Tag Archives: naihanchi shodan

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Belleville Seminar 20220908

20220908 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Thursday dojo owner/invite class

Started with warmups then both moving and standing basics.

Worked on Fukyugata I, II, Pinan Shodan, Naihanchi shodan katas.

Fukyugata I bunkai with Art Ishi sensai and Fred Schlesinger sensai.

Practiced various sections of kata with Tony Roberts sensai.

Arakaki sensai stressed blocking with power punching to the opponents center. Make sure to maintain correct posture.

Practiced Fukyugata II less than Fukyugata II.

Arakaki sensai talked about keeping the hands tight to the body on the tomoe zuki technique. Don’t get too wide, don’t flail.

Pinan Shodan

Show shuto uchi with power. Don’t expose armpit on Jordan uke.

Naihanchi shodan

Arakaki sensai corrected my Haito uchi. I was showing it too tight, said it should be extended more.

Showed application trom opening part – same as in 2018 Germany seminar:
     Attacker punches left, defender smacks down with left and delivers haito uchi to neck over top of attack.
     Defender grabs back of attackers neck and delivers yoko hiji ate to opponents face.
     Defender then sweeps fumi komi ashi with right to opponents left leg. Holds attacker’s left
         arm as he falls, doing arm bar over left leg while pinning with right knee.
     Finishes off attacker with gedan zuki to his head

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Look first, then move

20180424 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

I know it’s been said many times, but when doing kata, remember to look in the direction you need to move, then turn and execute the technique.

Sensai pointed out that in Naihanchi Shodan, for instance, people often look down rather than to the right on the opening move as well as on the gedan yoko-barai.

Some other things to keep in mind with Naihanchi Shodan:

Use good posture – keep the back straight
Don’t over extend the yoko-hiji-ate
Perform with power and snap
Breathe and stay relaxed

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Late July

20170722 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Class led by Sensai. Worked almost exclusively on kata, with an aborted attempt at yakusoku kumite Ⅷ at the end.

Naihanchi

Look for triggers in the kata, places where you explode into a technique. For instance, the beginning of Shodan, where the fumi-komi-ashi is followed immediately by shuto-uchi.
These moves should be connected.

In Nidan, relax shoulders on hazushi-uke. Second move, uchi-uke, should have snap. Think about actually blocking a punch with it.

Try to create flow in these kata.

Ananku

Sensai talked about a small slide back on the first chudan-uke, but a bigger slide in the later two. Danjo Sensai brought this up as well.

Don’t lean forward when delivering the kick.

There are many places in this kata to work on using koshi to create power and snap.

Sensai mentioned that he disliked this kata when he was younger, but that now he appreciates it’s directness and simplicity.
He also compared it to Fukugata Ⅰ in that regard.

Wankan

The supporting hand in makite-uke should be on the middle of the forearm, not near the elbow.

Jodan kosa-uke should be a head block. Don’t let it get too far out.

After the second makite-uke, there is a gedan-uke followed by chudan-zuki shizentai-dachi. The slide is important on this punch. You can understand it better in the bunkai since it gets you out of the way of a second attacker.

Rohai

Start leaning forward at the beginning. Don’t lock the knees.
Turn the hands out slightly right before gedan soto-shuto-uke.

Execute the blocks in both torite-uke. Don’t rush.

Hangetsu-barai-uke was originally followed by sasae-hiji-ate (breaking the elbow). Think about this and don’t rush.

Wanshu

Shotei-ate is the same as in Rohai, just executed in a different stance.

Passai

In move right before kosa-dachi strike, the right hand should not be all the way to the side or flat.
Should be somewhat forward near the body, and bent, ready to deliver shotei-ate.

Don’t rush the three moves starting with gedan-zuki jigotai-dachi near the end.
These should be done on one level – don’t bounce up and down.
Sensai said that may people don’t really know what they’re doing in this part of the kata.
Think blocking and catching a kick on outside, then pulling/raising the leg and delivering a strike

Gojushiho

Second and third moves should be a head blocks like in Pinan Shodan.

