Tag Archives: kihon undo

Frigid Saturday morning

The first Saturday class of 2015 was small. Sensai even commented at one point that he wondered if anyone was coming.  At ni-kyu, I was the lowest belt, which is a good thing since it means that as a group we can work on most anything.

For most of the class we worked on basics.  Stretching, warming up like the Okinawans recommend, from the extremities in to the core. Kihon Undo, including forearm extension drills.

The 11 Ido Kihon foundation drills. Sensai reminded us to move first and set our feet before executing the hand technique. I’m sure that still applies to me. Thinking about it afterward reminded me of something Senasi Baehr said to me last July when we were practicing Pinan Shodan. I was rushing and he said that I needed to complete each movement.

We also worked through each kata from Fukyugata Ⅰ to Ananku.

The yoi position for all Pinan kata, Sensai reminded me to keep my arms at shoulder width. I am holding them out to the side. Relaxing will probably take care of it.

The chudan hasami-uke (middle scissors block) in Pinan Ⅴ should be close to the body so that you can drive the punch in the following move.

Work on developing koshi in the kata. Any time you double block or cross your hands to execute a technique (jodan uke, gedan uke), you can accelerate it with koshi.  Look for opportunities especially in kata from Pinan Ⅲ through Ananku.

Remember that when receiving a punch by covering with the opposite hand, you can quickly turn the opponents arm and get on the outside by grabbing the wrist and doing an outside chest block.

First Tuesday class in a while

Worked on sai tonight starting with moving drills:

One drill was moving forward in zenkutsu-dachi, blocking down, striking down, blocking down again and following with gyaku-zuki. Repeat the routine on the other side.

Another was stepping forward into jodan-uchi, followed by an around-the-head strike, then around-the-world strike and z-block. Finally, another gyaku-zuki before stepping forward and repeating on the opposite side.

Last was to step forward left into zenkutsu-dachi and punch up with both hands. Then step forward with the right (facing left) into jigotai-dachi and sweep around and down to the right. Then step forward with the left (facing right) into jigotai-dachi and strike across the body up to the left and then the same to the right. Finally turn back left into zenkutsu-dachi and repeat the routine starting with the double strike.

Practiced Fukyugata Ⅰ with sai as a group before breaking out to work on Hanagushiku-no-sai. Sensai pointed out that the last strike should be up and forward like a motion in Rohai. When stepping out of the kosa-dachi to the left, the right foot should slide over so you are upright rather than in jigotai-dachi.

Practiced ido kihon and kihon undo. Dan ranks are expected to know the order of these exercises. Following that, partnered with Dave to work on yakusoku kumite Ⅰ-Ⅳ from both right and left sides. Next we broke into a groups (me, Dave and Zack) with each member selecting and performing one basic, one intermediate and one advanced kata for the others. I chose Pinan Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan and Ananku. Dave commented that he’d like to have my chudan shuto-uke. In Ananku, I need to work on keeping the wari-uke out in front of me. I seem to be crossing my arms drawing my fists in toward my body before throwing them back out forward.

In the last part of class, performed Shiromatsu-no-kon. I need to continue to work on it, but I have the basic routine mostly down.
Also worked on Pinan Sandan bunkai (write down the order)