Kanku Dai – 7/30/10 – Friday Karate class
This was one of my favorite Sensei Brien classes! I really enjoy doing kata in his class.
Warm up with some kihon…
We started out in horse stance doing front punches and double punches. Next, we moved into a front stance and did jab with reverse punch but making sure that we use our hips to snap between movements.
Next, we shuffled up in front stance did a jab, then a stepped and reverse punched then stepped again and reverse punched. For the next drill, we did front stance, shuffle up and punch, then front snap kick with the front leg, then step back with reverse punch. I know that sounds confusing but it really was confusing.
Next, came the kicking drills. We shuffled up and a side thrust kick, stepped back and reverse punched followed up with another side thrust kick. We did the same drill but with roundhouse kick and then side snap kick.
Kanku Dai…
Sensei counted out Kanku Dai for us. He let the entire class do it and the lower belts followed along. We did it five times and then moved on to Heian Nidan, then Heian Yondan and then we finished up with Heian Godan.
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Beaten up, again – 7/27/10 – Tuesday Karate class
Hard class again. Sensei Noia gave us all a good workout.
Warm up with kata….
Sensei had us start with Heian 1 through 5 and Tekki Shodan. After we did those, we did the same katas again but did in mirror image. The mirror image kata is always tough when I get to Heian Yondan for some reason.
Next, we got a partner and did one-step sparring but we each had to a an application from each of the Heian katas and Tekki Shodan.free sparring warm up.
I blocked that hook kick with my face.
We started out with some free sparring to get warmed up. Next, we sparred while keeping our hands against our partners hands. We could either keep wrist to wrist or grab cross handed. I felt really good again and was holding my own without much damage until I paired up with Sensesi Plocharczyk. He cleaned my clock again but I was lucky enough to block a really good hook kick with the side of my head. Mental note to self; self, figure out how to block that hook kick.
For the last drills, we stood on our knees and did the sticky hands drill. If you did the drill wrong and tried to muscle your partner, you ended up on the floor. It sound simple but it takes a loose power and a soft touch. We finished up doing that drill again but standing. This is a little easier since you can use your legs to keep your balance but the bigger, stronger people who use all muscle to do this are at a disadvantage both kneeling and standing. This is a hard drill to explain but you keep your wrists in contact with your partners and sense when they are going to attack. You keep moving your hands in a circular motion and then attack as soon as your partner looses their focus.
This article was originally posted on www.shotokanplanet.org. Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.
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