Good job in class Thursday. It was good to see some faces that I haven’t seen in a while. A couple points that I noticed while class was going on. In class IS the time to take a technique and slow it down. On the street it will be faster, but you can only master it at full-speed after you have mastered it at half-speed. I also saw a lot of flailing and just trying to hit the other person without regard to technique, form, power, or precision. It is much better to get that one punch that turns the tide of a fight than to get one-thousand hits that don’t do anything. Everybody GREEN BELT/ ADULT and up, don’t forget the after-class grappling sessions on the next few Thursdays from 20:00-20:30.

 Before coming to class Tuesday, please take some time to think about how you perform your basic punches and blocks (muscles used, amt. of hip rotation, any visualizations you use, etc.) and then think of how you think they should be. Are you close? Being self-critical about your own techniques is very helpful in improving them.

Good class today. Thank you Sensei Sasha for coming to class even though you didn’t feel well. Created our own 10 kick series and did some grappling. Whenever you are grappling and trying to reach the cone, remember to always put yourself in between the cone and the person who you are stopping. Always keep in front of them so that they can’t rush past you. Also, when trying to stop someone, don’t just grab onto their legs and hold on like an anchor, make sure to go after the entire body so that you can lock them up. For people who are trying to get to the cone, try spinning and rolling over the person to get to the cone. Don’t try to take your opponent head on, you make it much harder on yourself, instead when they push you, shift their hands and deflect their body weight off to the sides so that you can throw off their balance. Pushing back and forth like sumo wrestlers is not very effective, spin, roll, and shift your weight in order to throw your opponent off. Make sure to also take advantage of every mistake your opponent makes. See you all Thursday, and remember what Sensei Hope said about your attitude and humility!

Beginners:

Today we worked on falls and rolls in class. Remember to tuck your head in when your doing a roll and without rolling on your back side. Roll on your shoulder.

Steps: start with a crouching position close to the floor. Make a big circle with your hands. Then tuck your chin in and put your shoulder to the floor first. Remember it takes time and practice to get it right, but you can do it.

Dont forget to practice the ippons, 6 punch series, 6 block series, and h-form kata.

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Advanced

Worked on counter stepping with the opponent in a circular motion. We also did 1:50 rounds.

We will drop to 1:45 in the weeks to come but try to increase the sets amount and then later decrease the sets but increase the time to 2 mins and work our way back up in sets.

Did ippons, kihons, teuzusm, and kata as always….

Beginners:

Check the post below… On the previous day. Just did a fun night with relays, basics, and mini quiz game.
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Advanced:

Sweep night & take down night.
We worked on a few take downs today. First one was controlling the wrist and hand and guiding it downward.

1) Wrist take down: So if someone comes in and grabs your shirt, take your thumb and place it between the pointer finger and middle finger on the back of the hand which separates the joint. Rotate the wrist over and push the fingers towards the shoulder. Do NOT just rotate the hand and wrist over. Roll it over and push it towards their elbow and shoulder. Continue until they lay face flat on the floor.

2) Outside to inside sweep. If the attacker has a left foot in front take your right foot and go from the outside to the inside sweeping the leg. Additional: If theres too much pressure you can go to the knee to loosen it up. Step or settle your foot down behind theirs with your hips next to each others. Then use your elbows to push them back over your right leg.

3) Tangle the arms: If the attacker comes and swings with the right hand - step to the left and block with the right hand. (HOLD this hand). Then they come swinging with the left hand - duck under a bit palm block with the other hand. Now you have their arms crossed up. Flip your right hands grip over (your grip, not the attackers hand so your palm is facing up). Now rotate the right hand upwards as the left hand is pushed downwards. Try to keep THEIR left elbow straight and put pressure on that elbow with their right hand twisting it over and tangling it more.

4) Bear hug take down: If someone has you in a bear hug start by doing the standard head strike, foot stomp, etc. Then take one of your feet and cross it back and behind your other foot. Keep moving that same foot behind the attackers foot. Stay on the same line as them (facing straight if they are facing straight in front). So now you have a kiba (horse) stance behind your attacker. Drop down a smidgen lower and execute an elbow strike to the midsection and let them go down over your knee. Variation: You can do a counter top circular push from one side to the other to get a flipping, whipping motion if you need more momentum.

5) Fake sweep and reverse sweep: Okay if the attacker has their left foot in front. You do a quick outside to inside sweep with your right foot. They then see it and they lift their foot up. You though continue spinning putting your right knee on the ground, then throw a left sweep with your foot when your on your knees striking the back of their knees. You basically do a 360 degree turn on this technique. Additional: You need to be close to execute this because when you spin around you land farther back. Also you can use your left hand to reinforce the fall.

Beginners

Today we focused on your kicking through an obstacle course. It helped you become more aware of where you are going, making sure you chamber, know your area, and set in a good foundation.

We ended the class with a basic front fall. Remember when doing the fall keep your hands out in front of you and land on your WHOLE fore-arm NOT the wrist. Turn your head before you hit the ground and lift your body off the floor.

Practice your ippons, punches, and blocks.

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Advanced:

We worked on a quick kick exercise to warm us up. Moved to some shadow boxing and basic fighting drills.

The drills we did were:

Basic hands drill (hands only)
Feet only drill
Close quarters sparring (outside the hulla hoop)
Nice and tight sparring (inside the hulla hoop)

Don’t forget your kata, check this website’s earlier posts, and your short and long term goals.