I missed class last night because none of us were feeling too good.  We have a cold or something going on here that is hanging on to all of us for over a week now.

Tonight was the first time in a week were all three of us took class.

We started with a lot of kihon.  Sensei Noia had us do mostly kicks and a lot of them.  We did front snap kick and side thrust kick.  Then front snap kick, side thrust kick and back kick.  Next came side thrust kick, roundhouse and reverse punch then roundhouse, side thrust and reverse punch.  Those really hammered my legs and they are very sore.

After the kicks, we spent the rest of the class working on slow motion kata.  Sensei Gatch took all of the 3rd, 4th and 5th kyu’s to work on kata.  We started with Heian Yondan.  I still like doing the Heian katas and often do them in my training outside the dojo.  I am still having an issue with the right leg side snap kick but that’s another story.

Next came Heian Godan.  I didn’t think that kata was ever going to end.  We spent at least 15 minutes working on it and most of that time was in either a front or back stance.  My legs were screaming.  I cannot describe how painful my legs felt but I do feel better knowing that I could never hold my stances that long even just a few months ago.

We finally finished Heian Godan and started working on my kata, Tekki Shodan.  I am not sure I should have wished we spent more time on Heian Godan.  I guess holding a front stance is easier than holding a horse stance.  We spent at least 10 minutes working on Tekki Shodan.  Doing kata in slow motion brings a whole different dimension into it.  Sensei Gatch wants me to do two slow motion katas for every one normal speed.  I have been doing that for some time but I need to slow down a little bit more.

Needless to say, my legs are extremely sore, so much that it even hurts to type.  At least I know that my legs will get a rest until tomorrows class.

Before class:

One each of Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan and Heian Godan.  I also did five Tekki Shodan, three Jion and some various kihon.

Good workout!

8 – Tekki Shodan

2 x 15 – weighted side bends with 20 pound dumbbells.
2 x 12 – Glute bridge (3 second hold for each rep)
2 x 12 – lying side leg raises (3 second hold for each rep)

On my last two Tekki Shodan again, I held my horse stance while just working on the upper body movements for both kata. My horse stance felt a litte better tonight and a little lower after I was warmed up.

My hips were still sore from the last three days classes but I ended up starting out slowly and working up in speed and power as I did each kata.

10 – Tekki Shodan
1 – Heian Shodan
1 – Heian Nidan
1 – Heian Sandan
1 – Heian Yondan
1 – Heian Godan

2 x 15 – weighted side bends with 20 pound dumbbells.
2 x 15 – lying leg raises
2 x 15 – crunches

On my last two Tekki Shodan, I held my horse stance while just working on the upper body movements for both kata. I have been focusing more on tightening my quads, pushing my knee out and trying to keep my butt tucked under.