Northwest Region - Shotokan Karate

An Evening With Sensei Hanlon 

Written by: Michael Ehlinger

After we bow in, we usually start immediately with some basics. Slowly as we are warming up we pay close attention to drills that involve our lower body. Sensei Hanlon emphasizes the pelvis and lower tandem moving as a unit; working with the muscles that control our body. We work on basic drills, as we are moving forward using two to three part movements, as an example, kazami, maegeri, gyakuzuki. Sensei watches us closely and uses his ability to correct us individually. We do drills like this over and over using both sides of our body to try to move as a unit. The beginner student will be able to do these drills and are welcome for the first 30 minutes of class.

Sensei then moves on to more difficult moves. A typical class will have basics, combinations, one on one kumite, and Kata depending on what he thinks is needed for the group. None of us are exempt from his correction. We are all pushed to the limit of our capability. Of course, it is up to each person to train hard. He can’t make us do better.   He can only show the way. He has the ability to demonstrate the correct technique so we can learn by imitating.

One of the things that Sensei Hanlon promotes is self-study. We should not continue to make the same mistakes over and over every time we train. We must correct them. Habits are hard to break, but we should continually try to change for the better with the watchful eye of our Sensei. Sensei Hanlon has the unique gift of knowing how each one of us should change. He can pick out the most important thing that is wrong and tell us how to change it. Like I said though, he can’t make us change. We must study to become better. Many of us continually come to train and do the same mistakes over and over again. Sensei Hanlon tirelessly continues to point out our mistakes, in the hope that we will change. That tells me he is a true teacher; never giving up on his students, but always has hope that they will change and grow into very good Karate-ka.

Good technique and good attitudes are essential in promoting this wonderful art of Shotokan Karate set forth by Sensei Nishiyama and the ones before him.