We will be spending time on your Kata, Kihon and some basic timing drills (Sen and Go-no-sen). Dojo has been cold for the past few days again; is it time to do another good warm-up circuit drills?? Let me think...
Sunday, March 18, 2012
March 11 - 17, 2012
I wish I could continue with more sweeping and throwing techniques (I bought a good book for that; coming soon to "Book of the Month"??) but it's time to shift to the basics and to get you all ready for the exam. I can't possibly cover everyone's exam requirement equally, so if you feel like I'm not paying enough attention to your level, ask me questions before/after a class or schedule a private lesson soon. The good thing about our karate is that you learn one point and you can apply it in different situations (i.e., you learn to move from the floor in Kata and you can do the same when you spar) so there is no waste. However, there are certain techniques or moves that we don't spend much time on during regular classes yet you have to be proficient at when you test - so start early, get used to what you have to do, and be prepared mentally and physically. I do my best to teach you, but you're responsible for your own learning!
Monday, March 12, 2012
March 4 - 10, 2012
Practicing sweeping... Sorry if you have sensitive legs/feet. The good news is, that we are moving on to a new subject now. The bad news is, if you don't like practicing sweeps, you're likely to get swept when you compete... I learned it the hard way.
On Thursday the 8th we had 18 people on the mat! Then on Saturday the 10th there were only 3 students. NO ONE from our dojo was here for the advanced class, and Kamil and his gangs kicked my behind. Seriously, I hurt my hand and can barely make a fist. Oh, maybe this is a sign that I have to work harder on my kicks - and that means, our students have to, too! :-)
The exam is less than 6 weeks away. I'm guessing not everyone is testing this time, or perhaps many will fail. In case you forget, the test only gets harder as you get advanced. It's fine as long as you keep on training regularly. I'll start mixing some exam stuff in the training, so don't miss out!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
February 26 - March 3, 2012
Practicing leg sweeps this week and the next. I must admit that this is not my favorite technique and I'm rarely able to make it work in a free-sparring. But I still like to practice it because at least I can get more comfortable with it and learn how to avoid getting swept.
Thank you so much to those who took me out on my birthday! It was a great night out and I thoroughly enjoyed it and my Facebook profile pic proves it! Now I want my birthday gift from every one of you... COME TRAIN MORE OFTEN! Those of you who are thinking of testing, it's less than 2 months away. Get your practice time in, ask for a help if you have any problems. Take a private lesson or two if you must. I'm working hard to create a material that hopefully would help your test preparation, and here is a sneak preview:
Book of the Month has already been placed on the bookshelf. It's Karatedo Kyohan written by Master Funakoshi (the picture on our dojo wall, the left one). I used to have this book but misplaced it (how?? It's a big book and I don't think I gave it to anyone!) so I had to get another one for the dojo. This is a limited edition and not is no longer available. There is a book with the same title readily available at a bookstore, however, the photographs had been swapped with someone else's therefore it's not the same book. Anyway, it's surprising to see how different our karate looks from what this Master demonstrates in the book, but I'm sure the principles remain the same.
An announcement: our region's effort of fundraising for the Nationals continues - They are having yet another Garage Sale in Santa Monica on Saturday, March 24. Please donate any unwanted items that you think can sell. We had our own Garage Sale a few months ago and made a few hundred bucks (thanks to my chair collections! :-)) and we're trying to make even more this time. Gather stuff at our dojo, and I will take them to Santa Monica. Your help would be highly appreciated.
Thank you so much to those who took me out on my birthday! It was a great night out and I thoroughly enjoyed it and my Facebook profile pic proves it! Now I want my birthday gift from every one of you... COME TRAIN MORE OFTEN! Those of you who are thinking of testing, it's less than 2 months away. Get your practice time in, ask for a help if you have any problems. Take a private lesson or two if you must. I'm working hard to create a material that hopefully would help your test preparation, and here is a sneak preview:
Book of the Month has already been placed on the bookshelf. It's Karatedo Kyohan written by Master Funakoshi (the picture on our dojo wall, the left one). I used to have this book but misplaced it (how?? It's a big book and I don't think I gave it to anyone!) so I had to get another one for the dojo. This is a limited edition and not is no longer available. There is a book with the same title readily available at a bookstore, however, the photographs had been swapped with someone else's therefore it's not the same book. Anyway, it's surprising to see how different our karate looks from what this Master demonstrates in the book, but I'm sure the principles remain the same.
An announcement: our region's effort of fundraising for the Nationals continues - They are having yet another Garage Sale in Santa Monica on Saturday, March 24. Please donate any unwanted items that you think can sell. We had our own Garage Sale a few months ago and made a few hundred bucks (thanks to my chair collections! :-)) and we're trying to make even more this time. Gather stuff at our dojo, and I will take them to Santa Monica. Your help would be highly appreciated.
Lastly, renew your AAKF membership, please! I'm collecting the forms and dues for now, and will forward them to the region in 10 days. If you want to save $10, you have 10 more days left to give me the form and $20.
February 19 - 25, 2012
We finished focusing on the combination attack. Moving on to the next topic... Sweeping.
Practice sweeping carefully/gently, as we have a few with very sensitive feet and legs. We are practicing against a stable target; ANYONE can kick the leg hurt it when the opponent is not moving, duh! The point, as usual, is how to make a proper technique, with minimum effort resulting in maximum effect. It requires good timing, just like any other technique we practice. Be kind to each other and learn from each other. Brown belts, come to the advanced class so that you can really test those techniques full speed!
