Class lead by Brad. Long warm up followed by kata practice, then kumite drills focused on good ma and counter-response. Ended with some light jyu kumite.
Tag: karate
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Class led by Brad. Kihon followed by ippon and sanbon kumite drills.
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Evening class, several kids were invited from the younger class to experience training with the older students. Focus was on kihon and kata.
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I attended the Saturday practice led by Mori Sensei. Primarily basics and kata in preparation for upcoming testing.
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Kihon and kata.
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Attended class by Brad.
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kihon, etc including a focus on the rear heel again
Heian Nidan
tsuki in kibidachi -
kihon, etc, including a focus on keeping the hind heel down during advancing techniques
ippon kumite and light jiyu kumite -
kihon, etc
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Tonights class was visited by Dallas Sensei and a student or two of his. We again focused primarily on what would be tested on Saturday. Kihon, ippon kumite, iai, and katas Heian Shodan and Heian Godan.
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Small class tonight. We primarily focused on what the people testing this coming weekend would need to know. Kihon, Taikioko Shodan, ippon and sanbon kumite, and Heian Needan were all covered.
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Kihon, Taikioko Shodan, Heian Needan, ippon kumite and some jiyu ippon kumite drills.
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Kihon, kata Taikioko Shodan through Basai, ippon and sanbon kumite, ending with ippon “machine gun” drilling.
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Kihon with partners, then sanbon kumite, ending with machinegun ippon kumite.
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Brad led class tonight, though he had me lead warm-ups. We paired off and worked on mai te, mai geri, and combo mai geri mai te, with the uke always just trying to maintain a good mah. We then worked on Heian Sandan, teaching it to some of the newer students, including a short break-out session where we paired up to practice the escape and counter after the nukite.
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Class led by Chuck tonight. There were some beginners in class, so we did all the standard kihon, heian shodan, and did some partner practice one step below ippon kumite, then stepped it up to regular ippon kumite with specific blocks dictated.
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Mori Sensei, Lindsay and myself arrived in Stanford at the SKA Winter Special Training on Friday shortly after 6pm. We signed in and got changed for the first practice which was scheduled for 7:30pm.
The details of the practices I will not log, but there was a lot of training to be had.
Final practice ended Sunday afternoon around 1:30pm. We gathered ourselves, said our goodbyes, and went back to the house the women had been staying at for showers and final packing, then headed homeward.
It was a full weekend of training, distinctly different from PCKD special practices. It was an interesting experience, but not one that I expect to repeat unless necessary (to obtain 1st rank black belt with SKA, you must attend one special training, I believe). My primary source of dissatisfaction comes from the way some of the practice session are held and how some of the other attendees act and interact. I do not take favorably to the “drill sargent” approach at all, and it was a distinct presence. All in all, I do not regret going, and I am pleased to have surpassed this requirement.
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I attended the Saturday morning class today at Mori Sensei’s request. She had me lead warm-up, then we went through kihon. We focused most on kumite as Mori Sensei wanted to be sure that Lindsay and I are prepared for the up-coming Winter Special Training. I still need a lot of work on maintaining proper distancing, and in making my counter-attack more timely (either pre-emptive, or “as one breath” rather than one-set-two).
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Before class, Dave asked me to take some of the younger students through kata. We we went through several times, I made a few comments, including timing and how to make the turns tight and fluid, so that as they improve, hopefully the ideas will be stewing inside them and one day it will just click.
We bowed in with Dave leading class tonight. First kihon, then ippon kumite, then the lower ranks were released. Afterwards we did sanbon kumite, then drilled penetrating as the defender, and finally ended with jiyu ippon kumite. I need a lot of work on minimizing the mah, penetrating the attacking opponents mah as they attack, and staying close as they pass by. -
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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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.