All posts by Jeff Reasoner

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Full House

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If last Saturday was one of the smallest classes I could recall being part of, then today’s kata class was one of the biggest. Usually we can get by with one line, but today it took two or even three.

Worked on all kata as a group through Pinan Sandan. The double block in Pinan Sandan should be deep, yet contained so as not to go beyond shoulder width. After that we broke out into groups by highest Pinan kata. With Zack and Noah leading my group went through Pinan Godan maybe 10 times – to the point I was sweating and fatigued.

We then went through the Naihanchi kata. In Naihanchi Nidan, the sequence after the supported chudan-uke is two elbow attacks – one to the rear and one to the front. I need to continue working on relaxing while performing all the Naihanchi kata.

Today was tonfa day, so we practiced basics, as well as Fukyugata Ichi. I need to practice the figure eight motion especially with my left hand. After I repair the loose grip on one tonfa, that is.

Finally, I worked on Pinan Shodan bunkai with Jessan and Noah. I need a lot of practice here, but after going through it several times, I think I have the basic pattern down. Also based on the bunkai, I see some ways I can improve my kata here as well.

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Class and Belt Test

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Saturday morning class was about the smallest I’ve seen in quite a while. Only 5 people (including myself) and Sensai.

After stretching, we skipped laps and other conditioning and instead worked Ido Kihon.

When performing nekoashi-dachi, the rear leg should push forward and the front foot should land heel first before returning to nekoashi-dachi again.

Sensai complimented my chudan soto shuto-uke.

Performed Fukyugata Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Pinan Shodan/Nidan.

Sensai also complimented my second Kentsui-uchi in Pinan Nidan.

Sensai talked again about including snap in double blocks where the second is really an attack. Mentioned Soke twisting his wrists when taking breaks between sessions. He also talked about focusing energy on each movement and the importance and connection of the kiai in that regard. My kiais need to be better. They should be less hesitant, more spontaneous and louder.

Belt test

While performing yakusoku kumite Sensai pointed out that I that I am not kiai’ing correctly or consistently. After that, however, I think I performed yakosoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅳ credibly for my level.

During Nekoashi-dachi as part of Ido Kihon, I really felt it in my quads. Obviously, I have gotten out of shape over the winter. That should improve as I’m working oustide more in the coming months.

I did not know the student creed, however I do know O Sensai’s recommendations for study. Nonetheless, I need to learn the creed since it’s specific to the Mastin dojo.

Performed Fukyugata, Pinan (except godan) and all Naihanchi kata. Of the Naihanchi kata, shodan was the better of the three. Nidan and sandan were somewhat rushed, a bit out of balance ( I had to catch myself more than once.) and I also caught my gi with my hand a couple of times. Somehow, I continue to be nervous and self-conscious during tests despite practicing outside the dojo. I have improved a lot in the last 2.5 years though.

In the end, I not only passed, but passed another belt to San Kyu (Brown Ⅰ).

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March 19 Kata Class

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Kata class this week was led by Laura.

Practiced kata through Naihanchi Shodan. I need to pay attention to my footwork in Pinan Sandan. I could tell I was still moving my feet while blocking in step two. Also need to make sure the sase hiji-ate are in jigotai-dachi.
I still occasionally kiai at the wrong point in Pinan godan, but then again I still make mistakes in all the other kata.

Nunchaku

Worked on basics and Fukyugata Ichi Ⅱ and Ⅲ led by Zack. Despite not practicing the harder version in months much of it was surprisingly familiar.

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Pinan Nidan Saturday

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Sensai led what ended up being a Pinan Nidan themed class.

Unfortunately, my performances of that kata were not particularly good and on the turns, off balance. I think I need to step further to the outside on the gedan-uke zenkutsu-dachi. That should bring my stance back to shoulder width.

I’m certain sensai noticed but also wasn’t the only person that had problems.  Later in the class we formed two lines and raced down the floor repeating that move each time changing direction 180°.

Spent some time free sparring and also practiced Yakusoku kumite Ⅵ.

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Another Tuesday class

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Hoping to be able to get back on a Tuesday/Saturday schedule again.

Zack led the class today.  Stretched and worked on blocking/punching drills. Went through all kata up to Pinan Sandan before breaking into groups.

Starting with Fukugata Ni and in all Pinan kata, the first move is a short step forward with a turn to the first block.

In Pinan Yondan, after the first two kicks, there should be a slide forward into the hiji-ate attack. Following the second kick, the next move is a strike with the right hand and a head block with the left. That should have the proper angle and distance for jodan-uke even though the hand is open.

Worked on Naihanchi Sandan with Sensai Lara. The first and third front punches should be followed by a chest block. She said the tendency is to rush through the Naihanchi kata, but that it’s important to perform each move.  Performing these kata slowly to emphasize the individual moves is perfectly acceptable. Afterwards Sensai Alvin said that for the moves that have a supporting hand, it should just touch the punching/blocking arm.

