate style)…yeah that’s right Heian Shodan and it has 21 steps and 5 techniques in two different stances. To get your 9th Kyu Belt (that’s Orange and pretty much the first one as an Adult or Teen) you have to get this Kata Down. Not perfect but to kind of resemble the correct […]

The post Why take up Karate? appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

A thought on Teaching

my-admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:56:48 +0000

So after teaching Karate for over twenty years I have come to a conclusion. Ok one of many but I want to share this particular one with you. You see, only in the last four years have I been teaching people that I have never met before. Ok I know every beginner that walks into your Dojo to start Karate is a stranger, well mostly, except for the odd friend or family member and we all know how that turns out, right! But I have also had the chance recently to teach experienced Karate ka, of all grades. In the last four years I’ve had some new experiences, what with organisational changes I’ve found myself both travelling away to teach at other Dojo and strangers visiting to train at my Dojo. I find these encounters, well, different. When I say different I thinks that’s ok that it’s different. Financially it’s more rewarding but on a personal level it leaves me feeling something else, something very different. It’s necessary though I guess, to share on all levels, as an Instructor of course I want to share, to spread the ‘Word’ I believe that the whole Student/Sensei relationship is based on much […]

The post A thought on Teaching appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Quality, Quantity or both? Both? Really? Is that even ethical?

my-admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:54:05 +0000

Having taught Karate here in South Devon for 18 years now and having moved away from a very densely populated area where I trained and competed with a well known International Karate Organisation that bears those three letters, I have some thoughts to share. In a way I’m sharing these thoughts not only as a matter of interest for those that are interested but also to counter some opinions and feelings out there on large Karate schools and organisations. Presently here in South Devon we operate 7 Dojos with 5 Instructors from Shodan up to Godan. We have around 140 Students attending these Dojo and we operate a fee structure to accommodate various levels of training occasions. We operate under the name Chi Rei Kai as an Independent organisation. We often hear other Karate-ka (of varying ability) profess how it’s wrong to be a big Dojo and as such they say that quality is compromised over quantity. Even the phrase Mc Dojo has been coined in our direction. Or certainly inferred anyway. It’s worthy of note though that often if not every time these emissions are from Karate-ka that are either aspiring to get just one student of their own […]

The post Quality, Quantity or both? Both? Really? Is that even ethical? appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.

Be a Student or don’t be a Student

my-admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:50:36 +0000

Karate is such a complex study. Not only does it entail learning new physicality but also some mental development.

The post Be a Student or don’t be a Student appeared first on Chi Rei Kai Karate | South West.