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.