Thursday, July 15, 2010

Where was everybody?? It was a small and quiet class. We did have a good class, but it's always more fun to have more students. Hmm, time to recruit some more students? What if we do "bring one student, get your 1-month training FREE"?

Tonight's subjects"

Kata:

• Jitte
• Heian Nidan

Kihon:

• 2nd level yellow-belt test basics (the next exam is in 6 weeks!)
• Free-style, punches & kicks (including Kizami)

Kumite:

• Ma-ai & Kime check (punches & kicks)
• Punch, reacting to a half kick
• Kick, reacting to a half punch
• Free reaction (punches & kicks)

I just received an e-mail from the AAKF national office. Yes, I'm officially going to Brazil for the World Championships in November! It was my 4th time that I won the national title, but I was not able to be a part of the national team back then because I was not a US citizen before (99, 00) or I was too busy with school (09). This is my first "real" international competition, and I can't wait to party with karate people from around the world! ...Oh yeah, I'll do my best in the tournaments as well, of course. :-)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Better write it before I forget!!!

Kata (warm-up, cool-down):

• Hangetsu
• Jitte
• Unsu
• Heian Nidan

Kihon:

• Kizami-zuki/Gyaku-zuki
• Mae-geri
• Yoko-geri Keage
• Kizami Mae-geri/Mae-geri (free style)

Kumite:

• Kizami-zuki or Gyaku-zuki (check for final connection)
• Mawashi-ashi (turning foot) against Gyaku-zuki stomach
• Mawashi-ashi / counter attack (in Go-no-sen timing)
• Mawashi-ashi (turning foot) against Kizami Mae-geri stomach
• Mawashi-ashi / counter attack (in Go-no-sen timing) against Kizami Mae-geri or Kizami Mawashi-geri stomach

Jim told me after the class, that I still talk too much! Thanks for that criticism... Well, I know, I realized that at the beginning of class today. I tried not to talk much during Kumite drills, though, because once you get going, I don't want to stop you. In Kihon, however, I still don't want you to miss the point I'm focusing on, and I tend to over-explain as a result. My "teaching training" continues...

Frida, July 9, 2010 (Toru's Seminar @ Monterey Park)

I'm glad that some of us made it to the seminar! Toru is just a full of information, and we all learned a lot, I think. A little confusing? Maybe so, but some new and fresh ideas keep us wonder and make us want to find out if they work or not. Karate learning is so much fun!

Some points I remember:
Beating and flowing energy, core connection, stance alignment (spine, pelvis, hips, knees, feet, scapulas), forearm rotation (supination/pronation) relationship, use of serratus anterior, disuse of lats, difference between Hanmi front-stance and Shomen front-stance.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

My bad! I completely forgot about posting a lesson blog Thursday... So sorry!!

Now I don't remember what we worked on. Let's see...

Kata:

• Jitte
• Bassai-dai
• Heian Nidan

Kihon:
Oh no, I don't remember!! I do know that we worked on kicks: Mae-geri and Mawashi-geri perhaps? Did we do any punching??

Kumite:
Here, too, I don't remember exactly... We've worked on Go-no-sen timing possibly.

I know that this class was kinda/sorta progression from Sunday's class subjects. But I don't remember the specifics. I just started working on Thursday, and my head is full of other things. I know it's a bad excuse, but what can I say... I hope you guys can fill me in on the rest of stuff we worked on that night!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

It was cool to have many students training on 4th of July! And it was nice to have some guests, too. Too bad the Jonas Brothers didn't show up. BBQ was good. Thank you all for coming/ training/ cooking/ eating/ drinking/ talking!

Training:

Kihon:

• Kizami-zuki / Gyaku-zuki
• Soto-uke / Uchi-uke
• Mae-geri (in Heisoku-dachi)
• Gyaku-zuki (in free style, slide back then slide forward)
• Kizami Mae-geri / Mae-geri (in free style)
• Kizami Mawashi-geri / Mawashi-geri (in free style)

Kata:

• Your own

Kumite:

• Pads (Mae-geri, Mawashi-geri)
• Timing drills:

Option 1: Go-no-sen with Gyku-zuki
Option 2: Sen with Kizami Mae-geri
Option 3: Sen with Kizami Mawashi-geri

BBQ:

• Sausages
• Hot dogs
• Chicken
• Salmon
• Pork chops
• Potato salad
• Yakisoba, etc., etc...

See you all on Thursday! And remember, we'll have a little seminar in Monterey Park on Friday; check jon's e-mail in your junk mail folder...

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Tonight's subjects:

Kata:

• Heian Shodan
• Your Own (clear target, hop position & stance to support the technique)

Kihon:

• Kicks (Mae-geri, Yoko-geri Keage, Mawashi-geri)

Kumite:

• Back leg kicks (Mae-geri & Mawashi-geri) against target

I had a chance to discuss about teaching with Ron and Robert the other night, and we agreed that we all TALK TOO MUCH when we teach! We all tend to over-explain things and slow down the "flow" of the sweating process. I still want you to understand the points rather than mindlessly do things, but I will try to balance them so that you can break a sweat even in that air-conditioned room. Especially the 1-hour class is too short for me to talk and talk...!

As I explained in class (oh, did I still talk too much??), kicking is not easy. But you should always focus on the same principles as punching, such as the body-center initiation, the floor use, and the stance support (alignment). At least for me, a kick does not come out naturally unless I plan it, but when you do plan it and apply it in a proper chance, it really works! A lot of us still have trouble connecting the kick, so keep working on it to get that "clean hit" image. We'll kick some pads next time.

Monday June 28, 2010

Hmm, I guess Monday night doesn't work for many of you. But it was a good "Men Only" training tonight! :-)

Subjects:

Kata

• Heian Shodan (eyes leading, body weight/momentum applied, mention Hikite)
• Heian Nidan

Kihon

• In-place Kizami-zuki / Gyaku-zuki in Zenlutsu-dachi (stance alignment, hip rotation)
• In-place Shutoh-uke / Gyaku-zuki in Kokutsu-dachi (same as above)

Kumite

• Move around (forearm direction)
• Move around + Punch (center initiation, front foot move in)
• Slide back ~ Slide in Gyaku-zuki
• Same as above, against opponent's full attack (=Go-no-sen Amashi-waza) HALF BEAT

I had 12 full days of break from Karate until yesterday, but I guess I didn't forget much. My movements may be a bit rusty (and I may have muscle sores tomorrow), but I'm sure I'll get back in shape soon. The only thing I did in Japan related to Karate was to buy a new Gi. You can buy 4 Mugen Gis for the same price, but this definitely is worth it; this may be the best I've ever owned! I hope it will stay the same even after many washes.