All posts by Jeff Reasoner

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Seminar Day Two Afternoon Session

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Ananku – performed kata and worked on oyo bunkai
Partnered with Sensai Rick (trains with Sensai Trombley in Misissagua?)
In opening part, the hands come up into a cross block to block right hand jodan zuki. Then turn hands over and grab opponents wrist using thumb and index finger, pull down to left. At the same time deliver heel strike to oponents knee
when .

Did a 4 direction gedan-uke/chudan-zuki drill 30-40 times

Wankan several oyo bunkai out of parts.
Had to step out during kata since I haven’t learned this yet. Jumped back in during oyo bunkai, again with Sensai Rick.

Yakusoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅳ

Started with drill stepping forward right punching jodan-zuki. Then step forward left punching chudan-zuki, and follow stepping
forward right into jigotai-dachi, punching oi-zuki. Then step back right and block jodan-uke left, step back left blocking chudan-uke,         and finally step back right and block down left gedan-barai-uke. Repeat on opposite side.

Worked on kumite mainly with Sensai Rick, except for one yakusoku kumite Ⅱ with Sensai Baehr

In defense on Ⅲ, the first block should be soft. The second move, move in (right leg should be between opponent’s legs) block the         opponents chambered and back strongly and block the punching hand up (_not back_) with a twist then attack the opponents floating rib by dropping down and attacking hiji-ate.

On the turn of Ⅳ, block up immediately (look for the punch in peripheral vision) then block down left and punch chudan-zuki at same time.

Practiced kicking with each leg from ippon-ashi-dachi. Performed 30-40 jump-kicks from each leg.

Finished up by performing Naihanchi Shodan once and Fukyugata Ⅰ twice, followed by light stetching jumping jacks and jumping and spinning 360°

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Seminar Day Two Morning Session

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Again stretching and kiso tanren like yesterday, perhaps slightly less. Followed up with 100+ of chudan-zuki from jigotai-dachi and then triple punches.

Practiced a routine like jodan-uke only with blocking hand open. Then drop down with a twist to cover center, and than twist again, throwing down to the side.

Taira stresses twisting at hips in most techniques – noticed this again throughout today’s workout.

Fukyugata Ⅰ worked again on crossing on turns and exploding into gedan-uke like yesterday.
Fukyugata Ⅱ in first move, right foot should go out at 45 deg then turn on ball of foot into jodan-uke

Pinan Shodan – cross blocks in first moves should be away from body – don’t bring arms back in. First turn, deliver kick, then plant turn and block shuto-uke.

Pinan Nidan – focused again on kentsui-uchi being delivered strongly.
Pinan Sandan – refreshed recommendations from yesterday.
Pinan Yondan – like Pinan Shodan, don’t drop hands. Step across right before first big turn (Sensai already taught this.) On knee attack, don’t raise hands too high, but do twist down with both wrists.
Pinan Godan – Taira sensai talked about the dropping block (possibly as a gedan-barai-uke) Need to check with sensai on this. Practiced the part starting with iagoshi-dachi followed by wari-uke.

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Opening Workout

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Class led by Taira sensai. Akamine sensai and Behr sensai helped and watched.

Started with stretching and kiso tanren – 25+ over and back (50 or so total). Was tiring but gave the opportunity to focus on the execution of the technique and pay attention to breathing. Taira sensai reminded the class to do the technique and then relax.

Fukyugata Ⅰ – practiced the turns and gedan uke. Keep blocking elbow in tight to chest durning turn, plant foot and deliver block with twist at hip to provide power.

Fukyugata Ⅱ – practiced the the kick/elbow attack by stopping during the kick and balancing with the knee up, than planting and delivering hiji-ate. Akamine sensai corrected my technique during the warmup hazushi-uke drill and again here. Also worked repeatedly on the final two attacks. Taira sensai talked about the block before the double punch as an inside chest block. One application is to do it softly to block an attack, then come over with a poke to the eyes, or palm-heel attack to the chest or head.

Pinan Shodan – In the opening part, the second upper block should come from where the previous technique ended. Don’t drop arm only to raise it again. The first kosa-dachi should begin with only a small step to the left. Too much will affect your balance and delivery of the ensuing kick.
Behr sensai said to slow down my Pinan Shodan and execute every technique distinctly. He said that O Sensai said each technique should bring something back with it. That provides an avenue for seeing different possibilities in the technique.

Pinan Nidan – The first move is a grab to draw in the attacker’s arm. The following hammer-fist should be delivered with snap.

Pinan Sandan – The second move should have a cross first and twist to power the double block. Also, the elbow blocks should be followed by uraken over top of the attacker’s punch. But when Taira sensai demonstrated, the uraken appeared similar to a chest block. The final strikes over the shoulder should be close into the body. Look first and deliver the punch. Work on extension.

Ended with one Pinan Godan. It was halfway over before I figured out which kata and caught up with where we were. Also another Fukyugata Ⅰ and some more stretching.

Taira sensai said he was happy with the effort made by all.

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Last Class Before Canada

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Class led by Sensai.

Worked on Naihanchi Ⅰ-Ⅲ and Pinan Godan.

I have a tendency to rush through the Naihanchi kata – need to work on slowing down and emphasizing the technique.

The middle section of Naihanchi Ⅱ has a yoko-shuto-uke.

In Naihanchi Ⅲ, the second move is a kizame-zuki followed by uchi-uke. The block should be distinct, don’t hurry through this part.

Bo training

Practiced Shiromatsu-no-kon

basic attack/defense bo routines

In the black belt class, reviewed Fukyugata Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Pinan Shodan/Nidan Bunkai. Still need a ton of work here.

