Shotokanplanet.org

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

Shuffle up and kick – 6/10/10 – Thursday Karate class

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Sensei Cieplik had us spend some extra time on our kicks again but tonight he had us work on a drill that we haven’t done too often.

Make those kicks better….

We started with our normal kicking warm up doing 20 front snap kicks to the front, then 10 front snap kick and back kick combination, then front snap kick and side thrust kick to the front followed by front kick, back kick, roundhouse kick and front kick.  After that, we did stationary  rear leg knee strike with front snap kick.  Sensei gave me some more advice on my front snap kicks in general, when I am putting my leg back down behind me, I am snapping my foot too far back on the retraction and pointing my toes down at the floor.  I need to keep the bottom of my foot even with the ground and keep my toes up until my foot is down behind me.  I also need to be mindful of this when doing any of my front snap kicks, moving forward or back.

Next, we started in a front stance and did front leg front snap kick followed with a rear leg front snap kick moving forward.  Sensei gave me some really good advice on this kick.  He said, after the front leg kick, step forward and down instead of just down.  If you miss the target with the front leg front snap kick, stepping forward and down allows a follow up attack with a shin strike.  It also helps to make the in-between stance lower and the second kick higher.  After that we did moving forward double front snap kick but paying attention to the shin strike in between the kicking movements.  We followed that up with double roundhouse kick.  Sensei said that if you turn your hip too far sideways the kick can easily be avoided.

Shuffle up and kick…..

For the next drill, Sensei had us shuffle our back foot up to our front foot and throw a front leg roundhouse kick.  This is certainly not my kick but Sensei told me to throw a cutting kick instead.  The idea is to make the back foot drive the front foot when kicking and the front foot drive the back foot when pulling it back.   In order for this move to be effective, it needs to be done quickly.  I can see nothing but improvements in my kicks, I do this drill outside of class too.   I just need to make sure that I don’t sweep myself in the process.

A few more basics and some kata….

We also did moving forward and with downward block, rising block, inward block, outward block and reverse punch.  Next, we did a single Heian Shodan.  We then did backstance with knife hand block, front snap kick and spear hand strike moving forward and back.

The next kata we did was Bassai Dai and after that, everyone else continued doing kata while Sensei asked me to assist one my fellow Karateka on the side.

It was an awesome class!

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Jab and kick at that same time – 5/13/10 – Thrusday Karate class

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Sensei Cieplik had us work on a couple movements that I don’t recall doing before.

Some old, some new….

We started out with our kicking warm up and then moved into moving forward with knee strike and front snap kick.  We then did front leg front snap kick with rear leg front snap kick.  Next, we did front snap kick with front punch.  After that came front leg front snap kick with rear leg kick but without chambering it first.  The kick from the back leg came right from the floor.    For the next drill, we stood in a front stance, picked up our front leg and tried to grab it and hold it then set it down.

From there, we moved into a drill that I have never seen before.  Sensei had us start by throwing some short distance roundhouse kicks.  For these kicks, the knee needs to be up high and the kick is very short.

Next, we did the same kick but with a jab added.   For example, we threw a right leg, short roundhouse and a left handed jab at the same time.  I seem to have gotten a little into the drill and ended up jamming my hip.

Lots of kata….

Sensei had the Shodan’s start with kata.  From there Sensei had us work on Heian Sandan, Heian Nidan, Heian Godan and Heian Yondan but not in the normal order.  After that, came Jion and Bassai Dai.

I have another part to fix in Bassai Dai now.  After the double rib strike, I need to think forward and down when throwing the punch that follows.  I found that I was not bringing my back forward after doing the double rib strike and ended up using all upper body to throw the punch.  After about 20 minutes of doing the drill with a friend, I got it.

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Kicks, kicks and more kicks – 9/15/08 – Monday Karate class

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We started with a fairly standard warm up.  We jump in place for a few, then stretch out and do some light shifting.

Excellent hip warm up…

Sensei Brien had us get into a front stance.  From that point we opened our hips like in a block and then closed then like in a punch.  The idea of these hip rotation drills was to get our hips warmed well and to make sure that we all understand how to use our legs and hips when doing various strikes and blocks.

Basics…

Next we did our normal kihon drills, moving forward and back with rising block, downward block inward block all with reverse punch.

Sensei Brien explained something that I am sure I heard before but in a different way.  He said that our hand techniques should end with our step.  If we are moving forward or backward, when our knees come together, we prepare for the movement.  When our foot lands and we finish the step, our hand technique finishes.

Next we worked on stationary back stance, hold the stance for about five minutes each leg and do knife hand blocks.  After the stationary movements, we worked on moving forward and back but we aded the nulite in a front stance with at the end.

Kicks, kicks and more kicks…

Next, we got a partner and a pad.  Our partner stood in a horse stance, holding the pad about belt level and we held a roundhouse kick position.  Sensei then counted and we threw a slow roundhouse kick over pad.  We then held in the extended position and then snapped it back when Sensei told us to.  We did almost the same movement but Sensei had us snap the leg back as fast as possible.

Next came side thrust kicks.  We did the kick over the pad and held it until Sensei said we could bring it back. For the first time ever, I was able to kick at close to or above belt level.  I am not sure what changed but I sure hope it stays that way.

It was an excellent class!