Thursday, December 30, 2010

Big turn out! In Japan, most businesses are closed for a few days at the end of a year (as well as at the beginning) and karate dojo is no exception. But we Americans have better/stronger spirit, I guess! :-)

Training Subjects:

Warm-up:
Yori-ashi fwd/bwd
Kata: Heian 1-4, Hangetsu, Gojushisho-sho

Free-style:
Uke-waza in Kokutsu-dachi (knife-hand block for upper level, down block for lower level)

Kumite:
Uke-waza against a face attack (Kizami-zuki or Gyaku-zuki)
Uke-waza against a kick (Kizam Mae-geri or Mae-geri)
Uke-waza, followed by a counter attack = "Go-no-sen" timing

Many of you started karate in 2010 and I hope you enjoyed it. You will all keep getting better at it in 2011; all you need is to train consistently. I'm hoping you'll make a New Year resolution related to your health/fitness/karate!

Thank you very much for your support this year. The dojo could not have survived without you. Wishing you all a very happy New Year, full of fun karate training!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

We have one more class before the new year. For many of you, this was the year you started training; let's end it with a good training! See you tomorrow!

Training Subjects:

Kata:
Heian 1-4, Hangetsu
Focusing on back foot initiation

Kihon:
Mae-geri ~ Yoko Keage ~ Mawashi-geri
Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke
Kokutsu-dachi Gedan-barai

Kumite:
Uke-waza against a face punch (Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke)
Uke-waza against a stomach punch or Mae-geri (Kokutsu-dachi Gedan-barai)

Free-style:
Uke-waza, followed by a counter attack

Dec 26th - The Die Hards

Wow! I couldn't believe how many of you showed up the day after Christmas!

This shows real dedication.

I realize a lot of people are out of town during the holidays but it means a lot that so many showed up.

Kata, kata, kata

We focused a lot on the back foot today.

It is our anchor. Proper back foot placement is essential for ground reaction.

Sen - thinking about back foot, concentrate on real feeling

1. first just breath and front foot

2. any one punch

3. any one punch or kick

Combinations - 3 attack with 4th attack "Giving everything"/counter attack

Koroshi - using sen, zanshin, breath, hips, feet

offense/defense - kogo style - trying to incorporate all we practiced (sen, breath, feeling, back foot, combinations, koroshi, etc.)

Good class! I already see improvements. Everyone seems to be getting their new katas down too.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Wishing you all a great holiday weekend!

Training Subjects:

Warm-up:
Single leg hops

Kata:
Heian 1~4, Hangetsu

Kihon:
Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke
Kick combination in place (Mae-geri, Yoko Keage, Yoko Kekomi, Mawashi-geri, Ushiro-geri)

Free-style:
Jodan uke (in modified Kokutsu-dachi) ~ Gyaku-zuki (Zenkutsu-dachi)
Chudan uke (in modified Kokutsu-dachi) ~ Gyaku-zuki (Zenkutsu-dachi)

Kumite:
Uke-waza (against Kizami-zuki)
Uke-waza (against Kizami-zuki, Gyaku-zuki Jodan, Gyaku-zuki Chudan)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Warm-up:

Yori-ashi fwd/bwd

Lunge Gyaku-zuki

Kata:

Heian Yondan

Your Kata

Kihon:

Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-uke ~ Zenkutsu-dachi Gyaku-zuki

Free-style:

Shuto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki

Shift around ~ same as above

Kumite:

Shuto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki

Shuto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki in Go-no-Sen timing

Sunday 12/19/10

The year is ending fast. Some of you have already left town - Happy Holidays!
For those of you who were in class today we did a lot.

Kata is coming along. Nicole - almost has the Heian Shodan pattern down!
Stretching

I went over most of the basics.
Here are my thoughts.
1. Posture - always think about it. Always correct yourself. Eyes back, straight back, stomach muscles pulling up and tailbone down. "Enzen no metze" - Seeing everything but not all the fine details. As if you were far away across a field looking at a mountain.
2. Back foot - be careful of it coming up. Ground reaction can only be used if you use the ground!
3. Power - this takes focus and intention. You have to believe in your techniques.

We used the big pad today. When you hit something then you see if your technique is actually working. Anyone can punch air and look nice. But are your techniques real? Could they save your life?

Debate regarding front snap kick! We have questions for Taichiro regarding this kick. I think the kick snaps toward your target. It does not go in an upward motion but straight in. So if a target is held in front of you the kick should still penetrate through...additions to this? A front kick can be a thrust kick also. We don't normally practice it this way but it can be executed in a thrusting motion. Maybe this is where the debate falls...

Sen - first breath only, then any one punch, then any kick or punch
combinations - back and forth. Last technique give everything.
Kogo kumite - lots of distance problems today.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

We may have found a place for our dojo! I hope everything will work out and we can get this new adventure going soon! Your support will be greatly appreciated!

Training Subjects:


Warm-up:
Lunge Gyaku-zuki


Kihon:
Gedan-barai ~ Gyaku-zuki
Gedan-barai ~ Gyaku-zuki, against resistance (elbow connection, hip initiation)


Kata:
Heian Shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Yondan, etc.


Free-style:
Yori-ashi Kizami-zuki
Yori-ashi Gyaku-zuki
Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki
Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki ~ Mae-geri


Kumite:
Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki
Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki ~ Mae-geri

Give your friend a gift of Karate! We don't have a gift certificate, but you can simply hand out our business card to your friend and s/he will get a free trial lesson. And if your friend joins our dojo, you get yourself a free month of training!* A perfect gift idea, just in time for the holidays...!
*Some restrictions may apply. Talk to Jon B. for more information. :-)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

OK, now that Jon posted Sunday training review, I can post my Tuesday's. What? You can't promise to post after every class, Jon?? It's only once a week! You volunteered to do it, so you've gotta try!

