In the Dojo: Down to Earth

For sad family reasons, my wife and son are in Peterborough right now, and I have worked from home today to keep an eye on our Pets and meet with a member of my daughter's support team.  As a result, I took the opportunity to do a rare Thursday session in the dojo with Sensei Alison.

A good workout as ever, though only an hour.  But its extra exercise so all good.  We did kata, stepping drills and bunkai, which was all good.  The steeping drills were based on what is needed for the Pinan family of Katas, plus cat stance strikes and step throughs.    The bunkai was a mix of Pinan Shodan (first time I've done that) and Naihanchi Shodan, so well worthwhile.

The down to earth element comes in the Kata.  My Sensei knows I have been practicing Naihanchi Ni Dan, so asked me to see how far I could get.  Nerves hit in, and I probably managed about half, so she asked me to go back to Shodan and my mind went blank 😕

I now know why my Sensei tell me really need to know a Kata well, and why even the old masters would often stick to one Kata as a primary.  Trying to have two forms in my head, neither of which I have mastered, led to be faltering when I was asked to perform.

Turned out I had got myself tied up  with step sequences and a gentle reminder sorted out Shodan.  But it's all good stuff, even at my age, life is a learning curve 😊😊

Damned if you do, don't or are in between

There are some days when you are damned if you do, damned if you don't or damned if you are in between.  Today, for reasons I won't specify, was one of those.   

My response nowadays, is if I can't make any progress one way, try to progress another.  I made progress on one front but I can't share that, so I also tried something new in another direction I can share.

A few days ago, I got a hontai video of a kata I had started to learn, courtesy of my Sensei.  I have been practicing parts, but I decided to go the whole hog and try to learn the flow of all of it.  Here is my third full attempt at Naihanchi Ni Dan.

I appreciate it is very rough, but it felt good to go something I hadn't been able to do from end to end before.  I find that doing something good in one direction, when you can't progress in another helps.

You can't control what others say, do or feel.  You can't please anyone sometimes, but you can control what you say and what you do.  You can also help how you feel, so being able to do this helps me.

Dojo day

Because of other circumstances, I probably haven't practiced as much as I should this week, so time in the dojo was a bit more challenging than usual (and it is always challenging in one way or another 😊).  Was good to see one of our fellow dojo members who is struggling with a medical condition come to visit.  Even though they couldn't take part, good to see them 😊

Today was a mix of stretches, cami rolls (I really do need to work on these), ground work (again lots of work needed) blocking practice, kata, a different version of Naihanchi drills and finally bo kihon kata.  Left home in a rush this morning, so left my bo behind and had to borrow one, but definitely enjoy bo work 😊

Lessons are always varied, so usually are fun as well as a challenge 😊😊  Afterwards did some swapping of what we had learned with my son. We were waiting for a cab at the time (underestimated the shopping) and problably got some funny looks, but who cares? 😊😊

Pushed: In the dojo

I have to admit I didn't feel at my best today, but wasn't a day for shirking.  After the warm up, it was trying to keep each leg in turn up at kicking height for 10-15 seconds.  Given I am no the best, needless to say I ended up with two lots of forfeit pressups. 

Then it was on to stepping drills, keeping moving in fighting stance without crossing legs.   This was folowed by the same drill with punches, then with each foot in turn on a fixed spot, turning in stance to the position called by our Sensei. 

After that was padwork on punches, stressing punching through and spending time on the target; Naihanchi drills then kicks onto pads.  The one that pushed me the most was the pyramid, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mawasha-geris with one leg then the same with the other leg.

It certainly pushed me as hard, if not harder than, I've been pushed before and got my heart rate up enough that I had to take a few breaks.  The last half hour was fun though; bo kihon kata 😊😊😊  Naihanchi Shoda to wind down then finished: An excellent lesson 😊 

After dinner, I had to go and do a bo kihon kata in the garden to work off a little too much food.  Thought it wouldn't do too much harm to video, but please excuse the state of the garden.  It's been badly neglected whilst wasn't I too clever and then with other things going on, so will be one of this summer's projects  😊

A personal Thank You

I am no paragon of virtue (I'm not perfect by a long chalk), but I know my family have overcome a lot of difficulties in their time.  My Grandfather and Grandmother were deaf, he could speak, she couldn't.  

