Kihon, the same but different – 9/27/08 – Saturday Karate class
Sensei Plocharczyk had us working on some different but similar kihon drills.
Kihon, the same but different…
The reason I said the same but different is because we have done these moves many times before but not in this order.
The first drill was right leg front snap kick to front, right leg side thrust kick to right corner, step back with right leg, throw a left hand back fist and right hand reverse punch. Then wash, rinse and repeat, I mean, we did the same but started with the left leg.
Next, we did right leg front snap kick, right leg side thrust kick to corner, step backward with the right leg into front stance with and inward block, then move toward the left corner into a horse stance with and elbow strike and back fist then step into front stance with a reverse punch. We alternated between left and right foot in front.
One-step sparring…
For this drill, Sensei Plocharczyk had us get a partner and work on one-step sparring but instead of doing the standard block and counter attacks, he had us other movements. These could be movements from out kata or kihon moves that we normally do not do when doing one-step. For example, when my partner would throw a front snap kick, I would shift out to the side and catch his leg with my arm and then lift up, like the move in Bassai Dai, and then sweep his stationary leg. I didn’t complete the movement on my partner since we didn’t want to hurt each other but that movement in particular works just like it looks.
Do your push ups…
During class, Sensei had us do five sets of 10 push ups between our various drills. At the end of class, Sensei had us do five more sets of 10 push ups but within a few minutes. We did one set and then he had us rest for maybe 15 seconds and then we did 10 more until we did a total of 50.
It was a really good class.
Commit to your attack – 7/12/08 – Saturday Shotokan Karate class.
This was a fun class today!
Kata…
Sensei Gatch to us for the first half of the class and had us work on kata. Since this was the advanced class, he started with Jion. For the first kata, he had us do it at normal speed. The next kata, he had us do each move as fast as we could but then stop and settle before moving to the next move. The idea was to do each movement as fast as possible but from a dead stop. He then had us do the next kata to his count but focusing on our best stances and technique. We then did the kata at our own pace again.
Get your pads on for some sparring drills…
For the second half of the class, Sensei Plocharczyk had us work on some one-step sparring. We paired up and did the normal six attacks which consists of jodan level front punch, chudan level front punch, chudan front snap kick, chudan side thrust kick, roundhouse kick to chudan or jodan and spinning back kick. Those were the basic movements to get us coordinated for what was to come next.
Sensei had us work on one-step with a twist. Instead of doing the moves from a stationary ready stance, he had us start the block and counter from a fighting stance position. This drill resembled free sparring but with knowledge of the upcoming attack. This got a nit more interesting when our attackers would do one move and then follow it up with another movement right after. The chances of getting hit was almost 100 percent at that point and I got hit with a bunch of punches and kicks.
Commit to your attack…
Sensei noticed that when some of us, including myself, would get hit and not attack. It was common for us to not commit to our attacks or counters because of fear that we would get hit again. He said that if we never get hit, we are not going to be able to respond to a real life attack if the time ever comes. Even if we get hit and it hurts, it should not stop us from countering. We need to keep our mind focused on what is happening even after the attack that hit us and commit to our attack knowing that there is a chance that we will get hit again.
I have gotten more than a few times when doing free sparring with some of the other students and since I had my ribs hurt, I have been shy when it comes to committing to my attacks since I am afraid that my ribs are going to get hurt again. It sounds like I have my work cut out for me.
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