I've been trying to update this blog every week but apparently I'm not good at it. 3 weeks have passed already since the last update. Wow.
Only 2 more weeks until the exam. Keep working hard! Some of you are already ready, and some are not. I will try my best to get everyone prepared, but ultimately it's your responsibility.
As you all know our dojo strives to be the best traditional karate dojo around. The best facility, the best teaching quality, the best tuition, the best people... It makes me happy to hear that someone finds us after a long search for a "good karate dojo". Why did we start this dojo in the first place? It's because we didn't have a place to train ourselves in the area. We do this for the love of karate, pure and simple. Of course there are people who may not find us "the best" for any reasons. But we're proud of what we do here, and you can count on us that we keep ourselves true to the karate principles and traditions.
For me, it's less than 2 more months before the world championship in Poland. I'll try to push myself a little harder for the next month or so. I just wish that this crazy heat wave would calm down a little...!
Training subject: Sen (or more like Sen-no-sen), and some exam basics. In the last couple of tournaments I felt pretty confident tha my "Sen" timing would work and did score a point or two using it. Before that when I was teaching I was trying to explain what I was not confident about, but now I know that it works and have proven it. It is very deep and one can never practice it enough. We will continue with it and try to relate it to other applications/strategies.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
June 3 - July 21, 2012
I didn't update for almost 2 months... Shame on me, but for a good reason: I was busy! :-)
Many events happened:
1. National Mini-Camp
Our own Emmanuel participated! He even got to compete against some black belts from other states! I'm sure he learned a lot from the experience. The AAKF continues hosting some seminars across the country regularly, so if any of you're interested in traveling and training, let me know.
2. National Championship
Big thanks to the following people who came to support the event:
Jon B, Eiko, Ron, Chris, Ariana, Emmanuel, Melissa
I hope it was exciting enough to watch. I did pretty good and won 2 golds and 1 bronze.
3. VMAC 1 Year Anniversary!
I can't believe it's been a year since we opened this dojo... The anniversary training didn't draw as many people as we wanted, but we still had a good training, and of course a great party afterwards. We are here to stay and to continue to grow...!
4. ITKF Summer Camp
Thanks to Jon B who covered to teach all the classes, I was able to participate in this training camp. There were about 40 people from different countries, many of them higher ranks and international judges/coaches/examiners/athletes. Sensei Nishiyama used to teach this camp every year down in San Diego for over 30 years, and after 3 years hiatus they resumed this tradition this year. It was a great camp and I learned a lot, hoping to give what I learned to you in classes. It will happen again next year in July; you should try to come even for a day! Beach training at 6am is wonderful in many ways...
5. Nishiyama Memorial Cup
There was a tournament on the last day of the camp. It was held based on the "World Cup" system - 8 men, all start with Kitei, then Kumite, then Kata (twice), and the final match in Kumite. You can lose once but you're out if you lose twice before getting to the Kata round (top 4). I won the first round (Kitei), lost the second round (Kumite, against Damian from Poland - watch the video posted on facebook), then won the next Kumite match and made it to the top 4. After the first Kata I was at 3rd place (after Rafal and Damian) but after the second Kata I beat Damian by a few points and moved up to the 2nd place, then did Kumite as the final match against Rafal (this video on facebook as well). Though they are very young, they are experienced competitors and have won many titles including European or World Cup. They are fast, strong, and have different style from most Americans which was a huge challenge for me. I hurt my old body trying to match up with them but truly enjoyed the experience. Those guys are who I have to face in the next tournament: World Championship in Poland this October!
I put another book on the bookshelf, as the "book of the month" for July and August. It's Lyoto Machida's book. Those who don't know him, he actually used to compete under our Karate rules as a Brazilian national team member, became a professional fighter and at one point was a UFC champion. His fights reflect the style we practice a lot; if you compare him with other fighters, you know what I mean.
So the next exam is just over a month away: August 26. Are you ready? Probably not yet, but are you GOING TO BE ready?? - the answer depends on how much training you do during the coming month!
