Today, Sensei Cieplik, had us work on some different drills that were not only physically challenging but also mentally challenging.  Reverse blocks and kata application always makes for a good class.

Kick and reverse blocks….

After our regular warm up, we did stationary front leg front snap kick with rear leg front snap kick.  Then came the same thing but with front leg roundhouse kick with rear leg roundhouse kick.  The last kicking drill was front leg front snap kick with rear leg front snap kick, step down and triple punch.

For our kihon drills, we did moving forward and back with reverse downward block, jab and reverse punch.  This was one of the those hip loosening drills.  Next, we did reverse rising block with reverse punch.  We had to close and open the hips the each move.  After that, we did the standard moving forward and back with outward block, jab and reverse punch.

The next drill was a little different.  We did a stationary jab and front leg front snap kick at the same time and then stepped in to a front punch.  The idea is to confuse your opponent and then gain distance by stepping through and drilling them with a front punch.

Hug your knee….

We started in a front stance and then pulled our front leg back and hugged our knee.  The idea here is to bring our knee to our chest but mine doesn’t make it far, yet.

The next drill we did started in a front stance, we then stepped back, bring the front knee up, and then back down and in with a reverse punch.

For this drill, we started in front stance with a stationary reverse punch, then we stepped into  a low front stance with a reverse punch.  Next was stationary reverse punch, step in to a low lunge with reverse punch and then step again with reverse punch.

Kata, partner up and more kata…

We did Jion many times, working in the details of each move.

Next came some pad drills.  One partner held the pad and the partner punched down and in to the pad.  The idea is to punch with a vertical fist and flick the fist, from the top down just before striking the target.  If any of you that take class with me are wondering about how effective this punch is, please as Sensei to demonstrate it on you.  He demonstrated it to me and even a light punch using that hand motion hurts.  Remember “power goes in.”

Next, we went back to kata and did Bassai Dai. 

Now, back top the pads.  One partner held the pad vertical to the front with a corner up and the other partner did the inward block and reverse block from Bassai Dai on the pad.  The idea was to have the block end at the same place on the pad for both blocks.

We also worked on the first move of Bassai Dai.  The key to this move is to land the front foot and then push the hips under as the back foot lands and the back knee touches the front leg.  It almost feels like two movements but when done quickly, it looks like one movement.  The idea here is to hit with the entire body, not just the arms when doing that move.

We finished up doing Tekki Shodan and the lower belts and for all the upper belts, we did Kanku Dai in a straight line.  Sensei often says, if you fight your balance, the technique will rise.

This was the first Thursday class of the new year and a new session for us and Sensei Cieplik gave us a review related to kicking.

Kihon review….

After the warm up, we started with front leg, front snap kick followed by rear leg front snap kick all on one count.  After that, we did the same type of movement but with roundhouse kick in place of front snap kick.

Sensei gave me some advice about how make the roundhouse kicks better.  He said to get in to a very low stance after the first kick and try to bring the hip around.  The idea is to bend the front leg and get very low and then throw the hip forward instead of throwing the leg or foot forward.

We then moved in to blocks with reverse punches.  We started, moving forward and back, with with rising block and reverse punch, inward block with reverse punch and downward block with reverse punch.  We did the same but this time with outward block, jab and reverse punch.  The key to the drill is to have three distinct hips movements.  For example, on the outward block, your hips are near a 30 degree angle, when throwing the jab your hips are fully open at a 45 degree angle or more and when throwing the reverse punch, your hips are straight ahead.  If your hips are too far open when blocking, your jab will only get power from your arm and shoulder and not the hips like it should.

The next few drills we from a horse stance.  We started with stepping across in horse stance while keeping the moving foot or the big toe in contact with the floor at all times.  For the rest of the drills, we had to keep the moving across foot in contact with the floor until we executed that kick.  We did the following kicks, side snap kick, front snap kick to the side, side thrust kick and a combination, side snap kick followed immediately with side thrust kick.

Get a partner and kick some more…  

For this drill, we started facing our partner in a front stance and alternated roundhouse kicks but we did one kick, pulled back half way and then did another kick before we set our foot down behind.

We continued with roundhouse kicks but this time, we did a roundhouse kick over our partners arm, that they were holding out in front of them and then we were to pull the hip back as hard as possible.  Instead of pulling the leg back, the key here was pulling the hip back.

Finish up with a lot of kata….

We finished up class with Heian Shodan, Hiean Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan, Tekki Shoddan, Jion and Bassai Dai.

One of things that I enjoy about taking classes with Sensei Cieplik is that he often revisits concepts or techniques after a period of time based on what he sees us doing in class.  Today, after doing our warm up kicks, he had us work on dynamic tension.

Dynamic tension….

From a front stance, pull with the front leg and push with the back leg until you cannot hold it and then let the kick fly.  Try to think of this concept like pulling a rubber band from both ends.

With the above in mind, we did many front snap kicks with front punch.

The next drills we did were from seiza (sitting on the floor with the buttocks resting on the heels.  The first drill was moving from seiza to kneeling position.  For the next drill, the idea was to lean back from the kneeling position and then straighten back up.  Some of us did a few kicks from seiza but my knees told me don’t even think about it.

The next drill was a “salad bowl” exercise.  From a front stance, the idea was to shift our weight on to our back leg, drop the hip and then spring forward and jab.  The jabbing motion will go on its own if this is done correctly.  This movement can be compared to the way a tiger loads up all of its weight on its back legs and then springs or launches forward.

Watch your partner very close….

For the next drill, we partnered up.  The idea behind this drill was to watch our partner either make them attack or catch their tell ( showing them prepare to attack.  It could be something as simple as them raising an eyebrow or seeing their shoulders raise up just before they begin the attack.

We finished up class with kata.  We did all of the Heian katas, Tekki Shodan, Jion and Bassai Dai.  A key point that Sensei made was for us to present ourselves and be sure to have good posture before we start our kata and all the way through.  Good posture usually means better technique.

This was the last Thursday class of 2011 and I can say this was the best year of Karate classes yet and I am sure that 2012 will be even better!