Shotokanplanet.org

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

Kata from Heian Shodan on up – 11/8/08 – Saturday Karate class

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Sensei Gatch gave a good class today.

Do all your kata’s…

We started with Heian Shodan, then Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan, Tekki Shodan, Jion and then Bassai Dai.  He explained different parts and details to look out for in each kata.  He then had us do our own belt level kata a few times.

One-step sparring…

We spent about 15 minutes of class working on one-step sparring.  This is one area that I always feel we do not spend enough time so I glad to see that we did today.  I was happy to be paired with one of our assistant instructors and working with him made the drill feel much different.

It was a really good class but the time flew by too quickly.

Kick for Cures – Kick for a good cause

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On November 16th my club, the ISKC, is sponsoring an event to help sick and needy families called Kick for Cures.  The way it works, is we go to one of four locations and do 1000 kicks and punches.  People sponsor us, either with a per kick donation or just a flat amount.

If you would like to sponsor me you can do so online at:  Kick for Cures at events.org.

Below is more information about where your donation goes.

Where does the money go?

  • The money is allocated to 3 funds
    • 10 Charities that provide support and cure research – 30%
      • Make A Wish Foundation Illinois Chapter
      • American Brain Tumor Association
      • American Cancer Society – Relay for Life – Amanda Riley’s Memorial Team
      • Bear Necessities – Pediatric Cancer Foundation
      • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
      • Alzheimer’s Association
      • Michael J Fox Foundation (Parkinson’s Disease)
      • Augie’s Quest (ALS)
      • Autism Speaks
      • Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
    • Families in Need – 30%
      • ISKC families impacted by catastrophic disease or disaster. Confidential recipients but the list is growing each year.
      • Nick’s Pavilion – Support for one of our students who has a rare metabolic disorder and is often in a wheel chair. This project is to build a first floor handicap accessible addition so Nick can be more self sufficient and lead an independent life. Nickspavilion.com needs to raise an additional $20,000 to do the project.
    • Jennifer Malloy Scholarship Fund – 40%
      • Provides the support for our college scholarship program in memory of Jennifer Malloy. The fund was started with a donation from Jennifer’s family after her death.

If you are in my club, I would like to personally ask you to come out and do this event and show your support not only for our club itself but for our instructors that share and teach us so many good things.

Information about the locations and times of the Kick for Cures event can be found at: Kick for Cures Info

If you can show up to the event or donate, I would like to thank you in advance for doing so.

Thanks again.

Words of wisdom 11/7/08 – Friday Karate class

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Sensei Noia had us spend most the class working on conditioning and sparring drills.

Words of wisdom…

Sensei Noia gave me some of the best sparring advice that he has ever given me.  He told me to stop trying to spar like the faster and more flexible people.  I was sparring one of our assistant instructors tonight and I was trying to keep up with him, shifting in and out but was unable to do it.  Sensei Noia said that I don’t need to shift around and can just stay in place and then put pressure on my opponent or make them come to me.  He said that I need to do it like the older Japanese guys who used to make everyone come to them and then they would attack or counter and attack instead of dancing all around the place.

For the longest time, I always felt that I needed to move around like the younger students if I ever wanted to be able to spar well.  After just a few moments, I was able to block and counter more times than I recall ever doing.  I am almost looking at it like one-step sparring but without knowing what attack is coming.

It was really enlightening and I am glad that Sensei Noia told me like it is.