Archives for April 2011

Today was the first day back to Thursday class after a week off between sessions.  Sensei Cieplik shared some some old and some new Karate with us today.

Kihon….

After the warm up, we started with moving forward and back doing downward block with reverse punch, rising block with reverse punch, inward block with reverse punch and outward block, jab and reverse punch.

Next, we did backstance with knifehand block, and the same with while adding front snap kick.  Sensei had us work spend some time starting in backstance when knifehand block and then moving forward into a front stance with front punch.   This is a very long movement and you need to protect your groin when moving between the stances.

Stretch, fall and punch….

We partnered up.  My partner stood in front of me, out my reach.  From there, I stood in a front stance and stretched with my front hand, stepped forward and then slapped there hand and stretched into a falling front punch.  The idea is to be able to punch even if you are falling as a last resort.

Kata – Live in the moment…..

Sensei had us finish up with some kata and some powerful advice.  We did Heian Shodan twice.  After we did our first kata, Sensei said, slow down your kata, live in the moment when doing your kata.  Don’t worry about the past or the future, do your kata in the present.  Complete each move and don’t move until the current movement is finished.  Do your Karate when doing your kata, your speed, your timing, your kata!

Today was my first day back to Tuesday class after three months of taking two classes a week on Thursday and Friday.  I really missed this class and even though I really enjoyed assisting Sensei Noia with it, but it does feel great to be back as a student.

Kihon….

Sensei had us start class with standing kicks.  We did front snap kick, then side snap kick and side thrust kick.  I am not sure how many we did but there we did a lot of them.  Next, we did front snap kick, side snap kick, side thrust kick and side snap kick.

For the next drill we started in a front stance and did moving forward with front punch.  After the front punch we did a spinning elbow strike in a horse stance.  We did the same with front punch but we did spinning hammer fist instead.  We followed that with front stance with front punch, horse stance with spinning elbow and horse stance with spinning hammer fist while moving forward.

For the last drill, we did started standing upright and then spun around with a hammer fist.  The idea was to turn really fast while trying to keep our balance.   This was not easy to say the least.

Do your kata but make the turns really fast….

We started with Taikyoku Shodan doing the punching movements very slowly and doing the turning blocks very fast.  This was certainly a test of balance and hip mobility.   We did the same Heian Shodan and Heian Nidan.  After that we picked a Heian kata of our choice, I did Heian Yondan with the same fast turns.  We then did Jion, Bassai Dai and our current rank kata, Kanku Dai for me, turning fast again.

Luckily, I didn’t fall over when turning so my first day back was a success.