Oh, we only have one more class before the exam day! Well, all of you who are testing already know what to expect, so I'm not too worried. However, I don't tolerate that you keep making a same mistake no matter how many times I pointed it out in class! I don't expect you to be perfect; I just need to see your effort trying to achieve what I'm teaching.Class Subjects:Kata:- Your favorite (being observed...)
Kihon:- Soto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki (in place)
- Shuto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki (stepping)
- Mae-geri ~ Mawashi-geri (in place)
Kumite:- Uke-waza against Jo-dan Gyaku-zuki (semi-Kokutsu-dachi)
- Above, with a counter punch (Gyaku-zuki)
- Uke-waza against Jo-dan Kizami-zuki
- Above, with a counter punch
- Uke-waza against Mae-geri
- Above, with a counter punch
Self-practice whenever you can, especially if you've been missing a few classes lately. Believe me, 5 minutes of focused self-training is better than no training at all. Or It could even be better than 60 minutes of non-focused group lesson, in my opinion. Good luck!
Class Subjects:Kihon:Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zukiMae-geri, Yoko-keage, Yoko-kekomi, Mawashi-geriYellow Belst II BasicsYellow Belt Kihon KumiteFree-style:Shift aroundBlock (in semi-back stance)Block ~ Counter attackKumite:Block ~ Counter attack (Uke-waza)Kata:Heian NidanAs soon as we're done with the exam this month, we'll try to spend more time on sparring (Kumite) drills. Maybe we'll get to do some free sparring, just MAYBE...! Basic developmental stages of sparring:1. You have to be ready to react to an opponent's action. If your reaction is slow, there is not much you can do to make up for it, so try to be in tune with him/her, be sensitive and imagine as if you're in control of his action. Don't follow behind, but rather chase ahead. You receive (sense) his move with your "guts" and feet, not with your eyes or hands.2. Once you're confident enough with your reaction, work on a "responsive move" that follows. This becomes "Sen" or "Go-no-sen" depending on a timing. Refer to your student guidebook for these terms. You either execute your counter attack before a completion of his attack, or apply it after his attack (before his 2nd attack comes). This is called Oji-waza.3. Only if you are able to effortlessly do the above 2 steps, you can start forming a strategy of your liking, taking a risk to create a chance. You can directly attack when he is not ready (Kake-waza) or you can set him up so that he makes a move to expose a chance for your attack (Shikake-waza).4. If you can go beyond "strategy thinking" stage, it will be the FREE sparring in a real sense: you freely act/react but everything is appopriate for the situation. Most people never get there.We usually call #2 a "defense" and #3 an "offense" in drills, however, a defense side is not trying to protect himself, and an offense side is not trying to blindly initiate an attack. Both sides are thinking and paying attention to each other, focusing on when and how to catch an open space (Kyo) presented.Most karate practitioners don't even have the ability to do #2 properly; they either run away when being attacked, or blindly force an attack when he thinks he has a luck. This is very immature and limited way of doing Kumite. It's not fun to spar this way, and it's boring to watch someone spar like that. I know so because I used to spar that way, before I was taught by Avi and Sensei Nishiyama. I hope my students soon get to enjoy sparring as much as I do!
It was rather a small class. Today's kids class was bigger (with 6 students)! We're in the process of leasing our own place (...well, it's more like "finding a place" or "trying to find a place" actually), but if we only have 4-5 students in a class, it worries me about taking a risk of $2000 monthly rent...Class Subjects: Kata:Warm-upCourse of action, supported by proper stanceCool-down, adjusting breathingKihon:Yellow Belt I Basic requirementsYellow Belt II Basic requirementsFree-style:Body shifting (Yori-ashi, Tsugi-ashi, Fumi-ashi, Mawashi-ashi, Hiraki-ashi)Kizami-zuki ~ Kizami Mae-geriGyaku-zuki ~ Mawashi-geriKumite:Above combinations against opponent (slides back once)Single punchSingle punch, followed by a kick if the opponent slides backHope to see you ALL (or at least more than 5) this Thursday! Oh, by the way, I'm always taking a request about what you want me to teach in class. I generally try to cover a little bit of everything, but if you have something specific that you want me to focus on, or if you've always wondered about something but never asked, just let me know and I might cover those subjects.