Sensai finished with a quick explanation of Pinan Sandan bunkai. Middle section through the end features mostly right handed attacks.

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No Kata Monday

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Class led by Sensai.

Worked on moving and blocking drills with Sempai. Emphasis was on avoiding attacks while limiting movement and at the same time generating power.

One drill was to block an incoming punch by stepping back and blocking uchi-uke. Then move the opponents arm out of the way by blocking down gedan-uchi, followed by a counter-attack. Sempai stressed turning the wrist of the blocking arm on the uchi-uke, relaxing and allowing the natural arm motion to move the opponent, rather than trying to use a lot of muscle. Twisting at the waist as you transition from jigotai-dachi to zenkutsu-dachi on the downblock generates the power.

Another was to block an incoming punch by stepping back and using an elbow block. The point was to move out of the way and touch but not block the attack with power.

A related drill was to block a mai-geri attack by stepping back into jigotai-dachi and blocking gedan-uchi on the outside of the attackers leg.
This can transition into the same motion as uchi-uke and if timed correctly, naturally traps the opponents leg as they try to rechamber the foot.

Worked on a drill using makite-uke (winding block) to block an incoming front punch. The block comes up and across the body and is augmented with the other hand below the elbow of the blocking arm. Sensai said this is one of the easiest techniques to see how power can be generated from the center of the body. Sempai talked about this move being in the opening part of Wankan.

Yet another was to simply step to the side to avoid a mai-geri attack.

In sparring, Sempai talked about my need to relax, deliver a combination of attacks and move to the side. Feints and leg movements can be used to disrupt an opponents expected attack, but should be followed up with an immediate counter-attack. I need to work on moving and closing distance without making it obvious.

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7/19

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Class led by Sempai.

As usual, lots of stretching in the beginning of class. I’ve been bad about doing my stretching at home lately and felt the results today.

Performed Fukyugata Ⅰ/Ⅱ each a couple of times. Worked on basic partner drills out of these kata with Tom.

Rotated free sparring. Bill Palmer wanted to work on left-handed techniques, and I tried to follow suit.

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7/15

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Kata class led by Zack.

Worked on Fukyugata Ⅰ through Pinan Sandan and Naihanchi Shodan with emphasis on using good technique and power.

For weapons training, broke into two groups, one to work on bo and the other to work on sai. I chose the sai group which worked on sai-dai-ichi.

In the black belt class worked on Shiromatsu-no-kon.

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Second Class For July

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Class was led by Sensai.

Started with a couple of slow performances of Fukyugata Ⅰ, followed by lots of individual and partner (Simon) assisted stretching.

Worked on blocks (jodan, chudan, gedan and gedan-barai) and punch, double punches from jigotai-dachi.

Practiced Yakusoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅴ from right and left sides. I’m finding I have to unlearn Ⅴ somewhat and not turn my back to the opponent. Didn’t realize I’d practiced it enough to have that pattern ingrained.
Basically, I need to remember to turn to my left (counter-clockwise) when attacking. Received my black tip today.

Finished with two Fukyugata Ⅱ, and renzoku Pinan Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅴ

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First July class

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Class led by Sensai.

Went through all Fukyugata and Pinan kata.

Also worked on Pinan Sandan bunkai with Jessan:

In the opening part, the attacker steps zenkutsu-dachi left side punching left. Defender blocks chudan-uchi then blocks same punch cutting up and right. The attaker kicks from the rear (right) foot and the defender blocks cutting down right.

The second part, the attacker again zenkutsu-dachi left side punching left. Then pulls back and chambers both fists as the defender attacks nukite-zuki. Then reaches foward with the right hand and grabs the defender while stepping back left (with small slide) to jigotai-dachi. The defender turns, and punches oi-zuki. Attacker steps back right punches left and immediately right. The defender counters with a right front punch under the first, then turns to elbow block the second.

The third part the attacker steps shizentai-dachi right and front punches. Defender steps right jigotai-dachi and blocks right with inside elbow block followed by uraken. Repeats the same with left, then again to the right, this time with a wrist grab after the elbow block.

Worked on kihon bo (Shinjo Sensai) Shiromatsu-no-kon, and Shushi-No-Kon in the way Taira Sensai may likely teach it in Canada.

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Last Monday class for June

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Made a rare (for me) Monday class led by Sempai.

At least for tonight I was the lowest rank in class.

Worked on ido kihon. Few things to remember:

In chudan-uke relax and keep elbows in this will provide natural tension for the block. The elbow should also be about a fist width from the body.

Jodan, chudan, and gedan-uke should all have a pulling motion across the body.

In kazami-zuki mai-geri, the kick should be forward, inline with the body. Be sure to bring the kick back before planting forward.

At this level the rear hand in chudan shuto-uki can come forward quickly. The scoop doesn’t need to be exaggerated or deep.

Matsubayashi-Ryu is a close-in fighting style, so for most techniques, work on rotating at the hip (center). This generates power and improves timing.

Worked on Yakusoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅳ with Lara. I need to work on the attacking part more as I messed up the footwork on the first three.
The part in Ⅲ where the defender blocks the opponents chambered fist, is not only to prevent a punch, but also to upset his balance and make the tate-hiji-ate more effective.

Developed a couple of practical applications of Ⅲ as well.

In one, the attacker tries to choke with both hands. The defender comes inside the attackers arms with both hands clearing them from his throat and follows with the elbow attack. In another, the attacker grabs the defenders wrist. The defender pulls back with inside uchi-uke and freeing the hand, immediately attacks with uraken or shuto-uke.

In the kata any punch could also be delivered as a kick.