Workout lead by Hiroko Sensei.
Category: Uncategorized
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A fine work out with Dave leading this evening. We covered all bases, doing kihon, ippon kumite, and running through katas taikioko shodan, heian shodan and some personal kata on our own (I choose heian godan and gion).
I need to practice Gion more often, as I had to work through it fairly slowly to recall each of the techniques in the sequence and made several errors. -
Mori Sensei lead class tonight. After I lead class through a quick warm up, we began with the standard kihon, going through the punches, blocks and kicks. We then ajourned to the upstairs yoga room where we practiced rolls and falls for the remainder of class.
Specifically, we did forward shoulder rolls, side rolls (arms tucked in) and falling onto one side/shoulder with that arm/hand slapping to relieve some of the force, the other arm guarding your face and one leg guarding the groin. -
Class led by Brad. Need to log sooner after class, I forget what exactly we trained in.
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Class with Brad as lead. We worked more on combination techniques, footwork, and gyaku techniques. The night ended with some Heian Godan practice.
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Brad lead class this night. We worked on this months designated training focus; mai te (jab), oi zuki (front lunge punch), and gyaku zuki (reverse punch), all in fudo dachie (fighting stance).
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Dave lead class tonight. We did a lot of kihon, focusing on good hip movement.
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Lots of drilling on attacks and blocks tonight, back and forth across the dojo, performed with shanai. Initially solo, then later on with a partner.
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Tonight Chuck lead class. Kihon, ippon kumite, and kata.
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Bag work night, both with the smaller bag held by a fellow karateka, and Ollie hung the large brown punching bag. We practiced oi zuki and gyaku zuki some, but focused more on kihon geri (kicks).
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Kneeling iai 1 through 8, standing iai 1 through 5 and 7. Fighting techniques 1 through 4.
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A good (small) class tonight lead by Chuck, focusing primarily on technique. Kihon in a circle, then we paired off and worked with partners and bags on our oi zuki and gyaku zuki. Following this we worked on our ma (distancing) in sanbon kumite, using only evasion (no blocks) at approximately half speed, then sped it up allowing push blocks. Finally we ended with full speed ippon kumite.
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An exhausting and good workout tonight. We spent our time doing cutting drills, initially solo with boken, then working with a partners and shanai.
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SKA Rank Test today. There were quite a few non-regulars present. I was awarded my next rank for my training efforts. Having been 4th kyu, I am now 3rd kyu, making me a brown belt in the SKA organization. I am happy and honored that my seniors have seen fit to grant me this rank. In commenting on my new rank, they mentioned that I am now of a rank that I may assist with the instruction. However that also means that I need to ensure my techniques follow the SKA tenents, rather than those of my previous (PCKD) organization. I understand this, and I will train to do this as best I can. To be certain, I will always question and seek the purest, most effective methodology, but at the same time, when in an instructional position with the SKA, I will do my utmost to teach withing the SKA confines.
Regarding teaching on a more general note, I have always been pleased to be in a position to pass on skills and knowledge to others. I look forward to these new opportunities.
I will be editing this with additional notes from the feedback regarding my test once/if I receive the grading sheet.
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Another class with Brad focusing largely on sanbon kumite and two specific movement patterns; (1) back at 45, straight back, perpindicular inside, and (2) outside pass-by, outside pass-by, pre-emptive counter. The first we tried at both chudan and jodan attacks (mid and high, respectively), the second just jodan.
We ended class with a couple times through each of the following kata; Taikyoku Shodan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan, Bassai. -
Class led by Brad. After kihon, we worked on ippon and sanbon kumite until the end of our allotted time.
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Class led by Chuck. We worked on kihon, ippon kumite, sanbon kumite, and finally a bit of kata (three times through testing kata (Heian Godan for myself) and a few times through Taikioko Shodan). The classes have been oriented towards final tweaks before the test in a couple weeks time.
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It is spring break for the colleges, so we had Hiroko Sensei to lead the class tonight. It was a major workout as she drilled us for the upcoming test. Key items that she pointed out I still need to work on are stronger, tighter pull back hand, keeping my forward knee pointed straight ahead while in kokutsu dachi (back stance), and relaxing my shoulders more. I am also aware a few more items; my back heel rising at the end of advancing techniques, keeping my elbows even tighter in on punches, more power and a quicker tabling of mawashi geri (round kick).
Additionally, There are a few kihon items from my PCKD training that she still doesn’t like, including the extent to which I tuck my arm before uchi uke (inside block) and the opening of my cover hand prior to performed age uke (rising block). I’m also quite certain there are some kata differences that will still stand out, too. (Edit: Sensei wrote me to clarify regarding the age uke; the open-handed cover is not considered “bad”, but specifically for SKA kihon, the simplicity of not opening the hand is desirable)
Karate is a life-long journey. Your technique is never perfect, and there is always more to learn. I am looking forward to this test with confidence that I will do my best. -
While at the Civic Center, I decided it was also a good time to touch on my WCoS training. I went through a formal display of my requirements for Red Rope. I have not done this in a while. I was satisfied with my technique, but I had a couple minor mistakes in the order of techniques that, though I realized and correctly quickly, would not be ideal during a test. The correct order should be; Defensive Stance, Basic Cuts, Chop Cuts, Advanced Blocks, Cutting Pattern 1, Cutting Pattern 2, Cutting Pattern 3, My 13 Practiced Moves, Kata Ichi, Kata Ni, Five Traditions, Three Types of Practiced Moves, Refined Strikes.