Worked on Fukyugata Ichi/Ni bunkai with Sensais Zack and Alvin.
I remembered more of each than I thought, but don’t feel especially comfortable with them yet.  I think I need to practice both parts regularly like I do kata.

Lastly, we worked on nunchaku basics:

inside kasa-uchi

jodan-uke followed by an around-the-head strike

chudan-uke followed by a figure-eight

lower/uppper cross block in zenkutsu-dachi

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Spring tease

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First Saturday class this year that there wasn’t ice and snow everywhere. Actually wore my sandals in bare feet.

Worked on basics as partner drills. Sensai again reminded that most uke waza should include a cutting motion. Worked on applying that using:

gedan shuto-uke when blocking kicks. The outside hand pushes the kick away and the second (inside) hand can be a strike to the thigh. The twist adds power.

chudan shuto-uke to trap a chest punch then using the other to cover the opponent’s fist and ultimately perform a wrist lock.

a single outside uchi-uke to block a chest punch and also a double uchi-uke (outside, inside) where the second can also be trapping, as in wari-uke in Pinan Shodan.

Performed all Fukyugata and Pinan katas before light sparring. I made a mistake at the start of Pinan Godan, but recovered and was able to finish. I think that’s a good sign that I know the kata well enough to recover, and at the same time that I need to do more work on it.

Pinan Sandan is the only kata where a punch is delivered without both feet firmly planted (ushiro hiji-ate).

In Pinan Godan, the otoshi-uke should drop down (from ear height to block a kick according to O Sensai’s book, p70).
Also, to maintain balance in the following kizame-zuki from zenkutsu-dachi, Soke said it was alright to move the left foot a step further to the left.

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Made a kata class for a change

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This Tuesday’s kata class was pretty full and the first in a while led by Sensai. I’ve also missed several due to our schedule at home or weather-related dojo closings.

Worked through all kata through Pinan Sandan twice as a group. Performed Pinan Yondan/Godan and highest Naihanchi kata in smaller groups. The first chest punch in Naihanchi Sandan can be interpreted in several ways, one of which is a punch followed by an inside chest block.

Worked on tonfa blocking and striking basics in main class and practiced Fukyugata Ichi with tonfa in ni-kyu class.
Tonfa is still pretty uncomfortable for me. Obviously need to practice more with it for that to improve.

Sensai said that Matsubayashi-Ryu kobudo is focused mainly on bo and sai. There are really only about 3 kata each for tonfa and kama.

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Wednesday for a change

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Needed to get out of the house for a bit and karate has become a positive outlet for me.

Sempai led this class and the focus was on fitness and sparring.

Sempai complemented my front punch.  While sparring with Sensai Edelen he suggested coming straight in with a front/screw punch to the face.  He is very good at sparring  – fast with good vision and focus. I don’t get a change to train much with him but today has definitely helped me. He has also started home-brewing.

While sparring with Lara, I caught a side kick in the left chest. It didn’t bother me much at the time, but later one spot in particular hurts when I put pressure on it. I’m wondering if I cracked a rib.

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Kumite week again

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Sempai led class.

Worked on yakusoku-kumite, with emphasis on defensive stances.

No 1 – shizentai-dachi, jigotai-dachi, zenkutsu-dachi
No 2 – shizentai-dachi,  shizentai-dachi, shizentai-dachi (stepping to right)
No 3 – jigotai-dachi, jigotai-dachi
No 4 – shizentai-dachi x3, shizentai-dachi
No 5 – zenkutsu-dachi, kosa-dachi, (turning to) nekoashi-dachi

Worked on blocking random attacks. Started in kumite-dachi on defense. Felt much more natural from ready stance. Sempai commented that my blocks were more relaxed that way.

Keep hands up and elbows in while sparring. Also, turn the body by rotating the hips. Both improve your spacing, ie diminish the space an opponent has to land an attack.

Opponents are likely to be right handed, so moving to the right will put you to the outside of most first attacks. More generally, to stay on the outside, move to the same side that the attack is coming from. Moving forward will help decrease the distance making a counter attack more effective.

Getting closer to completing chinese splits.

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Kata in parts

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Focus today was on application of techniques in the kata – especially twisting the hips. Used to generate power in attacks and also hip motion to create blocks when distance is not possible (when cornered or pushed against a wall).

Techniques

Practiced several methods of trapping incoming punches.

chudan soto-uke kosa-dachi (from Pinan Shodan)
morote soe-uke in zekutsu-dachi (from Pinan Shodan, Godan)
wari-uke, trapping the punch between both wrists (transition from first-second move in Pinan Shodan)

Worked on morote-barai-uke in various ways. The block can be either up or down, but Sensai emphasized cutting with the attacking hand, either upwards or downwards. Can either push the opponent away or pull him in depending on whether the block is up or down.