Newsletter Newsletter 3/2007 I.N.T.A. Technical Seminar

Students and Instructors who participated in the Seminar with Master O’Toole and Master Douglas in Cork

On Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd of September 2007 the I.N.T.A. held a regional blue belt and above, technical seminar at the Gael Scoil in the North Mon, Cork.

To maintain the standard achieved by the I.N.T.A. over the past number of years Master Brendan O’Toole and Master Val Douglas have divided the technical seminars into two categories, i.e. white belt to blue tag and blue belt and above.

The reasoning behind this decision is twofold.

1. The number of student attending the technical seminars has increased dramatically in the last number of years, hence the reason to hold separate regional seminars.
2. By breaking down the students into individual categories, it gives the Masters more time to spend on the specific needs of the different grades, particularly those near to black belt level, as in this case.

The seminar was conducted by Master Brendan O’Toole and Master Val Douglas and was attended by almost 80 students (including almost 40 Black Belts) and instructors representing 24 clubs, schools and academies from all over Ireland.

   
Left: Master Douglas ( center) watches every move; right: Master O’Toole puts the senior student through their paces

The seminar started off with a dynamic warm up by Master Douglas and was followed by a breakdown of patterns, technical movements and application of blocking techniques and strikes explained and demonstrated by Master O’Toole.

Between pattern sessions each student was instructed in the correct procedures of One Step, Two Step and Three Step Sparring and each technique and application was again demonstrated and explained by Master Douglas.

As each grade completed their pattern they joined Master Douglas in the second training area where they were put through a rigorous routine of bag and pad work, self defence and fitness routines. When this was completed the students got an opportunity to create their own combination routines and do a display for the spectators and their fellow students...

Senior grades and club instructors had the opportunity to spend precious time with Master O’Toole to examine and advise in their own patterns, as this guarantees consistency in the teaching of technical content across the vast network of I.N.T.A. clubs around the country. As there are numerous senior grades eligible for promotional gradings this year , it gave the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any uncertainty that may have been in students minds regarding techniques.

The future of the I.N.T.A. with Master O’toole and Master Douglas

To conclude the seminar all the students and instructors went through a class of sparring techniques with Master Douglas, while the senior grade stayed with Master O’Toole and fine tuned their paterns and any other techniques they needed, which was both informative and exhilarating and left everybody on a high.

As the clubs resumed training on Monday and Tuesday following the seminar, talk between students was of the great weekend they had experienced and how they look forward to the next training session with Master O’Toole and Master Douglas.

The seminar was attended by grades ranging from blue belt to 5th Degree black belts from around Ireland showing the high esteem in which Master O’Toole and Master Douglas are held.