Torite-uke is same as Rohai and Passai. Make sure the block is included.

Sensai mentioned the second turn, from nukite-zuki nekoashi-dachi to nukite-zuki zenkutsu-dachi as being one of the most powerful moves in all the kata.

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Kata class

20150310 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Maybe it’s me and things are continuing to come together at this point in my karate development. Or maybe it’s that as a group, the higher level belts are at a point where Sensai can teach technique at a higher level. Could even be that since Soke’s gone, Sensai is thinking more about passing on what he’s learned.

Whatever the reason, I noticed a difference in the depth and quality of what we practice throughout the class. Everything from ways to understand basic nunchucku technique, to

Reasons for practicing/ ways to look at kubudo

develop strength, dexterity and coordination

improve open hand technique

as an extension of our body

Nunchaku

Use of nunchaku as weapon gets lost in the flash of swinging and flipping it over and around the body. It can also be used effectively for offense and defense by striking or poking while holding one or both sticks in each hand.

Worked on timing using the weapon to block. In a real fight it is more effective to block by striking the opponent’s hand than the weapon he’s holding in it. Can also cross the sticks to block a strike, slide forward, wrap and trap the opponent’s wrist. Gives you full control to turn under the opponent’s arm and throw, break, etc.

In a real world situation, the same principles of manipulating the weapon could be used with only one stick to augment a block.

Practiced the uchi-uke drill from last Saturday. Also practiced quickly striking under the opponents arm after the block – same as a drill from the 2014 Canada seminar. Look for ways to apply within kata (ex. third/sixth move of Fukyugata Ⅱ)

Kata notes

Fukyugata Ⅱ

When you go low into zenkutsu-dachi in the final moves, the circular blocks need to be high to catch the oncoming punch.

Pinan Yondan

Keep the elbows in on the hiji-ate. Don’t raise the hands too high – only shoulder height. Sweep the hands down and slightly to the outside to clear.

Pinan Godan

The windup to the kosa-uchi in move nine should not be too fast but should include koshi which will open and close the block.

Naihanchi Shodan

Try to think of this like a tide. Parts of this (opening move) should be smooth and relatively slow (ebb) before exploding into haito-uke attack (flow). Look for this rhythm throughout the kata. Finding an internal rhythm is something Zack talked about earlier this year.

Bunkai

Worked on performing Fukyugata Ⅰ bunkai in a straight line in one direction. I actually found the attacking part easier than the kata.

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First class in a week

20150307 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Between commitments at home and snow again on Wednesday this is the first class I’ve made in a week and the first for the month of March.

Also marks my first class led by Sensai in five weeks.

Class is qualitatively different when he teaches.

Worked on moving

zenkutsu-dachi gedan-uke turning 180 right and left. First time just the turn, then turn plus gyaku-zuki and finally the turn with a covering block and gyaku-zuki. Adding the block really reduces the effort needed to make the turn and also accelerates it.

nekoashi-dachi gedan/chudan shuto-uke forward and backward. Sensai mentioned that the Okinawans have differing opinions on whether the ido kihon turns should be done with the front or back foot. It’s alright to use whichever feels more natural.

partner drills

attacker slides forward punching gyaku-zuki, defender slides backwards blocking/covering the punch with the front hand.

attacker steps forward shizentai-dachi punches chudan-zuki, then steps forward again punching jodan-zuki. Then steps forward zenkutsu-dachi punches chudan-zuki, finally steps forward punching oi-zuki. Defender counters all attacks with outside uchi-uke changing the level of the block and sliding as necessary to maintain distance.

Kata

Fukyugata Ⅰ

Pinan Shodan – In the final section, never lower the arm before blocking jodan-uke. Instead, raise the previous gedan-uke crossing and covering your center.

Pinan Sandan – make sure to incorporate a twist to the over the shoulder punches. Gives better extension and allows the punch to stay closer to the body.

