Good classes!

The first class started with some kihon drills. We put one foot on a line on the gym floor, stood upright with our knees slightly bent and moved in to a front stance while turning only on our heel of the back leg. We then did the same thing but instead of a front stance, we moved in to a back stance.

After that, we moved in to a horse stance and went from facing one direction to the opposite direction back in to a horse stance. We then moved in to a front stance, pivoted on the balls of our feet and then threw a back kick. The idea of these drills was to prepare us for spinning hammer fists and spinning back kicks.

Now on to the fun stuff. We then had a Sensei stand in front of us, we moved in to a horse stance and then turned around and threw a hammer fist in to a focus mit. This was a lot of fun and I was able to generate a lot of power. Next, we moved on to spinning back kicks. This was a lot harder for me. I was able to turn fairly well but throwing the kick and keeping my balance at the end of the turn was touch. It was also hard for me to hit the target and I ended up kicking one of my Senseis’ arms.

In the second class, we spent more time on some kihon drills but we also worked on the application of some of the moves. We spent some time working on some moves from Heian Nidan. In the first few moves of Heian Nidan there are some blocks and strikes and as my partner threw a punch, I would block the punch and then take their punching arm and put them in what was equivalent to an armbar. The move had us bring our hands together and push against both the tricep area and forearm area. It brought back memories of my Aikido days in the past.

We also worked on another move where our partner grabbed at our gi and we would step back, pull them off balance and lock their arm. This also brought back memories of Aikido but after locking their arm, we could bring a knee up in to their core area or throw a nice back fist to the face.

All of my classes are so much more enjoyable now. I am not sure if I am getting better but I feel like I am learning and understanding more than ever before.

After missing Thursday class for almost three weeks I was happy to get back to it.

We started class with a shorter than usual warm up.  We did front snap kicks for 10 each leg, then front snap kick and back kick for 10 each leg and then finished our warm up with front snap kick, back kick, roundhouse kick to the front and then finished up with another front snap kick for five each leg.  Then we started in a front stance with our reverse hand out and did a back leg front snap kick back in to a front stance and ended with a reverse punch.  This movement in particular gets the brain working because as we do the kick, we reach with the opposite out in front, throw the kick and then throw the reverse punch once our back leg lands.  It requires good coordination and focus to do the movement fast and correctly but it really sets the stage for what comes next.

Next, we did a front stance, front leg kick or toe tap as Sensei calls it, rear leg front snap kick and then finish up with a front punch.  we then spent some time doing back stance and knife hand blocks moving forward and backward.  My moves are now getting much smoother and my legs are traveling much faster.

Our next move was moving forward, downward block, reverse punch and jab.  This move really gets the hips moving and opens them up for some of the more complicated moves coming up.  We also did the same movement but replaced the downward block with rising block, inward block and outward block.  Doing the outward block really gets the hips working since it starts with the hips full open, then they close in for the reverse punch and then open up again for the jab.  I plan on adding this to my training outside of class.

Then we worked on a move that I have never done before.  We started in a front stance and then moved in to a side snap kick and ended back in a front stance.  My hips did not care much for that move and it felt really awkward.

Next, we moved on to one of our standby movements.  We did front stance with inward block, move in to horse stance with elbow strike and then finish up with backfist.  Sensei showed an example that I never picked up on before.  He said that as you shift in to the horse stance to do the elbow strike you should get lower and have your elbow strike down instead of rising the elbow up like I was doing since I first did that move.  Moving the elbow in a downward motion brings the whole body in to the movement instead of just using the elbow strike.

On to shift the front leg forward, jab and then finish with reverse punch.  The idea behind this move is to only do as little as needed to make the move effective.  If you take all the things and body english that isn’t needed from that movement, the speed increases a great deal.  Sensei explained that people who do this move correctly have torn the sleeves off their gi because of the power they generate.  He also reminded us to focus on a real attack instead of just doing the movements.  I was able to focus so hard on an opponent that I made the punching arm of my gi snap.  Normally, most people get a loud pop or snap when they bring their draw hand back to their gi but when you generate enough speed and power the punching arm of the gi will pop too.  At one point, I punched so hard, I hurt my front deltoid.  We then worked one the same move but with two shifts with jabs.

On to partner drills.  The move was complicated for me and my wife.  One person punches jodan level and the other moves in to a three quarter stance, throws and outward block, hits the opponent in the ribs with a reverse hand knuckle punch and then moves behind the opponent in to a front stance and lands a punch to the back or back of the head.  This move took some time but we were able to do it somewhat well after many tries.

We finished up with Heian Shodan.  Again, Sensei made sure to tell us to focus on an imaginary opponent when doing the kata.  He also said to pay more attention to the draw hand and pulling our imaginary opponent in to the front punches.  This made the kate feel much more powerful for me.  Both this Sensei and my other Sensei had told me to imagine the opponent before, it helps to have a reminded every now and then.

Even though I was somewhat sore after class, I did not feel as sore as usual.  I am hoping that my body is finally starting to get adjusted to the punishment.

After reanalyzing my Karate workouts, I am going to train with more focus and when I train I train for real or not at all.  When I day for real, I mean with power, speed and focus unless I am working on something specific like my stance training.

Todays workout was kata.  I did one each of:

• Heian Shodan
• Heian Nidan
• Heian Sandan
• Heian Yondan
• Heian Godan
• Tekki Shodan
• Jion

Doing my kata with full power and speed really helped me feel a difference and even after only doing those few kata I was spent.  I feel that the slow motion, lazy stuff that I was doing before was tricking me in to thinking that I was working out.  I had my son help me out with Jion since I only know about 90% of all the moves.