Sensei Mai Shiina conducted training sessions at JKA affiliated dojo(s) in three Canadian provinces: Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick during the period of October 21, 2011 to November 14, 2011. All her training sessions were in the presence of Sensei Minoru Saeki, Chief Instructor of CJKF. These sessions were well attended and were very well received by participants of all ages and belt levels.

In particular, Sensei Shiina’s training at Kio Karate Club in Saint-John, New Brunswick was reported and featured on local newspaper, the Telegraph-Journal on November 8, 2011.  The full article titled “Karate Can Be a Way of Life” on Sensei Shiina’s visit can be found online with this link: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1454025

Sensei Shiina conducted multiple back to back training sessions at Ottawa JKA dojo in the province of Ontario for both youth classes and adult classes. Her high-energy and hands-on teaching kept the students engaged throughout the training session.

The class usually started with a warm-up by a senior student. Sensei then built up the training with individual kihon with focus on one technique such as kizami-zuki then increased the pace and intensity with group work or in pair with attention on timing and correct posture. These drills on kihon techniques led to training on a variety of related kumite drills such as chasing opponent with fast-paced consecutive attacks using kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki combination or sambon zuki.

Sensei Shiina demonstrated high level of athleticism and a thorough understanding of body dynamics. She paid attention to individual students as she walked around the class correcting and demonstrating the proper techniques in order to achieve optimal effectiveness. For example, in the consecutive kizami-zuki drill, Sensei demonstrated the importance of quickly bringing the back leg and placing the back foot next to the front foot in order to generate power for the next kizami-zuki.

Sensei Shiina related well with young students. She was approachable but also maintained the required authority in the dojo. Sensei stressed the distinction between dojo training environment and the schoolyard, especially the required mental attention and proper learning attitude involved in Karate training. It was a treat to have such high caliber instructor from JKA honbu dojo to visit Canada. We look forward to more visits from Sensei Mai Shiina and other instructors from Japan. Oss.