Sempai led class this Monday of kata week. I’m glad I came since we’re supposed to get more snow tomorrow. Focus was on technique within the kata, and application of techniques in real world situations. I overheard him telling the previous class something along the lines of: “It’s better to perform one kata well than to learn many just to say you know them.”

Technique

While working on moving basics, we worked on rotating our hips to drive punches (kizame and gyaku-zuki) and blocks (chudan shuto-uke, gedan-uke).

I’m leaning forward too much with my gedan-uke, zenkustsu-dachi. I need to block from the shoulder while driving the block with my hips. Pushing my hips forward will help me maintain a more upright posture.

When performing oi-zuki, the punch should start at the same time you plant your forward foot.

Kata

Each of us selected and practiced one kata three times and then demonstrated and explained one particular part.
I chose Naihanchi Nidan, because it doesn’t take much space, and because I find it helpful for working on balance. From that, I singled out the two opening moves.

The first move, hazushi-uke,  I think of in terms of an escape when being grabbed from behind. But that didn’t make much sense with the next move. Sempai pointed out that the second move (attack) could always be applied in the oppposite direction. I realized that I was thinking too narrowly. Zack, Sempai and I talked about it further after class. Sempai also said that the Naihanchi kata were designed to be performed in a circle, and that the blocks and attacks underscore Matsubayashi Ryu’s close-in fighting style.

At the end of class, Simon said that Fukyugata Ichi starts with an attack since you turn and move forward. Sempai agreed. I appreciate Simon’s eagerness to learn and participate in class. He doesn’t seem intimidated by inexperience.