Training Subjects:

Warm-up:
Lunges
Lunge Gyaku-zuki

Kata:
Heian Shodan

Kihon:
Fumi-ashi (step fwd/bwd)
Fumi-ashi, against resistance
Oi-zuki
Age-uke
Mae-geri
Yoko-geri Keage

Free-style:
Mae-geri ~ Oi-zuki

See you soon!

Sunday 12/12/10

Hey Everyone!

I can't promise I'll blog after every class like Taichiro does - but here is last Sunday's update.
This was the first class after the kyu test.
New kata for quite a few of you. We reviewed Heian Shodan to Heian Yodan. Do your best not to forget the katas you think you are "leaving behind." I found that I was even having trouble with Heian Yodan because I have not thought about it or performed it in over 3 years! Shame on me!

In this class we won't cover details too much - we'll leave that up to Taichiro.
But I'll try to make some broad strokes to help him and you all out!
In general for a first time trying the new katas everyone did great.
Try to apply everything you have been learning to new moves - you'll see that the basic principles are the same and carry over even to more difficult techniques.

I always try to do Sen practice and think we did a good long one this class.
Basics of course were gone over - adding gyaku-zuki to the techniques for new yellow belts.

We did some footwork and combinations too.

Wow! This was a full class!

Heian Yondan Video

These are all good, but not exactly how I want you to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KLaVJjcfE8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_23QJ3QH8t0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgCZXEfblBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XeAU6J0q5c

Application:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXLD8uZjbec

Thursday, December 9, 2010 (EXAM!)

Everyone did great. Everyone passed, but among the same rank there is a range, meaning, some barely passed and some were close to the next rank. Those who try to skip a rank obviously need to work very hard, and I don't encourage you to even try it since learning 2 Kata in 4 months is not easy (but Jon and Chris almost made it!).

Again, the exam is to give you an objective milestone of where you stand. Karate training is a lifelong journey (in case you didn't know...!) and it's hard to judge your own level sometimes. As demonstrated last night, you all are on the right track and I'm really happy with your progress.

I'm honored to be your instructor, and I'm so proud of your achievement!

While Ron was making comments about the points you need to work on, I was like "Hey, I've been teaching that!" Like direction, intention, stance support, etc.; I'm not going to blame you for not getting those points. It's partly my fault that those were missed, and I have to work on (or make you work on) them so that you can improve. I learned a lot from watching your exam, thanks!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

We're on Yelp! Please help us by posting a review:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/valley-traditional-karate-san-fernando-valley#hrid:YI9GH_0AW3D4BkQDChOPvQ

Eiko's post (assuming it's by Jon) sounds like a pure advertising, and I think it'll help if some of you can post your honest opinion. I'm confident that you all will say something positive, honestly...! :-)

Training Subjects:

Kihon:
Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki
Oi-zuki
Age-uke
Mae-geri

Free-style:
Yori-ashi
Kizami-zuki
Go-no-sen Amashi-waza 1 (yori-ashi)
Go-no-sen Amashi-waza 2 (mawashi-ashi)

Kumite:
Go-no-sen Amashi-waza 1 (yori-ashi)
Go-no-sen Amashi-waza 2 (mawashi-ashi)

Sorry that I forgot to be "all positive" as I promised earlier. Did I discourage you? I hope not. You guys are all doing great and ready for a test! After all, karate is a martial art and what prevails in the end is your STRONG SPIRIT! Good luck!!

Sunday 12/5/10

Nice big class today!
I tried to concentrate on the tests - good thing you guys know it better than I do.

Sanbon-zuki look good
Most of the basics look very good for your levels. But always ask yourself "What am I doing?" "What is my intention with this technique?" "Would that have worked if I hit something?" "What part of my hand/foot is supposed to make contact?"

The big thing I notice in some of you is lack of confidence. It seems that sometimes right after(or during) a kata or basic technique your face says "that was horrible." You have to go to the test with a firm attitude. Believe in yourself! Do your best!

A new blogger

After Taichiro sent this to me 3 times I hopefully have figured out how to use this - are you getting this?

Thursday, December 2, 2010

One week until the exam!

Remember, the exam is there to serve as your milestone, and for you to be judged your improvement objectively. It does not prove if you're better/worse than others just because you pass/fail.

Stay true to the basics. We do not measure your sparring skills. We want to see your solid fundamentals that you can build up on.

• Stance
• Posture
• Target
• Stability
• Breathing
• Focus
• Spirit
• Don't forget Kiai!

In my opinion you will all easily pass the next level, but we will have this mean examiner Mr. Ron Vance on Thursday. Do your best or he will put you down!!! :-D

Training Subjects:

Kihon:
8th Kyu level Kihon sequence
Your own level Kihon sequence
Gedan-barai
Gedan-barai while stepping to the side
Same as above, followed by Gyaku-zuki
Mae-geri & Yoko-geri initiation against resistance
Combination: Gedan-barai / Oi-zuki / Gedan-barai / Yori-ashi Gyaku-zuki

Kata:
Your own

Keep on training; even just occasional mental practice helps.

Tuesday, November 30

Training Subjects:

Kihon:
Kiba-dachi Choku-zuki
Mae-geri ~ Ke-age ~ Mawashi-geri
Mae-geri ~ Oi-zuki
Mae-geri ~ Mawashi-geri ~ Gyaku-zuki
Kizami Mae-geri ~ Mae-geri
Kizami Mawashi-geri ~ Mawashi-geri

Kumite:
Kihon Ippon Kumite vs. Mae-geri
Free style Go-no-sen Amawashi-waza vs. Kizami geri (Mae or Mawashi)