I really enjoy teaching private classes because I get paid... Just kidding. I mean, I'm doing it for my students to improve more efficiently, and that's why I'm keeping the price low. Jon, Chris, PJ and Ron took my private lesson this month. It no way replaces the regular group classes, but it compliments your training by giving you better understanding of specifically what you need to work on. I gave you a lot of pointers to these guys; hopefully they will continue working on them and impress me during the exam! I like a good surprise...I'm actually thinking about offering a free private lesson once a year during your birth month. I will probably start doing that next year. Now that I'm working my schedule is busier than ever, so if you want to book me for a lesson, contact me asap.Class SubjectsKata:Warm upKihon:Soto-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki (Zenkutsu-dachi)Shutoh-uke ~ Gyaku-zuki (Kokutsu-dachi)Free-style:Yori-ashiKizami-zukiGyaku-zukiKizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zukiGyaku-zuki ~ Kizami-zukiKumite:One punchKizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zuki
Gyaku-zuki ~ Kizami-zuki
See you all Sunday!
I almost forgot to post this (again!)...! I did take a note of the training subjects on Sunday so that I don't forget, though! I just was trying to come up with a nice message to write, but haven't come up with any yet... Kata:Your own (warm up / cool down)Kihon:Stances (Zenkutsu, Kiba, Kokutsu)Kokutsu-dachi Shuto-ukeMae-geriFree-style:Kizami-zuki ~ Gyaku-zukiGyaku-zuki ~ Mae-geriSingle attack (reaction training)Kumite:Single attack against a targetCombination attack against a targetKicks against a padKeep on training! (Well, that's the best message I could come up with! :-))
A small class again. Everyone, the hardest part of practicing karate is to come to the class regularly. Once you get to the class, the rest is easy, right? When I was training under Sensei Nishiyama, I was seriously worried about getting hurt or exhausted too much so it was a huge challenge for me not to miss a class. You guys don't have to worry about my class being that intense, so please come and have some fun together!At least for the first few years, you should be training consistently, perhaps 2-3 times a week. We only have classes twice a week, so try not to miss a class and whenever you have a chance, even for 5 minutes a day, work on a basic or two on your own at home. Or visualize in your head a move you're having difficulty with or perhaps a kata sequence. The more you practice, the more you feel confident or become comfortable. I wish there was a trick, but no, that's the only way to go! Class Subjects:Kata:-Your favorite (Heian Nidan, Bassai Dai, Hangetsu, Jitte)Kihon:-Breathing exercise (pressure to floor)-Breathing with wrist snap-Age-uke / Gyaku-zuki-Mae-geri / Oi-zukiKumite:-Combination punches (against a partner, against a wall)-Kick to punch combinations (against a partner, against a wall)Hope to see you ALL on Sunday! Yellow-belts, you only have 3 more weeks left before your exam. Only 6 more classes, that is! I don't mean to scare you, but at this point NOT everyone is ready...
Where were our beloved white belts today?? Come back Thursday and work out together!Today's Subjects:Kata:-Your ownKihon:-2nd level Yellow Belt Exam Basics & Basic SparringFree-style:-Shift around-Shift around with a partner pulling/pushing on your belt-Kizami Mae-geri-Kizami Mawashi-geri-Ashi-barai (sweeping) drillsKumite:-Ashi-barai with front leg (in-place)-Ashi-barai against a shifting-in partner (1, 2, 3=Sweep!)When we practice regular timing drills or spar, it's often hard to tell if the technique was applied at the right timing or not. But with sweeping, you can physically confirm if it worked by seeing your opponent losing balance. However, don't "force it" to sweep him but rather "ride on it" with a smooth yet snappy action (which is not easy). We won't be spending too much time on this subject at least for now, but I wanted to introduce the idea to you all so that if you like it you can work on it on your own. Next one month will be a good solid basic training, for both white and yellow belts (as well as brown and black, of course!) to understand fundamental points clearly. Of course I will throw in some free-style drills and perhaps pads hitting here and there. ...Oh, that sounds just like our normal training format. Oh well!
