Monthly Archives: April 2014

karate

End of April

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Class was led by Zack, worked through each of the Fukyugata and Pinan katas before practicing Ananku. Some of his comments:

  • The intermediate/advanced class should have good basics – pay attention to stances and blocks
  • Worked on the first kick in Fukyugata Ⅱ several times. The right arm stays out as a block while the hiji-ate is delivered.
  • When executing the turns in Pinan Nidan, you need to step across or behind your plant foot to achieve the correct width of stance to execute the next technique. Otherwise the stance will be too narrow leaving you out of balance.
  • In Pinan Sandan, the over-the-shoulder punches should be delivered at the same time as the hiji-ate. They should have good extension but there should not be too much hip rotation in the delivery.
  • The kaku-zuki in Pinan Godan are the same attack but delivered in a different direction and at a different angle. The principle is the same though.

Some notes regarding Ananku:

  • There are several times where more than one technique is performed on just one count. There should be good power and follow-though throughout.
  • In the first nekoashi-dachi, the front foot is raised the entire time, and only on the floor when the kick is delivered.
  • The second kiai is delivered at different times depending on who is teaching. Can be on either double punch or even before them both.

Practiced Sai dai Ichi, Sai dai Ni and Hanagushiku no Sai.

Notes on Hanagushiku no Sai:

  • In the first two moves, the pommel of the rear sai should just touch top of the forearm.
  • Soke performed the two right-hand strikes in nekoashi-dachi sliding forward instead of zenkutsu-dachi as shown in the NZ dojo videos.
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Soke Nagamine Memorial Class

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The first hour of class was dedicated to stretching, ido kihon, and kiso tanren. One technique I want to work on ouside the dojo in particular, is the front kick with the back leg from kenkutsu-dachi. Numerous punches and kicks were done from each side and in rapid succession. Sensai said that this is how classes in Okinawa are structured.  This was quite tiring, and an excellent workout.

Broke into small groups to perform kata. When evaluating others’ kata, Sensai talked about the importance of first offering praise and positive feedback, and not criticism and correction. This really stuck with me, and thinking about it has made me realize I need to do a better job of remembering this and applying it in all parts of my life.

Regarding the turn after the kosa-dachi in Pinan Yondan, Sensai pointed out that you should step across with your right foot to turn into the nekoashi-dachi.

Unfortunately, I had to leave prior to Sai practice and photos.

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Ides of April

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Sensai reminded again to work on including a twisting motion in our blocks and punches to add power and snap to  techniques in the kata. Particularly in gedan-uke and jodan-uke of Fukyugata Ⅰ. The gedan-uke should also include a twisting at the hips, since the block should start from the opposite shoulder and come across the body.

I’ve noticed that I need to work on getting more consistent about turning my hips 45° in (especially the first) kosa-dachi in Pinan Shodan.

Sensai also made several comments regarding Naihanchi Shodan. The first was to think of the morote-barai-uke in terms of cutting. It should also be as deep (in terms of distance from beginning to end, as well as away from the body) as possible.
Secondly, the rounded block needs twist to generate power since it only moves a short distance. Finally, the entire kata should be performed on one level.

Began working on Ananku with Zack.  It’s shorter than I expected and most stances are zenkutsu-dachi.

Was asked to lead and count Kihon Kama Ⅰ. Good thing I’ve made it a point to practice kama a lot this year.
Strikes should be delivered from the shoulder or across the body.
After striking, the return to the chambered position should include a motion where the elbow pulls in toward the body – think about dislodging the blade from a body or staff.

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Applied basics

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In groups of three, we practiced the four main kicks.

Practiced one of Sensai’s dojo routines. The defensive side starts from kumite-dachi. When the attack comes, step back, bringing the left foot back to the right, while blocking Shukoken up with the left hand. Then stepping back, block down Shokoken again with the left hand. The next punch from the opponents right gets blocked down with the right hand and the following punch from the opponents left gets blocked again with the right hand using jodan-uke.
Next comes a front kick from the rear (right) foot followed by a right jodan-zuki and left chudan-zuki.

Worked on Fukyugata Ichi bunkai with Asa and Sempai Wands. Practiced Pinan Yondan and Godan, the second of which Sensai said was very good. Also worked on Naihanchi Sandan.

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Primary Saturday

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Worked on basics, especially:

zenkutsu-dachi turning 180 with downblocks and gyaku-zuki
kosa-dachi
hiji-ate jigotai-dachi

Worked on number one katas – Fukyugata, Pinan and Naihanchi. Pay attention to naihanchi-dachi. Should be like a side kick landing with the outside edge of the foot. Also the feet should be turned in slightly, not jigotai-dachi.

The creator of the Naihanchi katas is unknown, but it is believed that all three were originally one kata. At over 700 years old, they are the oldest kata in Matsubayashi Ryu.

Sensai reiterated using snap or twist, instead of more force or bigger motion, to add power to techniques. When executing punches or blocks, you should think in terms of driving the motion through the opponents attack.

While sparring with Sempai Wands, he suggested that I can improve my kaiten ushiro-geri by keeping my kicking foot closer to my plant foot, and kicking straight back.

karate

Two weapons, no joke

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Performed Pinan shodan and Naihanchi shodan katas, and also worked on some interpretations.

Pinan shodan

Two variations on the opening sequence, one based on the bunkai where the initial attack is chudan-zuki with the right hand and the other where the attacker uses the left.

Another interpretation of the opening block where the attacker uses jodan-zuki and the double block traps the punch.

Naihanchi Shodan

There is a lot in this kata, but we only worked on a couple of parts tonight.

A basic application of the opening sequence – shuto, hiji-ate and grabbing and pulling the opponents arm in.

Also worked on the later sequence starting with the double block. In this application we changed direction, stepping forward rather than to the side and applied the downblock as a strike to the opponent’s side. Sensai stressed thinking of this move in terms of cutting. Reminded me of another class earlier this year where we were applying techniques from the katas.

Kobudo

Performed Fukyugata Ichi and Kihon kama katas in class for one of the first times this year.  I recall missing most previous kama weeks, due either to other commitments or weather-related cancellations.

Worked on Sai dai-ni and Hanagushiku-no-sai. Sensai wants to teach the latter kata the way Soke used to teach it, which includes nekoashi-dachi rather than zenkutsu-dachi. He also said the version performed in the videos on the the NZ site is alright. I’ll use it for reference for practice outside class.