My Dad died in his mid 50s of the same condition I have, and my Mum had a nervous breakdown trying to cope.  I live with that and some members of my family have mental health issues. We have to try to cope and carry on.

Karate has of late been a cornerstone in coping, so thank you to all who have helped, especially my Sensei Alison and Ben, along with Graham, plus my fellow Dojo members.  Also a special mention to Gary Hood (whose comments are invaluable) and Cesar, who I met through my federation's competition earlier in the year (and who has similar issues).

To you all and my family; Thank You 😊🙏

A Nerd Post: My mental model for Kata

I recently read an old article by Ian Abernethy:

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/pinan-heian-series-fighting-system-part-one

That led me, along with the Shorin Ryu interpretation of Naihanchi, to a mental model of Kata that ran:

"Kata are the forms handed down that contain the intended muscle memory that we need to develop to fight. A series of kata represent a complete fighting system when unpacked. The first kata of a series is the base kata on which the rest are built. Bunkai is the unpackaging of the Kata into applicable form"

I posted this to a group in Facebook that I am a member of (Katate Nerds) to see whether this was a reasonably valid interpretation of things.  With the help of a number of responses there, especially Mike Flanagan along with Andrew Carr-Locke:

https://www.facebook.com/mike.flanagan.9083
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.carrlocke

I adjusted this to "Kata are the forms handed down to contain the intended muscle memory we need to develop to fight.  In some cases, a series of Kata (Naihanchi, Sanchin <one Kata, sometimes presented as two> , Pinan) represent a complete fighting system when unpacked.  Where this is the case the first Kata is the foundation on which the rest are built.  Bunkai is the unpackaging of the Kata into applicable form, and circumstances form the control as to which elements are applied."

This I represent for my own purposes in the following way:

This is my current understanding, but is still very much a "work in progress" 😊

A rare Monday night in the dojo

Work normally prevents me from attending my dojo's Monday night sessions, but a day off today allowed me to attend.  😊  One of the fellow dads returned to the fold after a few years away, so there are now three father and son combinations at the dojo.  He might be just a bit more technically able than me, but still brilliant😊

Warm up, conditioning, kata, drills and padwork and fun😊 I'm still aching from the conditioning, because I wanted to feel the kicks, but no pain of sort no gain in the long term.  The kata went though Naihanchi to Pinan, then there came drills and padwork.

That was all the Naihanchi opening sequence based, but with some takedowns included.   I lasted 75 minutes today without taking a break, and that is what pleased me almost the most.  However, the best thing of all is the working with other people who want you to succeed, no matter what level you are at  😊 😊 😊

At home and in the Dojo

I think this morning is the first time before lessons I have practiced with my son.  Plenty of times afterwards and on other days.  But he so wants to nail down the three Naihanchi kata 😁 

We did Shodan together, he took me through Niedan and then did Sandan on his own.  Way better than me, but it's great to have a teacher on tap 😊  For me it's a great help.

The lesson today pushed me, but that is what I need.  After warm ups it was Kata, and I feel comforatable enough with what I should be doing with Naihanchi Shodan now to say I was unhappy:  Not because I did it badly, but because I can do better.  With Naihanchi Niedan, I actually think I know a bit more of that now, so I'm pleased with that  😊

After that it was lot's of drills and some padwork.  The drills were fun, as they were Naihanchi Shodan, but with a twist.  Like what happens if... attempted takedowns and counters included.  Defintiely fun 😊😊

Was absolutely dripping by the end, so good stuff!!! Thank you Sensei Alison and Ben 😊😊😊🙏

Adding to my home practice

For myself,  noticed that my kicks haven't improved as much as some other aspects of my Karate.  Mostly it seems to be working my upper and lower body together thats the issue, my arms and my feet don't seem to want to work as one.

