Yesterday, senior members of the Bath club took part in this year’s first Central Region training session and kata squad selection with Sensei Frank Brennan. For the uninitiated, these courses are organised by the KUGB Central Region and feature two training sessions. In the first session, open to all grades, Sensei Brennan focused on some basic combinations featuring stepping punches, and a variety of blocks and punches. The focus was on correct form and technique coupled with fast leg movement and kime. Partner work featured blocking and countering jodan punches using kicks (mawashi geri) and elbow strikes (empi uchi). This session’s kata was Heian Shodan. After a short lunch break the Kata Squad selection began. The kata squad is open to brown belts and above (up to 6th Dan) and the selection was based on Sensei’s choice of Heian katas. I am pleased to report that following selection, the members of the club in the photo above (Julian, Rob, Kieran, Dave, Ron and Mark) were successfully chosen to train on the squad for 2013. The squad training yesterday featured three kata – Heian Godan, Jion and Nijushiho. Each kata was minutely dissected by Sensei Brennan with a focus on form, movement, tempo and spirit, in order to improve everyone’s development. A photo of the whole squad can be found here.