Shotokanplanet.org

This is a log of my journey to Shotokan Karate Shodan and beyond.

7/30/07 – Monday Weight Workout.

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This is my first real weight workout in some time. I just couldn’t get back in to the groove for some reason but I know that I need to get stronger if I want my Karate to improve. I am using the heavier weights and lower reps to try and train my central nervous system. I have always felt that my CNS was lacking and holding back my gains in strength.

The barbell rows were fairly easy but the bench presses felt like almost nothing. All of the pushups in Karate class has kept up my bench press strength. The dumbbell press were very light too. The side crunches were very hard but I couldn’t even do them the last time I tried many months ago.

I am also holding back on some of my weights since my training partner isn’t as strong in all the movements like I am.  This is good for me since I want to move up slow and steady with the weights that I am lifting.

Barbell Rows – 155 x 4, 155 x 4, 115 x 8, 95 x 12
Bench Press – 175 x 4, 175 x 4, 145 x 8, 115 x 12
Lat Pulldown – 150 x 4, 150 x 4, 115 x 12 (Reverse Grip)
Dumbbell Press – 45 x 4, 45 x 4, 30 x 12
Side Crunch – 2 x 10

7/27/07 – Friday Karate classes.

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Lots of kicks and then more kicks. That was the theme for both classes.

We did rep after rep of roundhouse kicks, front snap kicks and side thrust kicks. Our Sensei showed us some self defense moves. One example is bringing the leg up like a front snap kick and from that position turning the hip and throwing a roundhouse kick. We also worked on hook kicks. I haven’t spent a lot of time working on hook kicks until today and while they are not easy for me, they felt good.

We did one drill where our partner held a pad and we would do a back leg roundhouse kick and reset, then then shuffle up an throw a front leg roundhouse kick.
The second class was almost a repeat of the first class but we did a couple more self defense techniques since it was the advanced class.

One move in particular, was a combination kick where we threw a front snap kick and followed it up with a low roundhouse kick to the inside thigh of our partner. This move is meant to push the person back and shock them with the front snap kick and then take them out by kicking them to the inner thigh or knee.

Good stuff!

7/26/07 – Thursday Karate workout.

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We couldn’t make class because my wife was not feeling well so I worked out by myself.

I started with a quick warmup then got right in to it.

Standing slow side thrust kicks – 15 each leg.

While holding a horse stance, 30 front punches, 20 rising blocks, 10 inward blocks, 10 outward blocks, 20 double punches and 10 downward blocks.

From a horse stance, left leg forward front stance with reverse punch, draw back to a horse stance, then right leg forward front stance with reverse punch – 15 each leg.

From a horse stance, left leg forward back stance with knife hand block, draw back to horse stance, then right leg forward back stance with knife hand block – 12 each leg.

Standing front snap kick – 30 each leg.

Throughout the workout, between the other moves, I did standing side leg raises – 5 x 15 each leg.