Wado-Ryu Benkyo Weekly Updates — 20th December 2025

🥋 1. Saturday Benkyo Class Review – Today’s Training

Great class today, a deep dive into Neiseishi Kata, several run throughs looking at each part and then Kaisetsu of each section. A Kata not part of the standard rotation but still a delight to practice. Plenty of discussion about variations of the kata and adding some context to movements; both karate and jujitsu. Followed by Bassai to get the body and mind working overtime. Several runs through the Kata to get it flowing and the timing as sharp as possible, then Kaisetsu looking at Irimi and kuzushi while maintaining balance and posture, and using the body drop (Shizumi) to break balance while keeping everything connected. As always there was not enough time to get to everything, time always flies on a Saturday morning, but plenty to take away and think about and practice when looking at these amazing Kata.

Saturday sessions will continue through until 2026 — we will be training all Saturdays in December and January except the 17th January 2026. If you would like to attend a Saturday session for the first time, please reply to the email or get in touch to let us know.

🎥 2. This Week’s Long-Format Video

PART 11 — KERI WAZA — MAE GERI — KIHON FUNDAMENTALS

Watch here: https://youtu.be/N7Izfgb97u0

This week we focus on Mae Geri, breaking down the front kick as a Kiage technique rooted in traditional Wado-Ryu principles. We revisit knee mechanics, hip engagement, and safe extension and retraction to improve power, accuracy, and longevity in training. An essential watch for refining one of Wado-Ryu’s most fundamental but misunderstood kicks.

📝 3. Featured Article of the Week

Exploring the Foundations of Pinan Shodan in Wado-Ryu Karate

Pinan Shodan is explored this week as a foundational kata that teaches balance, body movement, and the integration of Jujitsu principles within Wado-Ryu. Roger Vickerman Renshi and Kerry Moore Sensei highlight key lessons in Neko Ashi Dachi, Shuto Uke, maai, and nagasu, showing how fluid movement replaces force. A valuable reminder that even early kata continue to reveal deeper insights as your training matures. See the full article here

📅 4. Upcoming Courses, Events, or Updates

Things you may want to know about:

• The course and events calendar is now live on the website and will be updated regularly — please bookmark it and check back often.
• The May 2026 course dates and location have been confirmed — you can see all the details and book on here.
• Website updates: Wadō-Ryū Benkyō is now fully live, with more content being added regularly — new articles, videos, and announcements are on the way.
• Saturday sessions continue through until 2026 (excluding 17th January). New attendees are very welcome — please get in touch if you’d like to attend.

🧠 5. Wadō-Ryū Principle of the Week

Datsuryoku (脱力) — The Release of Unnecessary Tension

Datsuryoku sits at the heart of Wadō-Ryū. Literally meaning “removal of strength” or the release of unnecessary tension, it is not a single relaxed moment but a continuous action. By removing excess muscular effort, movement remains free, flow uninterrupted, and power able to travel cleanly through the body.

Without Datsuryoku, timing collapses and efficiency disappears. When tension is removed, principles such as dōsa, ryūsui, hadō, shizumu, and omomi are revealed naturally rather than forced. As senior practitioners often describe it: “Nothing is forced, yet nothing is weak.” For a deeper explaination please click here