Submitted by: Dan Popp, Go-Dan (Harrisburg dojo)
Ashcroft, Australia: Four yudansha of the Order of Isshin-Ryu traveled in September to visit Sensei Danny Goding and the OI Australia Dojo. Sensei Diane Ortenzio (Sierra Dojo), Sensei Dan Popp (Harrisburg Dojo), Sensei Adam Knox (West Chester Dojo) and Mr. Robinette (Harrisburg Dojo) enjoyed a week of excellent martial arts training and kata review with our Australian brothers.
Sensei Knox instructed classes in proper breakfall techniques, forward rolls, and close range fighting. A special brown/black belt class was attended by 17 members and focused on kata review whereby each visiting black belt supervised groups of various sizes and provided critique and insights into the first several Isshin-Ryu kata. Sensei Knox followed up the next day with ground fighting drills and demonstrated proper reversal techniques from the mount and also how to escape the guard. He utilized basic drills to reinforce the proper movement of the techniques covered. While he worked with the adults, Sensei Ortenzio worked with the juniors on breakfalls and using ground skills against opponents.
The visiting black belts also conducted an “old style” OI kata clinic where the students formed a circle and each of the visitors provided slow motion performance of Seisan through Wansu kata followed by detailed explanations of the bunkai. The final class, led by Sensei Ortenzio and Mr. Robinette, covered kumite strategy and drills.
During the visit the following Australian yudansha were evaluated: Mr. Andrew Calman, Mr. Michael Langtry, and Mr. Daniel Smith. All three were proudly announced by Sensei Danny Goding as new ni-dans in the Order of Isshin-Ryu.
Special thanks to the Goding family for their generous hospitality, and to Andrew Calman (Ni-dan), Michael Langtry (Ni-dan) and Rae Knapp (San-kyu) for providing transportation and tour guide services. The Order of Isshin-Ryu is alive and well in Australia and getting stronger!
