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.