Beginners:
Today we did a testing review for the people who are testing. I hopefully answered your questions and concerns. Everyone else worked on the basics. Here is a review sheet for the written portion…

1. What is the name of our School?
2. What is the name of our style of karate?
3. List 2 Characteristics of Shuri System:
4. What are the 2 ways to sit (in Japanese and English)?
5. List 3 Dojo Rules:
6. What is the Japanese translations of the following kata and how many opponents do you fight in each?
H-Form Kata _________________________________ Opponents: ____________
7. What word or words should you scream if someone grabs you or attacks you?
8. There are how many parts to a kick?
9. Hitotsu means …..
10. Karate means “empty hand.” Why do you think that is so?

Advanced:

We worked on creative weapons and how to use things around us to defend yourself. Its all about using your creativity and your brain. It’s more important that you use your head or brain than you use your muscles and technique. Your mind can do wonders for you even if you have a limited bag of techniques. So always look at your advantages, what you can use around you, how you can use them and so on. You also received rulers to help you mark your stretching so continue to bring those and work on the stretch because without that - you cant have great high kicks.

Good job and well done.

Beginners: Today we worked on tying your belts, we also worked on ippon 1-4.

All ippons are the same with the exception of the shuto changed to :

Ippon #2 : hammer fist
Ippon #3 : Inverted lepoard fist
Ippon #4 : tate zuki (2nd punch) also known as can punch
Ippon #5 : palm heal strike

———————————————————————————————————–

Advanced:

Worked on weapons and doing your kata with a weapon. We concluded with a fairly intense 45 second rounds.

By the way, I was looking for kama videos online and I found the video that I purchased a while ago its up on youtube.com so you can view the video belows to review… (its nearly identical to what we covered in class).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ffUk3naQTys

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4Lg5FhrkyB0

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bporeQLORXI

There are others on there to just search for them

Beginners:

Today we worked on stepping properly using different methods.

1) The first step was a straight step. Back foot comes to front and then back out. For example if you have your left foot forward. Step up with the right foot to the left foot, then step out with the left foot.

2) Next was using the front leg to lead. If your in a left f

ront stance. Use the left foot and step forward a little then guide the right foot behind it. Remember not to drag your feet on the floor.

3) We also did a cross behind step. Facing side ways to start but eyes and hands to the front, take the foot thats in the back step behind you and then take the other foot and step forward to get back to your original stance.

4) crescent step: Almost like basic step #1 above except the feet do more of a semi-circle (or crescent shape) to come in and out. A little trickier than the others.

We also worked on getting our knee up higher by using objects to help us kick over them.

Finally we did kiba limbo to work on a strong foundation on our kiba (horse) stance and perfect on getting lower in our stances.

——————————————————————————————————————-

Advanced:

Today we worked the majority of the day with Sai’s remember that in Japanese there is no plural when mentioning Sai’s it is Nichosai for 2 (or a pair). However in English we still say “sai’s”.

Plenty was covered today. The Sai has a long background, it should be the length of your elbow or +1 inch longer once held in your reverse grip.

Zaki or Saki is the tip of the Sai
Mana Uchi - is the Sai shaft
Yoku - is the tymes or the forks
Nagiri or sometimes Suka - Handle
Gashida or Kashida - Butt of the Sai

Stuff we didnt cover in class terms:
Natural grip = Kante Moshi
Yakutae Moshi = Forearm block grip

We worked on a few different holds, strikes, and applications. For safety reasons its best to practice the things we discussed and not get confused with what I write online here. As a review though we worked on:

High block, middle block, and low block with the Sai.

This includes opening the Sai and switching grips to execute the blocks (so two different ways to execute the blocks)

After the block we added a strike to the collar bone followed by two punches with the butt of the Sai.

Final notes: the Sai is the perfect shape to strike and follow up to the throat, groin, grab and sweep the legs.

On your chamber remember to do a half-chamber or else you will either grab your uniform with the Yoku or stab yourself if your in the reverse hold

Don’t forget on your standard grip to keep your thumb in the center, NOT ON THE SIDE!

Sai’s run about $30-$35 for 2 (a pair). This way you are able to practice at home.
Remember to make sure you have the correct measurements before placing your order.

Beginners

We work the first ippon for the lower ranks again. Reviewed a lot of information such as your 6 basic punches, and the kicks and worked on some blocks. Keep practicing on the things we’ve been working on.

—————————————————————————————————–

Advanced

If you missed class today then you missed a huge review on ippons, kihons, and teuzus. 12, 10, and 10 of each learning them inside and out. That includes the left or opposite side. Practice them if you haven’t.

BEGINNERS CLASS (6:00-6:45pm)

Today we worked on stances in the beginning of the class. How to properly move your feet from one position to the next position. Remember: Back foot to front foot, then take the other foot back. When stepping out in a kiba dachi (horse stance) move only one (1) foot - the left one!

Practice walking zen to zen (front stance to front stance) moving one foot to the other foot and so on.

We also did some blocks. If you forgot here are some tips:

Start in a kiba dachi (horse stance)
1) the middle chest block. (chudan uke)
(One hand goes up, then the other hand goes to it, slide that hand up up up and over across your body and snap it over)

2) high block (jodan uke)
(one hand in front of your face, then the other hand slides up up up and snaps like your punching the roof. Your hand should face like your going to wave to your friend and make sure its covering your head).

3) low block (gedan uke) - We didn’t get into this one, but if you want to work on it, then here are the steps
Take your right hand and make a fist, move it across your body and pretend like you almost will touch your knee (about 3 firsts away). Take the other hand (your left or hadari fist) and put it to your shoulder. Slide that left hand (hadari hand) down your right hand towards your knee across your groin. Don’t forget to pull the other hand back to chamber position.
Additionally: We worked on the front kick again, and a kick OFF the front foot. Its almost like the regular rear or back leg front kick, but you put a little more weight on your back foot and do the same 4 step process to execute your kick out front.

DON’T FORGET TO BOW WHEN YOU ENTER AND LEAVE THE DOJO, BRING WATER, AND PRACTICE!

~ Sensei Sasha
———————————————————————————–

ADVANCED CLASS (6:45-8:00 pm)

Today we worked on ippons/kihons/teuzus 1-5 on all of them. Please practice or review 5-10 for next time or 5-10 at least or 3-7. We did Anaku Kata as our kata.

We then moved to self defense. We ran through just about every self defense attack there was switching sides and so forth. Also we did a random walk around and random grabs self defense techniques.

Afterwards, we evaluated the 1 self defense technique per group, whatever it was looking at advantages and disadvantages of everyone in every position. This was almost like a chess game trying to figure out who had a better position and what the other person could do.

Finally we concluded with a mini/slow grappling like session where 1 person does one attack or defense, then waits, then the next person does an attack or defense to try and get a better position. With each counter attack or defense people switched. Your goal was to try and get a better advantage over your opponent by THINKING things through. Some people ended up in the ground, grappling positions, head locks and so forth, but good job!

Until next time, practice, run, relax, work on some ippons/kihons/teuzus and nihan-shi sho kata.

~ Sensei Sasha