Category Archives: karate

karate

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.

karate

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.

karate

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.

karate

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.

karate

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

karate

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.

karate

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.

karate

6/24

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Worked at length on basics.  Sensai pointed out that I was leaving my (esp. left) arm bent on gedan-uke. Should be fully extended. I also need to remember to step up and into jodan-uke.

I feel a lot more confident in my technique, which also means I’m more relaxed and breathing better. Nonetheless, by the end I was winded and my technique was noticeably weaker.

Worked on Fyukugata Ⅱ bunkai. We broke the  attacking part down into three sections:

The opening part starts with chudan gyaku-zuki using the opposite arm of the defender (Since you’re facing each other , it ends up being same side – just the opposite of Fyukugata Ⅰ). Then step back  and throw another chudan gyaku-zuki. Finally, kick mai-geri from the front foot landing forward end ending in kumite-dachi.

In the middle part, the attacker steps forward left and punches kizame-zuki, then steps back left again punching kizame-zuki. Steps back right into nekoashi-dachi and blocks the right side kick by covering with the left hand. After the defender throws the tate-hiji-ate, the attacker kicks mai-geri from the front foot, lands forward and punches kizame-zuki.

For the final part (the very end of the kata), the defender starts in gyaku-zuki zenkutsu-dachi right side forward and back to the opponent. The attacker steps forward left and punches kizame-zuki, then steps forward right again punching kizame-zuki. Changes feet using footwork Ⅱ and punches right.

In the black belt class, we went through all sai kata twice (once by the count and once renzoku) and ended class by performing our highest kata (ananku) for Sensai. He had no real comments other than we need to continue to practice.

I also reviewed Yakusoku kumite Ⅴ with Jessan. The opening part of the defense doesn’t require much movement, rather just pivot the feet into naname zenkutsu-dachi and block chudan-uke.

karate

6/21

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Worked on moving basics including footwork Ⅰ-Ⅲ

hands for Ⅰ comprise an uchi-uke followed by gyaku-zuki

Ⅱ starts with a covering downblock using the hand opposite the pulling foot

hands for Ⅲ are a circular block starting in the opposite direction to that of the feet

Most of class was spent working on timing in various partner drills with Tom including one using sayu-barai-uke to block a front kick.

Practiced yakusoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅶ (except Ⅴ) All attacks in pre-arranged sparring start from the right.

Class was unusually light on kata, with just a single renzoku performance of Pinan Shodan.

karate

6/17

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Performed all kata

Worked on bunkai for Fukyugata Ⅰ through Pinan Nidan with Dave and Jessan.

Sensai is starting to comment more about the upcoming trip to Canada.  Wants us to practice kata

Worked on sai kata and kihon bo. The opening three moves of Hanagushiku No Sai should include a pulling motion with the leading (blocking) hand. Could be seen as hooking a bo for example.