Naihanchi Shodan – Watch foot placement. When crossing, don’t step too far or you’ll end up closer to jigotai-dachi and trying to correct by shuffling.

Ananku – The first move should come down hard. The second move needs to include uchi-uke. Can think of this in terms of trapping and pulling not simply as a chest block.

I was trying to work on keeping closer while free sparring with Nick. I tried to make a point to defocus on his center to see the attack and to move side-to-side. I was able to catch a couple of kicks (one which he landed nicely first anyway) and was often able to counter with multiple punches. I think Nick has better developed and more varied attack combinations. Something I need to work on. I definitely feel like I throw more or less the same technique.

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Kumite routines

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Sensai recommends developing kumite routines of 3-4 attacks to use when free sparring.

Worked on a combination routine he practiced:

Step forward left, strike uraken with same side. Shift to the right, punch right gyaku-zuki. Then, leaning back slightly for distance, kick mawashi-geri left.

This became the theme of the class, first on the punching bag, and then in partner drills.

Worked on Fukyugata Ⅰ, Pinan and Naihanchi Shodan

In Naihanchi Shodan, the fists should be on the same plane when executing the double punch (kiai).

Free sparring for the last 15 minutes of class. Sensai asked us to work on our own combination attacks

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First August Kata Class

20140805 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Arrived late and jumped in during Naihanchi Shodan. Went on to do Naihanchi Nidan a couple of times, and finally worked on Sandan with Jessan and Lara. All of them felt awkward due to lack of practice lately.

Worked on applications of portions of Naihanchi Shodan. The opening two moves could be used to block a front punch and then pull the attacker in to finish. The moroto-uke could be used in the same way. You need to step in and turn to the side to make it work. Think about the motion starting with an inside uchi-uke. Sensai said that any point in the kata where your hands come together could be a trap. Also can be a block and simultaneous attack.

Sensai had us perform the other kata. We worked on one part of Pinan Yondan (kosa-dachi to the ¾ turn). He also reiterated how to step into, turn and slide when delivering the iaigoshi -dachi in Pinan Godan. In Ananku, you need to rotate your hip out when turning from outside uchi-uke to naname-zenkutsu-dachi.

Worked on Yamanni-ryu bo basics, the four strikes, and the four directions basics.

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Seminar Day Two Afternoon Session

20140726 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

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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5/31

20140531 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Class led by Sensai.

Stretching included forearm extension (droppping straight down, out to the side, and down to both sides).
Worked on drills involving movements and applications of techniques found in the Naihanchi kata:

One was the three part punching/uchi-uke drill. Nick is much better at the double block than I am.
Another was a punching/kicking drill where the defender used shukoken while shifting weight and stepping back to block two punches, and then immediately counterattacking with a kick from the front foot.
In still another, the defender blocks a chest punch with an inside chest block, rolls over the attackers arm pushing it down and strikes. This was followed by shooting the attacking arm up around the attackers head to take him down.
Then, a variation on the previous drill where the attack is blocked inside uchi-uke followed by an immediate strike to the chest/ribs. The defender then comes under the attacker’s punching arm with hiji-ate and does a shoulder lock and lowers his weight to do any of several takedowns.
Finally, a drill from the move in Wankan before each kiai where the defender shifts to the side to block a punch with an outside chest block, then grabs the attackers wrist, pulls him in and punches to the chest. Also similar to the last part of Yakusoku kumite Ⅴ.

Performed Pinan kata (except Nidan) and Ananku, before sparring. Received my red tip today. Sensai said he was proud of my kata.

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Return of the bo

20140520 Jeff Reasoner Leave a comment

Class led by Sensai.

Worked on Fukyugata Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Naihanchi Shodan/Nidan

Bo finally made an appearance in Tuesday class this year. Also a new basic bo kata (I’ve referred to it as Kihon Bo Ⅰ since one never knows if there is another on the horizon.) This comes out of the Matsubayashi-ryu lineage as opposed to the don-yu-kon Ⅰ/Ⅱ kata which originate in Yamanni-ryu.