Slow down and finish each move of the kata – 7/31/08 – Thursday Karate class

For some reason, kicking warm up felt different to me today.  I was just whiping the leg for front snap kicks and it felt good.

Balance when moving…

Sensei Cieplik had us work on the same drills but different.  When moving from front stance to front stance, bring the knees together, then reach first with the front foot while keeping all weight on the back foot, settle the front foot and pull yourself forward into a front stance.

Push the toes into the floor…

Sensei noticed that many of us where moving our front foot before throwing a front snap kick.  He told us to push our toes into the floor and squeeze with our then kick without moving that stationary leg.  It sound really simple but if you push the toes down the foot will not move.

Focus on the draw hand…

Sensei Cieplik has told us to focus on our draw hands many times in the past but today, it started to sink in.  If I focus on my draw hand, the punch or block feels almost automatic.

Slow down and do the kata…

Sensei told us that we need to slow down when doing Heian Shodan.  He said that most of the group finished it in 17 to 20 seconds.  We need to make the kata last at least 30 seconds if not longer.  He said to finish each movement and count 1-1000, 2-1000.  He had told us this in the past but but I am going to keep mentioning it here until I actually do it all the time.

Self defense moves…

Similar to the moves that we did with Sensei Noia on Tuesday, Sensei Cieplik had us do a movement where we step back on a slight angle, grab the attackers punching hand, pull it into us and jab at their head at the same time.  This goes along with the base, retreat and attack idea.  We start standing ready (base), we body shift on an angle and step back (retreat) and then jab (attack).   This movement is extremely powerful and I would guess that the attacker would not be feeling too well after getting with that jab.

The next movement was another defense to a front punch.  We stand ready, the attacker punches at us, we pivot our body to the side, the punch goes past and at the same time we grab the attackers punching arm and push with our other hand on their elbow.  This movement has to be timed really well to work because if the attacker has a change to tighten up the punching arm or pull back the arm bar will not be effective.

Excellent class as always.