It has been 3 weeks since the 'evaluation'-where I learned that I need to work on looseness and lengthening. I would like to thank some of the folks who have worked with me since that time. The day after the evaluation Renshis Chong, Ferri and Bellhouse all paid extra attention to me at the clinics. The following weekend Renshis Hart and Sutherland assisted me at their own clinics. All were encouraging and supportive.
Sensei Brooks has also been very supportive through this period, allowing me to work on my personal goals during class and being her usual positive and encouraging self.
Shihan Womak spent an entire class with me last week offering very helpful and insightful advice. My fellow students have been eagerly offering up their attacks to assist my bunkai timing and ma practice. I wish to thank you all for your support and instruction. I hope that i can do justice to your efforts next week

Ontario Chito Ryu grades black belts ( yudansha ) twice a year, spring and fall.
Prior to each formal grading ( which is overseen by Higashi sensei and a panel of renshis and shihans ), there is a formal 'evaluation'.
Formerly known as as ' the pre-test', this mandatory event is overseen by Renshi R. Ferri and Renshi A. Bellhouse.
They, and a panel of others conduct a formal test of all applicants who wish to be graded. It is a valuable and humbling experience.
After a few hours of waiting for brown belts to run through their entire syllabus it is time for the black belts to be tested.
Nothing is omitted-stances, punches, kicks, blocks, strikes, break-falls, kihons, katas, bunkai, goshin jitsu etc.
I have just returned this spring's 'evaluation'. It was a reasonably small group and so we were out of there in a quick 5 hours.
I confess I did not perform at my best. A combination of sleep deprivation ( just finished a 24 hr shift ),stress and over training led me to make a couple of silly mistakes but it was a valuable learning process.
Mostly, all evaluators agree that i am too tense and tend to shorten my techniques and not demonstrate expansion enough.
They are absolutely right. I do not know what it is about performing in front of these dignitaries that stresses me. I have known them all for decades and they are great folks.
I am by nature and by necessity a pretty calm person. I have delivered 5 babies out of hospital. I have treated gunshot, stabbing, and accident victims for 25 yrs. I can splint bones, stop arterial bleeds, and do cpr on children.  These things are second nature to me, and yet, the gradings cause me stress. Go figure.
I have a month to train myself to relax.  I'll let you know how it goes.

April 29th saw the most recent Ontario Chito Ryu tournament.
All of the usual suspects were present:
Renshis Ferri and Bellhouse presiding and pitching in;
Sensei Debbie Brooks from Burlington Chito Ryu karate Club, and other dojo heads from  New Hamburg, Richmond Hill, Whitby, Pickering etc. were judging and refereeing;
Volunteers ( students, parents etc ) were selling tickets, staffing bbq and score keeping.
Thank you to Randy Cotton and Debbie Park from Burlington Chito Ryu Karate Club for assisting the entire day!
I was acting as the onsite medical care for the tournament. Glad to report there were no significant injuries-a credit to the equipment and the control of the referees and the competitors.
And there were the competitors. 130 children competing in kata, kumite and team kata. There were not as many adults as in previous years, possibly due to the beautiful weather.
I had decided to compete this year, as another way of preparing for my grading. It seemed like a good way to perform kata under some pressure -in front of a large audience. As it turns out, that was a good idea. I managed to place second but more importantly noticed that I must have been very tense during my demonstration, as I struggled to control my breathing at the completion of Sanshiryu. Lesson learned ( i hope ).
Finally, 2 more items. Congratulations to young Alistair Park from our Burlington Club. In his first tournament ever he placed first in kumite and second in kata! He is our first junior student of this most recent group to compete and we could not have been prouder.
Secondly, a large thank you to Bill Moran from the entire Ontario Chito Ryu community. Bill, a Higashi student and crony of mine for almost 30 years is the driving force behind most of our functions. Bill organizes the events, books venues, recruits volunteers, organizes food, drink, rings, mats, helpers, drivers and does anything it takes to complete a successful event-whether it be a tournament, kigami biraki, or other karate related celebration. Bill is always there and always reliable and again, to Bill Moran from the Chito Ryu Community-thanks a million!