As a result, there is nowhere near as much accuracy in my kicks as there needs to be. So I went looking online for some ideas.  What I came up with was to hold my hands on my hips whilst kicking low.   This doesn't help with the Mawasha Geri kick, but should help with the Yoko and Ushiro Geri kicks.

I've been trying this for a few weeks now and I think its made a difference.  I've added a video here for reference:

In addition to this, my mentor has noticed that my punching posture is sloppy as a result of my elbows throwing out sideways as I punch.  So both as Cardio-Vascular exercise and to improve my punches, he has suggested doing slow Choko Tsuki punches, concentrating on keeping my arms by my side whilst punching.  He had earlier suggested added an extra stretch into my routine (bending at the waist, hands down by ankles), so I have added another video to show my attempts at both:

Finally, I have enough confidence to practice my slow Kata outside now, and on the day my son recorded the below video with me, he went through all the Naihanchi Kata, plus we did flow drills.  Both the specific one we use in our dojo and the Naihanchi drill as I believe is taught by Sensei Abernethy.  No videos of those though, we were a little involved at the time 😊😊

Nerd Post: Ryukyukan Shorin Ryu Lineage

I've been thinking of doing this for some time, as I've seen them for many of the Karate forms, but not for the one I follow.  I believe I have this correct, apart from maybe the photo of Anko Itosu, which may recently have been identified as someone else.  If so, does anyone have a drawing I could put in it's place?

Ryukyukan Shrin Ryu Lineage

And below is the (almost) final version, after it was revised in line with comments received by other Karateka:

Father and son

Being a bank holiday weekend, my son had been on a sleepover.  On his return, lots of things had happened, so we needed Father and Son time...

Given the weather was actually good for a little while, it was park, swings and Kata.   Where there is a 46 year age difference between us, its important to have a common interest.  He started Karate first, so I'm the follower, but so what?

We can discuss what we need to discuss and enjoy time together. 😊  We did Naihanchi Shodan together, he mirrored and took on the lead in Naihnchi Niedan and I copied, then he did Naihanchi Sandan.

A while ago, I told him I would like to be able to do the three Naihanchis together, and wow he did that too.  I'm sure there is lots of room for improvement, but part of what we have being trying to do is getting him to go for things.  He did that big time, a 😊nd is learning Karate values too, what more can I ask for? 😊  Other than he keeps teaching me as well  😊 😊

They're Back 😊

Sensei Alison and Ben back from Okinawa, and back in the Dojo.  Sensei Graham was there too, plus the largest adult class for a long time 😊  Wonderful enthusiasm levels, plus a strenouous work out: Back to basics, punches blocks and kicks to start of after the warm up and stretches.

That was followed by Kata, Naihanchi Shodan, plus a run through of Niedan and Sandan for me, plus the Pinan Katas up for some of the higher grades.  I think my Naihanchi Shodan is showing distinct signs of improvement, but so much to do on the other Naihanchis.

That was followed by Pad work, and finally some combination work; reciving and giving personal choice attacking combinations.  Was definitely in need of that workou.t 😊😊😊  

Also, I think I've found an additional way of practicing and improving my Yoko and Ushiro Geri kicks, but I need to check with my Sensei to make sure it will help me in the right direction. Today was a bit busy though so will need to wait for a little while😊

A Master of Okinawan Karate: Koichi Nakasone

On one of the Facebook Groups I follow, I found a link to this Sensei: Koichi Nakasone.  As with the head of my Federation of Ryuku-Kan Shorin Ryu, Sensei Koei Nohara, Sensei Koichi Nakasone was a pupil of Sensei Shugoro Nakazato.

It was with great interest then that I watched the video, and I think I will be watching it a good few times more:

Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate #3 Koichi Nakasone

Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did 😊

Also stills from the visit from the blog of Chris Wilson:

koichi-nakasone-9th-dan-ryukyu-kingdom-sui-di-bujutsu