Additionally, since I have been out of classes, I believe two additional stances have been added directly after Defensive Stance; Warrior Stance and Jodan Stance. I will have to confirm this as I get back into serious training for my next test. -
The regular class was canceled, so I trained on my own at the Civic Center. I went through kneeling iai 1 to 8 and standing iai 1 to 6, plus free fighting techniques 1 and 2.
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Extremely small class tonight with Brad as head instructor. The only students besides myself were a beginner and a low ranking karateka, so they still got the majority of the attention, which was fine in it’s own ways. We did some kihon and then practiced ju ippon kumite. Lastly we went through Basai a few times and Heian Godan a couple times.
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Tonight was all about sparring. We first drilled on head, temple, wrist and waist cuts, initially individually, then with a partner. We then did some machinegun attack drilling where we announced our attack, then advanced and made it, the defender blocking appropriately.
Last our instructor strapped me into his armor and the class got to come at me with any head or temple cut, target unannounced, initially with one attack, then later with two consecutive attacks. My two major observations are;
– I obviously need to work more on my blocks and defensive movement. Both were very sloppy in my opinion.
– I much prefer my Western Circle armor. This more traditional Kendo armor protects the head much less while at the same time nearly immobilizing it. No wonder there’s so much emphasis on square shoulders – you can’t fight any other way in this gear!That said, it was a good class and the experience in the armor was good, over all. I asked our instructor where he buys his gear if I should want to buy my own Kendo armor. He suggested one that he always goes with and said they have an online presence, but I haven’t been able to find it yet. I’ll have to ask him if he has a URL.
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Prior to class, I went through Ju Te and Jion a few times each.
It was a small class tonight, only six students including myself. After a quick stretch, we focused on sparring technique for the night. We started with some technique combination kihon such as shuffle – mai te – gyaku zuki and mai te – gyaku zuki – mai geri, plus a couple others. The class then moved on into partner work, including light ju kumite at half to three quarter speed and short mah technique. However, I opted to sit out on the partner work as my fingers are still tender and my ribs are still painfull from the Saturday WCoS event. In the event there are any minor complications, I’d rather they healed properly. Observing in its self can be a good experience, so I carefully watched my classmates and Chuck (tonights head instructor), watching how they moved and what patterns they relied on. -
Combat Day in Snowy Forested Terrain
It has been a good day. I travelled to Truckee, California for a day of combat in the snow. Though it has been warm, there was yet up to six or so inches of snow on the field, making footing and movement unusual, to say the least. I chose to wear my snowboarding boots for their tread, relatively large surface area, and comfort in snow. This proved to be a wise decision as I heard many comments about cold wet feet from those that had elected to wear their usual leather combat boots. As it was, I found the snow was not an exceptional hinderance, though rapid changes in direction were not feasible.
Our maximum warriors on the field this day numbered nine. There were a total of ten melees, three team scenarios, and I had eight single combat sparring matches. The actual outcomes are transcribed below.
After the main event, I worked with Kaiden Hedge on Cutting Pattern 3, which also will be copied into this journal on the morrow or next day after.
Home now, I count seven bruisings, three on my thighs, one on my ribs, a mark on my forearm, and two mushed fingers. However, nothing is significant import, the worst being a bit of swelling and color on one of the fingers. I expect it all to fade within a few days or so. As I said, it has been a good day.Match Results:
Melee
(9 on 9)Win Loss Kill Notes 1 Gad Taage Leg 2 Taage James Leg Taage Faith Leg Gad Taage Torso 3 Taage Bennet Thorn D/K Taage/Will Head/Leg 4 Hedge Taage Leg 5 Gad Taage Leg 6 David Taage Torso Fallen Warrior 7 Taage Gad Thrust D/K David Head/Thrust 8 Taage ? ? Gad Taage Head *9* Taage Hedge Dagger (Melee Winner) Taage Will Leg Taage Faith Yeild 10 Taage James Leg Tina Taage Torso
1-on-1 Win Loss Kill Notes 1 Taage James Dagger 2 Taage James Thrust 3 Taage James Leg 4 Taage Will Head Modified Lightning 5 Will Taage Head 6 Taage Will Leg 7 Will Taage Torso 8 Taage Will Leg
Scenario Win Loss Kill Type 1 Taage James Barrier Four teams of 2 Gad Taage Head (from behind) “ *2* Taage Will Thrust Two teams of 4 Taage David Leg “ 3 Gad Taage Head Two teams of 4 -
Ollie took us through a quick stretch and then some kihon. We then practiced kick combinations, which was good (and rarely done enough). Some combinations included mai/fumikomi and mai/mawashi/ushiro/yoko kekomi.
We moved to kata next. Tekki Shodan was done several times, then Heian Godan several times.
The last section of class we went over techniques for dealing with an opponent that is armed with a knife or similar weapon. Though this training does not appeal to me, I am always reminded that it is an important aspect of the art. In the long run, however, should you be faced with a situation such as that, your best tactic is to arm yourself, too.
When ever I do defense training for knives, I recall a story that was told to me by my sensei in PCKD. There was a young woman in the dojo that had earned Shodan or Needan rank (first or second black belt rank). One night a man forced his way into her apartment. He had a knife, she had her many years of advanced karate training. He killed her. Every time I think of this story, it gives me shivers, but it is a very important story and I think there is more than one lesson to be learned from it. So though I practice the techniques, I will never attempt to use them in a real situation unless there really is no other alternative.