Often, when we train, we stick to many of what I consider standard techniques.  These techniques, such as front punch, reverse punch, front snap kicks and the group of standard blocks make up much of the Shotokan kihon.  These powerful techniques work well in kumite and on the street but there are some other effective techniques that aren’t done on a regular basis.  The hammer fist, ridge hand and knee strike isn’t seen in kumite competition and if it is, chances are it’s followed with a warning or a disqualification as your opponent hits the floor.  Needless to say, today’s class had us visit some of those techniques and it shows that there are more options to add to your arsenal of Karate skills.  Sensei Noia was away coaching at an international tournament and Sensei Plocharczyk filled in and gave us a tough class that not only worked our bodies but also made us think about some other techniques.

Warm up the legs

To make sure the legs were warm, we started with stationary front stance with front snap kick.  After the kick, bring the kicking back behind with intention as if it is a low back kick.

Kicks continued

Next came a group of drills that we used to with Sensei Cieplik where we start with a knee strike front snap kick, making sure that the hip extends and retracts each time.  We added another front kick, doing front snap kick, knee strike and front snap kick.  Another knee strike was added doing a front snap kick, knee strike, front snap kick and knee strike.  This got the legs and hips warmed up well.  Even though it sounds like an easy drill overall, it’s not if you get the hips moving correctly.

We continued the kicks with a partner, doing alternating front snap kick, roundhouse kick, side thrust kick, hook kick and spinning back kick for 30 seconds with each leg.

Focus on the less obvious

Sensei had us work on some techniques that we don’t normally work on.  We stayed with our partner and got a focus mitt.  We worked on back fist, doing the set fast with a light touch and a fast retraction.  The second group was hard driving through the focus mitt. We did the same drills with hammer fist but hard and strong.  Then came ridge hand making sure to keep the fingers tight or deal with the pain caused if they are not.

We went back to some kicks doing side thrust kicks to the focus mitt with our heel hitting the same spot each time.  We did it again but this time going loose and fast for maximum speed.

We finished up with a drill that I almost forgot about.  We start facing our partner, we throw a reaching jab short of our partners face, our partner blocks and then we shift in and jab on the outside of their block using the same hand.  We did the same drill again but this time, after the reach and jab, when our partner blocks, we follow up with a shift and back fist.   This is a very simple drill but sometimes the most effective techniques are simple.

Class summary:

• Warm up the legs with intention
• Continue with more kicks
• Focus on the less obvious techniques
• Reach, jab and attack again

Today’s class was focused on raw power and spirit.  We often do our techniques trying to have perfect form with the goal of getting a new rank or a medal at a tournament but the best looking techniques in the world cannot stop an a attacker if you don’t have power and spirit.

Get warm first

Class started out with some kata warm ups.  Doing all five Heian kata to get the blood flowing always works well but doing them again, in mirror image, gets the mind working too.  We followed that with some simple kihon, moving across the dojo in a front stance with a single punch, then again with a single block followed and then a block and reverse punch combination.

Just hit it

After the warm up, Sensei Noia had us moving across the dojo again with a single punch but this time, we had to hit hard.  So hard, that if you fall over lunging into the next front stance, it’s okay.  This is what Sensei called dojo kihon.  If it looks kinda ugly but it has everything you have behind it, it’s dojo kihon.

It also helps you improve your fighting spirit because it is so hard to put everything you have into it, that your body wants to give up but your spirit carries you through.  Training this way won’t win any trophies or higher ranks but doing this training, keeping the spirit and power while cleaning up your techniques will.

After this, we got a partner and multiple pads to work on punching.  Not just punching but punching hard.  Our partner held the pad and we took a full front stance away from the pad and then stepped forward and hit the pad with what should be a ferocious front punch.  The problem I had was, I was trying to hit the pad too hard.  The punch was strong but not as strong as it could be.  Sensei told me, just hit the pad, don’t try to hit it hard, just relax and hit it.  After a few failed attempts, I was able to loosen up and hit that pad hard.  The punch did not feel strong but the reaction and the look on my partners face told me that I was punching hard.

I don’t know if any of you reading this have the same feeling but my most powerful techniques always feel effortless and weak but my partners are telling me that’s not the case.

Punch hard without hitting

We did another set of punches across the dojo and there were moments where if felt that my punch was so hard, I couldn’t stop my body. We followed that with Taikyoku Shodan and then three ugly kata of our choice but doing them with everything we have left.

This training isn’t something you should do all the time because I think it would really have an impact on your form but if you put all you have into it and then when testing and competing clean it up you will make it strong to bring out the spirit which bring out the art.

Class Summary:

• Get warm first
• Just hit it and hit it hard
• Punch hard without hitting

Today’s class involved a lot of kicks again but this time, we were hitting things, such as our partner holding some pads.  There was some kihon and kata also but the kicks were the focal point today.

Warm up and get to work

We started with similar warm up from last week but Sensei had us add some shifting drills this time.  We did shifting across the dojo and then job back a few times to get warm.

Next came stances only across the dojo and then stances with a single technique.  After that we picked a single block to do across the dojo and after that, the same block with a reverse punch.

Kick your partner

We started in a horse stance, taking a long step behind with a side thrust kick across the dojo in both directions.

Next, we got a partner and some pads and started kicking.  Side thrust kicks had a lot of focus and we did many of them with Sensei Noia giving each of us suggestions or corrections.  When doing side thrust kicks, the leg you are standing is very important.  If you do not use the stationary leg, chances are you will bounce off your target.  Turning the stationary leg on the ball of the foot and pushing off as the kick is executed makes it very powerful and you get a little extra distance too.

For the next drill, we did front snap kick to the pad, side thrust kick to the side and front snap kick again from a front stance.  Next, we did front snap kick to front, side thrust kick to the pad and back kick to the rear.  I lost count of how many kicks we did but we did them for about 30 minutes.

Time for kata

Sensei had us start with Jion, counting out each move.  The goal of this first kata was to finish each technique and settle before moving on to the next move.  We often rush through a kata making the moves jumble together without putting maximum power into them. We did Jion again on our own and then moved to Bassai Dai.

After that, the students who are testing did they rank kata and everyone else had a choice to pick an advanced kata doing the same concept as above, completing each move and settling before exploding into the next move.  We did another kata after that and class ended.

Class Summary:

• Warm up with shifting and stances
• side thrust kick a lot
• Kata with full power and speed but settle before moving on to the next technique