Takahashi Training

Today I had my first class with Shihan, and the man is everything he spouts, and everything he claims to be. His physique, for any age, is phenomenal. His technique is crisp, and his teaching style is extremely technical. He tore my Karate apart and helped me rebuild some of my concepts, in order to adapt stronger power principles. Through detailed observation, he felt as though my upper body was not co-operating with my lower body, and that I need to shorten the width of my stances, in order to gain maximum linear power. I have never had my Karate techniques so carefully observed, he is a true technician. He is very impressive in his striking ability, very fast and powerful, with strong hip strength.

My introduction to Shihan Takahashi was quite a moment. During our warm up, he proceeded to lay down underneath a bench press, and lift the bench, only to let it drop on his stomach repeatedly. He then began doing sit ups, and every few repetitions, would then lift the bench again, and let it slam onto his core. He also began punching 10 inch plate glass, and the wall. He is conditioned to the bone, and after his demonstration of punching power (in which I was the victim), I was sold. His strikes, which were done lightly, made me feel like my lungs were going to collapse.

Many Karateka, of all ranks, come to him in order to have their techniques observed under a watchful eye. He was extremely friendly and very easy to work with. After focusing on kihon waza, he put me through a weight regime that he does regularly, and one that I was barely able to complete myself. Takahashi trains as a fighter would, with strong conditioning and emphasis on the basics. He has taken the Karate he studied and focused on providing maximum power to every movement, which requires a little more hip than I am normally used to in Karate. I always thought my Karate was powerful, and while it is, he gave me many points of improvement, particularly in regards to hip work and foot work. He also gave me some excellent advice on yoko geri kekomi and keage.

Takahashi comes straight out of the movies. His demeanor, his skill level, his training...it is quite remarkable. We ended the session with a brief discussion on Japanese cinema and some DVDs I could lend him. I can only hope I am in his kind of shape at his age, with the same sense of fire and passion about Karate.