Practice sweeping carefully/gently, as we have a few with very sensitive feet and legs. We are practicing against a stable target; ANYONE can kick the leg hurt it when the opponent is not moving, duh! The point, as usual, is how to make a proper technique, with minimum effort resulting in maximum effect. It requires good timing, just like any other technique we practice. Be kind to each other and learn from each other. Brown belts, come to the advanced class so that you can really test those techniques full speed!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
February 12 - 18, 2012
Continuing with combination attack drills, including some timing drills. I'm thinking, probably just one more week on this subject and then move on.
We had a great seminar (Regional Fundraising Seminar in Redondo Beach) and 6 from our dojo participated. We all had great training as usual. Most of these seminars are not just for advanced students (though most participants are black belts) and anyone can participate and benefit from it at different levels, so please don't hesitate to seize the opportunity! The next seminar is coming up on April 21. We also are going to have a 2-day seminar on June 13-14: this is the AAKF National Mini-camp and will be taught by some of the highest rank instructors in the nation. Please do whatever you can to free up these days (as well as the following 2 days which are the National Championships; WE NEED YOUR HELP TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT!!!)!
Oh, lastly, don't forget to renew your AAKF membership if you are a current member. It will expire in March, and if you renew before the end of March (we need to send it in by mid March though) you save $10 ($20 instead of $30). New students can join now or when you take a test (you must be a member when you test; no exception), and you get a benefit at seminars and tournaments.
We had a great seminar (Regional Fundraising Seminar in Redondo Beach) and 6 from our dojo participated. We all had great training as usual. Most of these seminars are not just for advanced students (though most participants are black belts) and anyone can participate and benefit from it at different levels, so please don't hesitate to seize the opportunity! The next seminar is coming up on April 21. We also are going to have a 2-day seminar on June 13-14: this is the AAKF National Mini-camp and will be taught by some of the highest rank instructors in the nation. Please do whatever you can to free up these days (as well as the following 2 days which are the National Championships; WE NEED YOUR HELP TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT!!!)!
Oh, lastly, don't forget to renew your AAKF membership if you are a current member. It will expire in March, and if you renew before the end of March (we need to send it in by mid March though) you save $10 ($20 instead of $30). New students can join now or when you take a test (you must be a member when you test; no exception), and you get a benefit at seminars and tournaments.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
February 5 - 11, 2012
We're working on the Combination Attack (Renzoku Kougeki Waza) now. I want to include some of the basic combinations from the exam requirements here and there. I don't want to spend too many weeks on this subject but perhaps for 1-3 weeks, then move on to something else.
We're canceling this Saturday's Advanced Class, because we will have a regional seminar in Redondo Beach. Is anyone going? I'm going for training, not for teaching this time, and I encourage all of you to try to make it. Almost every time I take someone's class, I find one or two new things/ideas that I want to work on or that I want to incorporate in my teaching. Though I have good 20+ years of training experience, there are many other instructors who are far more experienced or skilled than I am, and I want my students to be exposed to them as well.
We're canceling this Saturday's Advanced Class, because we will have a regional seminar in Redondo Beach. Is anyone going? I'm going for training, not for teaching this time, and I encourage all of you to try to make it. Almost every time I take someone's class, I find one or two new things/ideas that I want to work on or that I want to incorporate in my teaching. Though I have good 20+ years of training experience, there are many other instructors who are far more experienced or skilled than I am, and I want my students to be exposed to them as well.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
January 29 - February 4, 2012
It's been a month since we started the advanced class. I'm definitely enjoying it (as well as getting hurt from it...) but I want all our brown belts to try to make it more often. I know it's Saturday but you know it's good for you!
We'll try to shift away from Sasoi-waza and work on other offensive strategies soon. Any request?
I now put out another book on our bookshelf. It's an anatomy/body conditioning book. It definitely helps to understand your own body for karate improvement. I had to memorize all the muscles, bones and nerves for my PT school/board exam, but I lost all that knowledge, so don't ask me any and just take a look at this book! :-) According to this book, a man should be able to do 8 pull-ups and a woman once as the national average - are we all "above average"?? Take the challenge and add it to your list of New Year resolution if you're below average!
It looks like the AAKF is holding another national seminar, this time in April in Milwaukee. I might try to go if I can save up the fund; let me know if anyone is interested in sharing a hotel room with me. It's always fun to travel and meet karate people from different part of country or world.
We'll try to shift away from Sasoi-waza and work on other offensive strategies soon. Any request?
I now put out another book on our bookshelf. It's an anatomy/body conditioning book. It definitely helps to understand your own body for karate improvement. I had to memorize all the muscles, bones and nerves for my PT school/board exam, but I lost all that knowledge, so don't ask me any and just take a look at this book! :-) According to this book, a man should be able to do 8 pull-ups and a woman once as the national average - are we all "above average"?? Take the challenge and add it to your list of New Year resolution if you're below average!
It looks like the AAKF is holding another national seminar, this time in April in Milwaukee. I might try to go if I can save up the fund; let me know if anyone is interested in sharing a hotel room with me. It's always fun to travel and meet karate people from different part of country or world.
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