Finally got back to karate tonight. Of all the nights to pick, tonight was a “Dave” night. Actually, it was really good, and I was quite pleased to be back. We did a heavy warm up including kihone, then paired off and worked ippon and sanbon kumite the rest of the evening, ending with some machine-gun ippon drilling.
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I made the Saturday class today, lead by Mori Sensei. She asked me to lead warm up, then we bowed in and began directly with partner kihon. Initially the defender just worked on mah (distancing), then later added kihon uke and gyaku zuki. Next was some basic ippon kumite. We then practiced specifically with a forward 90 to the outside with an empi uchi (elbow strike), and also a back 90 to the outside with an elbow locking/breaking technique. For the last of this set, we use a ‘go no sen’ throwing technique, best used against an opponent that make long penatrating oi zuki. The defender lunges forward with the outside leg into the attack, brushing the tsuki to the inside with their own outside hand as the their inside shoulder drives forward through the opponet, putting them off balance. If necessary, the hind leg then sweeps the opponents forward leg and/or the defenders outside hand may be used to grab the opponents hair or back to add leverage.
For the final segment of class, we practiced close-range combat for situations where someone is holding on to you and/or you are in confined spaces. It was all about the elbows and knees and such.
After class I demonstrated Junro Shodan to Mori Sensei and Sean. I need to practice it much more, of course, and she mentioned my chudan oi zuki was really more gedan (In considering this, I suspect I was simply thinking too much about pattern, not enough about good technique). -
I have been remiss in my training lately due to a number of excuses, but they’re really only excuses. However, I just returned from the 2nd Annual Pacific Coast Karate-Do Summer Gasshuku. It was an excellent weekend of training, camaraderie and companionship, and it was really good to see old friends again. I believe no matter how many Shotokan schools I train with, my heart will always be with the PCKD group.
Saturday morning after breaking our fast, we all trouped down to the lake shore either on foot or by car. We cleared a section of the beach of objects detrimental to bare feet as best we could and warmed up on our own. Bowing in at 5600 feet elevation with the beautiful lake and granite mountains as the “front” of our “dojo”, we began with medium speed kihon. Rabbitt Sensei took us through all the usual kihon including multi-technique sets, then moved us into kata. The gravelly sands began to heat up as we partnered and started in on footwork and body movement drills, practicing rotating to the outside 90 degrees back or forward, and sliding to the outside. For each motion, after first practicing just the footwork, we would then add counter attacks. By the end of the drills, the sand was reaching blistering temperatures (I swear I got one or two from the heat – they certainly weren’t friction blisters!) and the elevation and workout was likely taking its toll on many, though I didn’t see much outwardly. We bowed out and returned to camp for a much needed lunch break and some afternoon relaxation (in whatever form suited each individual – whether it be a nap, mountain biking, or a refreshing swim).
In the early evening we all reconvened for an informal session at camp. The yudansha were placed in one group with Rabbitt Sensei and the remainder in another with George Sempai. Under George’s tutelage, we learned Junryo Shodan, a form intended to train good footwork and body motion, using a great deal of stance transitions and alternating standard and gyaku technique. Details may follow (I wrote it down, but it’s a long list of technique!).
The evening passed pleasantly with good food and company and everyone did their best to get a reasonably good nights sleep in preparation for the next day of training.
The Sunday breakfasting was a bit slower than the previous day, as I don’t believe anyone escaped at least some minor stiffness from the previous day. I say it just goes to show everyone was making their best effort. Returning to our beach front “training hall”, we again warmed up individually, then after bowing in went through the kata from the previous evening a few times to get the blood flowing and re-enforce the memories. This day’s focus was primarily awareness of your opponent and of how the body moves. We did several add-on drills, including a group elimination circle and one-on-one partner work. Each drill took us closer to Jiyu Kumite, and eventually that was where we ended, trading partners several times. After adequately working each other over, we lined up a final time to bow out, with that beautiful backdrop staring back at us.
It has been an excellent weekend and I look forward to the 3rd Annual event next year.
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Class lead by Brad. We did a bit of kihon, working on our ‘ki’, or ‘feeling’. For kata we went through Taikyoku Shodan, Heian Shodan, and Tekki Shodan, the last extensively. To finish off class, we had sanbon kumite.
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Tonight’s class began with Chuck leading and myself plus five others as students. We worked on our form for oi zuki, gyaku zuki, mae geri and yoko geri all from zenkutsu dachi, plus uraken in kiba dachi. We then got bags and applied the techniques with partners. During this, Chuck had to leave and I took over class. I had us finish the bag work, then we practiced some combinations. First oi zuki, mae geri, gyaku zuki. Next shuto uke (kokutsu dachi), mae geri off front leg, gyaku nukite (zenkutsu dachi). Last we did tettsui uke, shift to kiba dachi and empi, uraken, gyaku zuki (zenkutsu dachi). Everyone did very well.
Following this we went through kata’s Taikyoku Shodan, Heian Shodan and Heian Nidan at least a few times each.
To finish off the night I lead through a brief cool down stretch before we all lined up for makso and bowed out to the dojo. -
Class lead by Hiroko Sensei. The main gym was being worked on, so we were in a raquetball court. Kihone, ippon kumite and kata tonight.
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Training lead by Hiroko Sensei.
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Workout lead by Hiroko Sensei.
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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.