Archives for June 2009

Sensei Cieplik revisited the base, retreat and attack concept he and Doc Pusateri explained to me in the past.

ten-no-kata….

Sensei had us spend some time on some ten-no-kata moves.  From the ready stance, we stepped forward and did a long front punch really reaching forward, from there we stepped back into the ready stance and then moved into a back stance with knife hand block.  We started with the left foot forward in the front stance and the left foot back in the back stance.  We then repeated the movement with the right leg in front and back respectively.

Hard punches….

This drill worked on the base, retreat and attack concept.  With our reverse hand out, we bent our back leg and loaded our weight on to it into an almost cat stance with very little weight on the front leg.  From there, we pushed forward and as the front foot planted on to the floor we let a front punch fly.  This gave the punch an all new feeling and I actually heard the sleeve of my gi pop as I let the punch go.  I really need to test this out on the heavy back to see what it feels when it connects with something.

Another drill we worked on was standing in a ready stance, we would stand on the middle of our feet (base), we then put our weight back on to our heals (retreat) and then we put our weight on to the ball of our feet and threw a front punch.  I cannot explain the feeling in text and you need to try it for yourself to grasp it.  It took me a good amount of tries to “get it” but once I did, it was easier to keep repeating it.

Step and punch, rinse and repeat….

The next drill was a kumite drill.  For this, we started in a front stance, then we stepped forward twice and did a reverse punch each time.  After that we stepped forward three times with three reverse punches.  The key is to start the first reverse punch when our feet come together after starting to move from the front stance.  It is a good drill to practice since it works very well when free sparring from what I have found.

Heian Shodan with base, retreat and attack….

Sensei had us finished up doing Heian Shodan but he wanted us to use the base, retreat and attack concepts when doing the kata.  The certainly slow the kata a good amount but it gives us another way to do our kata.

Focus mitts was the weapon of choice for Sensei Noia today.

Hit the focus mitt not our partner….

We started out with our focus mitts and Sensei Noia has work on some kicks.  Our partner would hold the mitt in certain spots, next to the head, by the ribs or in front of the abs, and we would have to kick it.  If it was by the head or ribs, we could use a roundhouse kick, if it was by the front of the abs, we did a front snap kick or reverse punch.  When Sensei would count, our partner would put the pad in one of those positions above.  Luckily, my partner would kind enough to hold the pad lower than head height so that I had a chance to hit the pad.

Hit the big pad now….

Next, Sensei had us get a big rectangular pad.  Once we get those pads, we normally pull out the powerful movements.  Along with jabs and reverse punches, we we able to pull out hammer fists, back fists, elbow strikes and knife hand movements.  I really need to spend some time working on my knife hand strike, it feels really weak and my finger hurt like crazy whenever I hit the pad.

Big pads, punches, hammer fist, back fist and elbows.

Since testing is all done, Sensei Cieplik shared some new Karate “stuff” with us.

Basic thinking movements…

We started with reverse punch, front leg front snap kick and then jab.  From a stationary front stance we did a reverse punch, from there we did a front leg front snap kick and as we set out foot down after the kick, we threw a jab.

Next, we did front snap kick to the front and side thrust kick to the front but Sensei had us move in such a way to create a block with our kicking leg between the front snap kick and side thrust kick.   This keeps me from dropping my knee between the kicks.

Next came shift jab, shift  jab, shift angle to the side with reverse punch, then shift forward with a backfist.  This a more of a kumite drill than a self defense drill in my opinion but effective none the less.  The key is to prepare for the backfist right after the reverse punch.  Instead of pulling my draw hand to me side during the reverse punch, I kept it in front of my stomach as a blocking move.  From that point, that hand could just fly into the backfist as I shifted forward.

Next came stationary jab, then reverse punch followed with a rear leg  front snap kick.

Get a partner and a pad…

Sensei had us get a partner and a pad for some hitting.  We started with a simple drill where we jabbed to pad to stop out partner as soon as they moved in to attack.  This was a timing drill to help us learn when our partner was going to move before they moved.

Next came elbow strikes to the pad.  Sensei told me to hit the pad on a downward angle with my elbow to “dig in” so to speak.  This feels like a really strong movement.

Kata is always fun to me….

We finished up class doing kata from Heian Shodan all the way to Kanku Dai.