Following this lecture, McCarthy Sensei began to teach one of his two-person routines, this approach was perfect for the mixed seminar. Participants varied from complete novices to seasoned and high ranking karate-ka. Shotokan was predominant; there were two streams of Wado-ryu present and of course Hanshi McCarthy’s Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu practitioners.

Rather than focusing on one kata that some participants would not be familiar with, he taught a two person drill, initiated by a habitual act of physical violence and responded to with simplicity and brutality, while still examining the ‘oyo’ of a myriad of kata.

This ran concurrently with Hanshi McCarthy branching out to answer the many questions that were asked and displaying alternative application practices.

After one of the many informative asides, training resumed with a series of techniques taken from the pinan kata (later renamed to heian) developed by Itosu Ankoh Sensei.  This was warmly received by the predominantly Shotokan based attendees, and it was interesting to see McCarthy Sensei’s interpretation of moves from these kata.  An application for the posture in heian sandan where you stand in kiba dachi stance with your fists resting on your hips and elbows extended; following a takedown this quickly became a leg lock, then a ‘boston crab’ style knee bar and ended in a heel hook, a painful and effective set of techniques directly applicable even if you didn’t know the kata, yet still maintaining the integrity of the kata movement for those who did.

While lunch (including food and hot drinks) had been organised and was waiting for us in another room, not one participant enquired when we would be having it, a testimony to how hanshi McCarthy had captured his audience. It was he who asked the time and, realising that only half an hour remained in the official seminar, attendees could not believe that the four hours had past so quickly.

Following the end of the official seminar Hanshi displayed some of his yamanne ryu bo-jutsu skills with an improvised staff, following that a quick demonstration of okinawan tan-bo with Shibucho Damien Costello, flow drill, attacks and defence and disarms relating them directly back to the fundamental movements of karate.

Spontaneous applause filled the dojo for the next few minutes followed by the obligatory photo shoots, book, document and dvd signing etc. Hanshi McCarthy made time for everyone and left a lasting impression, with all of the attendees asking ‘when will he be back’.

One could only call it a productive and inspirational day of training and we thank him for that.