Kicking it up a gear – 9/20/11 – Tuesday Karate class

Sensei Noia took us to school on kicking today.   It was a tough class and full of many, did I say many, kicks.

Warm up with some laps and kata….

Sensei had us start class with a lap and kata.  We did this for a total of eight katas and eight laps.  I was pretty much done at that point but class didn’t even begin yet.

Kick and then kick some more….

After all the kata and laps, we took a break and stood next to the wall.  From there, we stood with one side near the wall, put our hand on it and did side thrust kicks as Sensei counted.  We did get a little rest and were able to put our kicking foot down between each kick.  We did the same drill but this time, after holding the kick we pulled the leg back and then kicked immediately again.  For the next drill, we did a low side thrust kick each time Sensei counted.

Next, in to a front stance we did moving forward with rear leg front snap kick.  Then came, stationary rear leg front snap kick, putting the kicking foot back down behind us and then step forward.  The next drill was the same but added a side snap kick after the front snap kick.

Sensei said rest and do stationary slow back kick for a 10 count with each leg.  We started moving forward again and did front snap kick, side thrust kick, back kick and roundhouse kick.  This was the end to the kicking part of class.

Finish with some more kata….

We ended class with three katas.  The first kata was all out, 100% speed and power.  The second kata was just stances and the last kata was slow but it had to be done with perfect form.  I don’t know that I was thinking but I did Gojushiho Sho and those 54 moves time three wasn’t the smartest choice I made that day.

The start was the only easy part – 9/13/11 – Tuesday Karate class

Today was stance training day.  Sensei Noia gives us some of the hardest stance training classes and walking afterward is not easy.  Needless to say today was no different than before.

The start was the only easy part…

We started standing upright doing straight punches.  Next, we moved into a horse stance and did straight punches again.  While holding the horse stance we did rising blocks and double punches.  For the next drill, we stood upright and did the punch and outward block combination from Bassai Dai many times.  Using the hips and pivoting on the heels  is the key to drill.

Then came the kicks.  We stated with alternating front snap kicks, then alternating back kicks, then alternating front and back kicks and finally, alternating side thrust kicks.

Cross your legs and get a partner….

For this drill, we did a cross leg stance with punches.  Next, we did a front stance, then moved into a cross leg stance with a punch, then step back to in to a front stance with a downward block, then reverse punch and front punch.

After getting a partner, one of us held a pad and other punched the pad while both of us stood in cross leg stances.  I think this drill was equally hard for both of us.  The partner punching had to squeeze the core or get pushed back when punching and the partner getting hit had to squeeze or fall over.

Up to the kiai….

We finished up doing our belt kata up to the first kiai, over and over, for five minutes.  I lost count after 20 kiai’s and am not sure how many I ended up doing.  The last thing we did was our entire belt kata at full speed and full power.