Many events happened:
1. National Mini-Camp
Our own Emmanuel participated! He even got to compete against some black belts from other states! I'm sure he learned a lot from the experience. The AAKF continues hosting some seminars across the country regularly, so if any of you're interested in traveling and training, let me know.
2. National Championship
Big thanks to the following people who came to support the event:
Jon B, Eiko, Ron, Chris, Ariana, Emmanuel, Melissa
I hope it was exciting enough to watch. I did pretty good and won 2 golds and 1 bronze.
3. VMAC 1 Year Anniversary!
I can't believe it's been a year since we opened this dojo... The anniversary training didn't draw as many people as we wanted, but we still had a good training, and of course a great party afterwards. We are here to stay and to continue to grow...!
4. ITKF Summer Camp
Thanks to Jon B who covered to teach all the classes, I was able to participate in this training camp. There were about 40 people from different countries, many of them higher ranks and international judges/coaches/examiners/athletes. Sensei Nishiyama used to teach this camp every year down in San Diego for over 30 years, and after 3 years hiatus they resumed this tradition this year. It was a great camp and I learned a lot, hoping to give what I learned to you in classes. It will happen again next year in July; you should try to come even for a day! Beach training at 6am is wonderful in many ways...
5. Nishiyama Memorial Cup
There was a tournament on the last day of the camp. It was held based on the "World Cup" system - 8 men, all start with Kitei, then Kumite, then Kata (twice), and the final match in Kumite. You can lose once but you're out if you lose twice before getting to the Kata round (top 4). I won the first round (Kitei), lost the second round (Kumite, against Damian from Poland - watch the video posted on facebook), then won the next Kumite match and made it to the top 4. After the first Kata I was at 3rd place (after Rafal and Damian) but after the second Kata I beat Damian by a few points and moved up to the 2nd place, then did Kumite as the final match against Rafal (this video on facebook as well). Though they are very young, they are experienced competitors and have won many titles including European or World Cup. They are fast, strong, and have different style from most Americans which was a huge challenge for me. I hurt my old body trying to match up with them but truly enjoyed the experience. Those guys are who I have to face in the next tournament: World Championship in Poland this October!
I put another book on the bookshelf, as the "book of the month" for July and August. It's Lyoto Machida's book. Those who don't know him, he actually used to compete under our Karate rules as a Brazilian national team member, became a professional fighter and at one point was a UFC champion. His fights reflect the style we practice a lot; if you compare him with other fighters, you know what I mean.
So the next exam is just over a month away: August 26. Are you ready? Probably not yet, but are you GOING TO BE ready?? - the answer depends on how much training you do during the coming month!
Monday, June 4, 2012
May 27 - June 2, 2012
It's June already. Time flies...! National Championships in about 10 days!
"Book of the Month" special edition:
http://www.amazon.com/Shotokan-Karate-Kyu-level-Grading-Guidebook/dp/1470142120/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338875261&sr=8-1
or
https://www.createspace.com/3810291
Yep, it's on sale now. Now you really have no excuse not to know your basics for the exam. Our students can purchase it for $10 ($5 discount). I'm sorry but I'm not going to put this book up on the bookshelf; you have to purchase one to get the most benefit out of it!
I'm planning to shift the training subject toward more fundamental points. Basic timing, body dynamics, etc. Perhaps I'll cover a few of the exam required basics, too, just to get you become aware that the next exam is only 2.5 months away...!
"Book of the Month" special edition:
http://www.amazon.com/Shotokan-Karate-Kyu-level-Grading-Guidebook/dp/1470142120/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338875261&sr=8-1
or
https://www.createspace.com/3810291
Yep, it's on sale now. Now you really have no excuse not to know your basics for the exam. Our students can purchase it for $10 ($5 discount). I'm sorry but I'm not going to put this book up on the bookshelf; you have to purchase one to get the most benefit out of it!
I'm planning to shift the training subject toward more fundamental points. Basic timing, body dynamics, etc. Perhaps I'll cover a few of the exam required basics, too, just to get you become aware that the next exam is only 2.5 months away...!
Monday, May 28, 2012
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...)??
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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...
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.
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.
Friday, May 4, 2012
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)