Shotokanplanet.org

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

All basics and kata class

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Basics and kata, my kind of class.  Exam time is always my favorite times because we spend a lot of time working on basics and kata.  It really gives me a chance to make sure that I am still improving and that my techniques are still correct or not.

Here is the list of basics that we went through:

  • horse stance with punch, then double punch and triple punch
  • moving forward with front punch
  • front snap kick front punch
  • front snap kick, side thrust, back kick, reverse punch
  • same with roundhouse kick
  • front snap kick, side thrust to front, back fist
  • front snap kick front punch
  • double front snap kick
  • double roundhouse kick

One step with two counter attacks….

Next, we worked on some one step sparring.  For this drill, we worked on doing counter attacks with two techniques.  For example, when our partner would punch to the stomach we would block with a knife hand block, throw a roundhouse kick to the body and follow that with a backfist.

We finished up class with kata.  Sensei broke us out into groups of those doing Hangetsu, Empi and Bassai Sho.  Sensei had us all do kata at the same time while he watched each group and then he gave us something to improve upon.  I have been working on Bassi Sho for some time now but the ending movements are always the hardest for me and Sensei was a big help getting me on the right track.

The eye in your elbow – 2/10/11 – Thursday Karate class

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We did many of the standard drills in class today but Sensei Cieplik said a few things that really stood out.

Make those kicks better….

Sensei had us start in left foot forward front stance and we put our left hand in front of our body near center.  From there, we did a rear leg knee strike, touching our hand  with our knee while keeping our stance.

Eye in your elbow….

The idea of having your eye in your eye in your elbow when doing a knife hand is to keep your arm in a position where your elbow is facing your target.  I am thinking it is much like when you kick and you point your kicking leg knee at your target.

One point that I never hear too much of….

Sensei often mention that it takes 30 years to learn Karate.  The first 10 years are spent learning to relax.  The second 10 years are spent learning to adjust your body to the movements or techniques.  The last 10 years are spent learning how to move naturally.

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Get your hips under your heels – 1/14/10 – Thursday Karate class

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It is great to be back to Thursday class since I had to miss to last weeks class because of the nasty snow storm.  Sensei Cieplik took us back to basic basics.  Just when you think you are doing the most simple movement perfectly, Sensei shows you otherwise.  At least, that is how it turned out for me today.

Start out with kicks…

Sensei had us spend a lot of time working on our kicks today.  We did the normal warm up kicks but then we moved into more kicking drills.  We did stationary knee strike with front snap kick.  The key to this is to retract the hips after the knee strike but before the front snap kick.

Get your hips under those heels….

Sensei had us spend a lot of time working on some simple drills that we have been doing since the first or second Karate class for most of us.  When we learned to step forward as beginners, we started in a front stance, we were told to step though and bring our feet together and then apart into a front stance.  The problem with that movement is it make us raise up when we bring our feet together.  Instead, Sensei wants us to bring our knees together to protect our groin but keep our feet apart about a foot apart.  This keeps us from raising up and down when moving and still protects the groin.

We also worked on the five parts of a front stance with front punch.  The five parts, are guarded back leg, shin clash, knee sweep, draw hand pull and the punch.

Next, we spent time working on the shin clash and throwing our front leg forward.  The idea is to throw that front leg forward, forcing the knee up and keeping our hips under our heels.  This keeps your tailbone tucked under and forward.  If the hips are pointing down, you cannot get your hips under your heels.

We also work on front kick with front punch.  This time, Sensei had us break the movement into parts.  We did the front snap kick and then set our foot down in a blocking leg stance, then we push the front leg forward and punched.  Sensei had us also pay extra attention to the draw hand instead of the punching hand.

Sensei said that if we practice these basic movements, he guarantees that our kata would improve.  He also said that great basics make great kata.

Get a partner….

For the next drill, we got a partner.  Our partner stood in a front stance, we stepped in did a skin clash with our foot on the outside of theirs and then we moved our knee to the outside and knee swept our partner.  The shin class almost looks like a sweeping movement at the start.  It’s a powerful movement but it can be rough on your partners knees.

Kata…

We finished up working on kata.  We did Heian 1 through Heian 5 and then Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai and Jion.  I was really disappointed in my Jion.  I guess the great basics part is something that I really need to work to improve my kata.

It was a great class but walking afterward was not easy.