Training today felt different. I am paying more attention to moving my arms and feet faster. I am also putting more focus on tensing my muscles with each move.

I did one each of:

• Heian Shodan
• Heian Nidan
• Heian Sandan
• Heian Yondan
• Heian Godan
• Jion – I did the first group of moves up to the first kiai.

I also did two Tekki Shodan again since I seem to be making mistakes during the second half of the kata. I have already done this kata hundreds of times but for some reason, I am making mistakes. Oddly, my Heian Godan is better then ever before. I am nailing the jump each time and my hips are really coming around when doing the groin strikes.

Very hard class.

Sensei Cieplik had the day off so Sensei Noia, who’s also my main Sensei, taught class.

We started with a very quick warm up, doing just a few sets of front kicks and our normal front snap kick, reach, step down in the same place with reverse punch. Then we worked on some basic blocks. Moving forward downward block, inward block and outward block and some punches where we opened our hips and threw a jab and then twisted our hips the other way and threw a reverse punch.

After that, out came the rectangular pads. Sensei had us stand with one foot on the pad, in a low stance and then throw front snap kicks. Then we did a combination move that consists of fast front snap kick, slow and low side thrust kick to the knee, fast front snap kick and then put our kicking foot down behind us powerful and quickly. After that, we did the same move but added a slow back kick after the second front snap kick. Keeping my balance was very tough and after just a few reps my legs were spent.

Next, we moved on to more pad drills. We started with punches where we stood in a horse stance, our partner held the pad and we punched it. Then we did the same type of punches but in a front stance and then some blocks. Sensei made a point to tell us to punch from the elbow not the hand. After that we did some hammer fists in to the pad. The hammer fist can generate some serious power when putting the hips behind to the side. We finished with some outward blocks to the pad. I was not able to generate much power behind those for some reason but after class, Sensei told me to flex my lat, on the same side I am blocking with, at the very end. I did not try it on the pads because class ended but I will try it as soon as I can.

We spent most of the class working on sparring drills.

We stated with simple combinations for warm up. We did jabs and reverse punches with our partner. We were told to pay attention to our hip movement and technique. We would jab jodan, then chudan, then reverse punch to both jodan and chudan in order to get the blood flowing and to help us work on some coordination.

We then did a drill where one group stands in one line and then the rest of us move to a new partner and throw a jab or reverse punch. The idea here was to have us shift in, throw our attack and then move out quickly. Sensei said that too many people move in fast and attack fast but then stand there instead of moving out just as fast.

More drills. We could attack our partner but then they could counter if we did not move out fast enough.

We then spent the rest of the class doing free sparring. Using our hands only, we started with one partner attacking and the other blocking only. Then we both could attack and block. Next, we did attack, block and counter. After that we could only use our legs and then we finished up with free sparring but again paying full attention to moving out after attacking.

I felt much lighter on my feet while sparring. All of the drills seem to really be helping.