Good class again.

I went to class early to warm up and get in some good stretching.

Side leg raises – 3×15
Slow side thrust kicks – 15

I did bent over splits, butterflys and some other stretches and I also ended up doing a bunch of baiscs. I was already soaked with sweat and tired before class even began.

Our Sensei sent us with one of the assistant instructors to help us prepare for our exam tomorrow. Even though our Sensei said to take it easy, it was brutal. We did all of the required moves for our test but with no breaks between moves and all moving forward. For example, at our exam, we would normally do five triple front punches moving forward and five backward but today we did 10 moving forward and then turned and did 10 of say, rising block with reverse punch and so on. I was breathing like on old dog but I made it through it and am pretty sure that I will have enough gas for my exam tomorrow.

Next we did kata and one step sparring.

After that, we were able to take the final 20 minutes of class to stretch. I did some Tekki Shodan and then also did the first four Heian katas incase I am asked to do a lower or higher belt kata at my exam.

It was rough but good.

Workout:

Side leg raises – 2×15
Slow side thrust kick – 1×15

Friday class:

Great class.  We spent the entire time working on exam preparation.

We started with basics.  Many of the normal moves like downward block with reverse punch.  After going through some of the normal moves, our Sensei mixed things up a bit.  We were doing moves such as inward block, downward block and reverse punch.  We then did reverse punch, double front snap kick and then reverse punch both forward and backward.  We then did reverse punch, front snap kick, side thrust kick to the front and reverse punch.  The moves themselves weren’t very hard but the mental part of doing the moves in the right order was tough.

We then spent the rest of the time doing kata.  Our Sensei had each of us do individual kata so he could watch us very closely.  My kata wasn’t gold medal winning but it wasn’t too bad either.

Morning / Afternoon workout.

Side leg raises – 4 x15
Slow side thrust kicks – 3×15

Tonight: 

No class tonight because both my wife and son wern’t feeling well.

I went through my entire test.

Moving forward and backward, triple punch.
Moving forward and backward, rising block with reverse punch.
Moving forward and backward, downward block with reverse punch.
Moving forward and backward, inward block, elbow strike and backfist.
Moving forward and backward, outward block with reverse punch.
Moving forward, double front snap kick.
Moving forward, front snap kick and side thrust kick.
Moving forward, double roundhouse kick.

Heian Godan and one step sparring.  I also did a Tekki Shodan just in case they ask me to do it on my test.

I felt good and my moves felt strong and fast.  Some moves even felt effortless.  The only moves that didn’t feel too good were the moving forward double roundhouse kicks.

I also did a good amount of stretching:

Bent over splits for 60 seconds.
Seiza for 60 seconds.
Seated hamstring stretch for 45 seconds.

I also did Side leg raises – 1 x15 each side and slow side thrust kicks – 1×15.

My feet are now 43.5 inches apart when cold and 44.5 when warm.  This is up an inch and half from just a couple days ago.