May 13 - 26, 2012

I've been only updating this blog once every 2 weeks nowadays.  I've been busy plus there aren't really much to talk about anyways.

As far as the adult karate classes are concerned, the attendance has not been great and we're actually seeing a few people dropping out.  Not good.  It's not good from the business stand point, but it also makes wonder what we're doing wrong.  Please do let us know if there is anything we can do to make our dojo/program better.  And please, PLEASE bring your friends/family/coworkers to the class.  "Word of the mouth" has been our best advertising vehicle until now (though Yelp! is actually catching up to it rapidly...) so we are counting on you!

We've been focusing on lateral (sideways) shifting lately.  It's kind of counter-intuitive (that you don't feel as safe as shifting back, and you don't feel as strong or determined as moving in) but when it works, it works like a magic.  Maybe a few more classes of this, and then we move on to something else... perhaps blocking?

National seminar and tournament in about 2 weeks...  Are you ready (asking myself, though I know the answer...)??

May 6 - 12, 2012

This week we started teaching "kids competition prep class".  It is a private (or semi-private) lesson once a week for those kids who are going to compete next month at the National Championship.  Some of our kids are very talented and/or dedicated, and I feel that with a little additional push they can compete against other kids pretty well.  5 more weeks until the competition!

Another week of Sasoi-waza training, with adding some side shifting to it...

April 30 - May 5, 2012

Oops, a week behind...

Nothing much new is happening at the dojo, except having a couple of new students joining us.  Welcome Artur and Leroy.  They both have background in karate similar to what we practice, so I wouldn't be surprised if they catch up rather quickly.  Don't underestimate them just because they're wearing a white belt!

I put a Book of the Month on the bookshelf.  It is a karate book written by a person named Ashihara.  His style, Ashihara Karate, is a rather new style but is very unique and I always wanted to try out (but never had a chance).  They allow grabbing and throwing, and combining with kicks, punches and sweeps the style appears and practices very differently.  I personally don't like to call it "karate" but nevertheless it is an interesting fighting system.  They use a lot of side shifting or circular steps as well.  Take a look at the book when you have a chance and let me know what you think.

Continuing with Sasoi-waza this week.

April 23 - 29, 2012 (Regional Championship)

It's always fun to learn a new Kata, right?  But even if you have to continue practicing your old Kata, don't get bored because there is always something more to learn.  I've been doing the same Kata (Nijushiho) for about 18 years and I still have points here and there that I want to perfect.

Also we're continuing with Sasoi-waza (inviting technique - one of many ways to set the opponent up).  Footwork is obviously important for it so we'll keep working on that as well.

We had AAKF Western Regional Championship on April 29 in Redondo Beach.  Thank you very much for those who showed up to support/cheer for us.  Adonay, Nicholas D, Angela and Angelica competed in youth division, and Eiko and I competed in adults division.  We all took medals home, I believe.  But again, the results don't really matter (except that it becomes a good excuse for a party!) but what's important is what you learned from the experience.

We have the National Championship coming up on June 15-16.  We will train hard to prepare for it, and we encourage all of you to try to come watch us compete since it will be in LA.  This championship is probably the oldest annual karate tournament in the US, but unfortunately it's not one of the biggest because of several reasons.  But still, there are some strong competitors worth watching and it's always fun to socialize with karate peeps from different part of country or world.  There will be a 2-day seminar taught by highly talented instructors before the championship, and there will be a GREAT after party Saturday night!