Led by Sensai

All Sai kata

Open hand kata through Pinan Sandan

Fuk Ⅰ is often though to be simple,  yet it’s the only basic kata where you move toward the attack while changing directions. Why? Normally beginners move away from an attack. What should we learn from that?

Can think of Fuk Ⅱ also in vertical terms – moving  from high to low or low to high. Also think  of the third move  as blocking down but standing your ground. Don’t lean away.  Then you don’t have to cheat to stand up in to the next jodan-uke.

Beginning of Pinan Nidan doesn’t move from low to high, but stays on one level.  Movement is horizontal  – in and out.

Pinan Shodan is the first kata where you really start to see koshi and how the hips can generate power in the blocks and attacks.

Worked on Pinan Sandan for rest of class.  Worked on bunkai oyo with Sensai Palmer.  Ways to use the first part – chudan uke/ morote uke. Also the 360 deg turn, turn before the hiji-ate section and the elbow blocks themselves.

Black belt class worked on Pinan yondan including repeating the sase hiji-ate drills from last Sat. Talked about the knee attack section. Think of digging the index fingers behind the collarbone and pulling down.  The knee attack could also be a kick to the groin. The preceding morote uke could be inside or outside and could also be changed to a simultanous block and strike.

The really deadly attacks are not punches, but open hand strikes,  strikes with finger tips, elbows , and toe kicks.