Shotokanplanet.org

This is a log of my journey to Shotokan Karate Shodan and beyond.

Archives for December 2008

Exam prep after the exam – 12/19/08 – Friday Karate class

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Even though I am done testing, Sensei Noia gave us the choice to spar or do basics and kata.  I choose basics and kata since my hip was a little sore from helping out with some sparring drills in one of the classes before mine.

Advanced basics…

Since the group that still had to test were made up of the 3rd and 4th Kyu’s we worked on the advanced basics and a lot of kata.  We did moving forward with inward block, elbow strike and back fist.  Next, we worked on a bunch of different kicks both moving forward and backward.

Tekki Shodan…

Since we were working with some of the 4th Kyu’s, I choose to work on Tekki Shodan.  I still do this kata often but I don’t have the chance to do it in class very often.  I am trying to apply more of the techniques that I am learning when I do the lower rank kata’s and this feels much different than it used to when I was doing this kata full time.  Using some of the more advanced techniques makes the kata seem more powerful and fluid.  For example, using body vibration to create power feels much different than using upper body power alone.

It’s was a pretty good class overall.

For real or not – 12/18/08 – Thursday Karate class

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This was the last class of this Thursday session and Sensei Cieplik left me with some interesting things to think about over the break.

Point that jab…

When throwing a jab, it needs to take a direct path to your target as if you are pointing at it with your finger.  This means that it should not go up or down, just straight in.

Kage zuki…

Think of kage zuki as an elbow strike.  This brought a different feel to this movement.  Instead of focusing on a hook type punch, thinking of doing an elbow strike makes the move feel much more powerful.  Higher belts strike with their fist farther away from their body.

Zanshin with a different meaning…

Sensei gave us another definition of Zanshin.  Make sure they are dead before you take your attention off of your opponent.  If you are on the street and someone is trying to hurt you, make sure that they are not going to get back up and attack you again.  The point is not to take your focus off of your opponent unless you are sure that they will not cause you harm.  This doesn’t mean that you should kill your opponent but you better pay attention even after you think they are not a threat.

There are fighters and people who spar…

There is a difference between those who can fight and those who can spar.  If you try to use your sparring skills on the street, there is a chance you will end up hurt or worse.  Just because you win all of the point sparring matches at your local tournaments it does not mean that you can fight if you life depends on it.

Your hands are empty for a reason…

Sensei made the point that our hands are empty because we either lost or broke our weapon and have nothing else to defend ourselves with.

Fitness, don’t think about using it…

If you are taking Karate for fitness do not use anything from class on the street. This was a very interesting point that I never really thought a lot about.  The point here is that if you are learning Karate for fitness do not attempt to use what Sensei shows us in class on the street.

Technique advice…

Here is one thing that I never thought of or remember hearing before. Twist your leg at the end of the kick.  I have made twisting my wrist for a hand strike or block almost automatic but I never thought about twisting my foot for a kick.

Lots of Jion…

There were a few people that needed to test and Sensei gave all of us a refresher on Jion.  We must have done Jion at least eight times.

I have many things to think about.

Crazy combinations – 12/16/08 – Tuesday Karate class

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Because of a broken water main near the gym where we train, we had a short 30 minute class.

Sensei Noia was talking to some students and parents about test results so he asked Sensei Buss to teach class.

You said what combination…

Since time was short, Sensei Buss had us do some combination’s that we normally do not work on.  Step forward with jab, then reverse punch, back leg roundhouse kick, crescent kick, elbow strike and back fist for example.  The idea was to have us work on basics that we always do but put them in an order that make us think.  This shows how well we can use our basics even if they are in an order that we never work on.

It was a lot fun and really intense.  I would like to have a couple more classes like this in  the future.