Life after Grading

So, the first session as an orange belt.  Kind of strange, because most of the class had graded the week before and so we should have all known where to line up for Seiretsu, but we  were all looking at belts to get where to go, though in truth it was no different to normal, other than we also had a visiting Sensei (Graham), from one of our other dojos, there as well.

After the warm up (rolls, break falls, shrimping, stretches) and formal opening, we were in to toughening exercises, first kicks then "Kote kitae" (arm work).  At this moment in time, it seems my training partners are somewhat more proficient than me with Mawashi Geri kicks, it's the second week in a row that my Vegas nerve seems to have a big "kick me" sign on it.  I think I caught three or four on the trot on one leg, sheesh, I think I need to work on that one 😞  

Then it was on to a two person drill with different partners.  We were doing the quadrant drill featured in an earlier blog, with its combinations of hay maker, hammer fist, back fist and elbow receiving techniques, including counter strikes; followed by ridge hand strikes, gable grip pull down, knee strikes and head butt.  Working with different partners gives experience of adjusting techniques to accommodate different shapes and sizes of opponent.

Then it was on to Kata.  For me, I was concentrating on Naihanchi Shodan as ever, but was also allowed to do my  first performance version of Naihanchi Nidan in class, so I think I'm improving 😊  Got some good one-on-one time with Sensei Ben in doing Shodan, and apparently the intent emphasis of my Kata is coming on well.  So happy there too😊.

We finished off with pad work based on the Kihon katas, so a good varied lesson.  We have an inter-dojo competition coming up, so I get to test my performance of Naihachi Shodan competitively again.  Am looking forward to that, also my son wants to go to do full contact Kumite and Kata, so will be a dose of double nerves again, both as a dad and a competitor 😊 😊

Frustrations of grading

The grading on Sunday was good, apart from a double set of nerves, as they split the session in two: Firstly my son had to grade, then me.  So I was nervous for him and for me, but had to pop out half way through his grading to get in my gi.

When I was done, he was on to his Kata, and I know he knows his Kata 😊😊😊  He got a good pass and his green belt, then it was my turn.  I did ok and got a good pass, but my frustration is still with my kicks, especially Yoko Geri and Ushiro Geri.  Have practiced them, but they are still ropy.

So today I decided to try to slow them right down and hold them for about 5 seconds each in knee raise and extended positions (only on my better side) for each kick.  Here are the results:

Yoko Geri

Ushiro Geri

Both have wobble, but the Yoko Geri is better, as I managed a better extension.  Long way to go, but I think I can do better than I actually did in the grading, so just got to keep trying 😊😊.

Grading fundamentals

Sunday is grading day, and so Saturday's session was all about fundamentals.  It was also about pushing ourselves. staying sharp and executing  with good attitude. Strong Shiko Dachi and crisp movement.

We went through the various Ukes, Tsukis and kicks, followed by the 10 fundamental or kihon kata that form the basis of our style.   I only need the first two for grading this time (orange belt), but will need the first four and Naihanchi Shodan next time (blue belt).   

After that was a good session of practicing Naihanchi Shodan, followed by some basic drills featuring crashing, knee strikes, elbow strikes and pushing away.  I can't help but reflect how much of an improvement was, compared to the sessions before the last grading in March.  I struggled far less than then, probably both due to more practice and improved medication.

My son should be grading as well, to Green belt, so hopefully tomorrow will be a wonderful day 😊😊😊 

Aching All Over 😊

After today's session, I'm aching in places I haven't ached for ages.  From my shoulders down to my elbows, and my upper thighs, I ache most of all.  I warmed up outside the Dojo, during the Cadet class, with Kata.

Once in the Dojo, was running, rolls, jumps, squatageri's and stretches.  I can't forward roll well and landed on my shoulder in one attempt,so that's a part of the aches.

It's grading next week, so it was fundamentals day, going through the grading syllabus.  First up tsukis and ukes.  This is probably the source of the upper leg aches.  We do these in Shiko Dachi stance, and Sensei Ben got me to go a lot deeper than I have been (photo above shows lack of stretch).   We were doing these for about 20 minutes, so my muscles got some stretching.

Then it was kicks, followed by Kilhon Kata, I need the first two for grading, but did the first four.  Then it was Kata, and I need Naihanchi Shodan for the grading after next.  I lost count of the repetitions there, but it was over 10.  

This was followed by hardening exercises and then a pad circuit of punch combinations, kicks and knee strikes.  All in all, I seemed to need a few less breaks than I would have expected and the aches are good ones, so I'm happy 😊😊😊 Plus, I've been told I'm ready to grade, along with my son 😊😊😊 Happy days 😊😊😊

Time to take your medicine

So Saturday was the first day in the Dojo after I saw the doctor about my diagnosis of COPD.  I need to have a chest X-ray to determine how things are, and have been put on a mild steroid inhaler and Ventolin for a month so see how things improve.  I got these on Thursday, so this session was the first time I have trained since I started taking the lesson.

The first half of our Saturday's lesson was, with grading coming up, all fundamentals and Kata.  There were one or two pull outs I made, but I think there was a little improvement there.  However, the last half of the lesson was new territory.  I have previously only done a few sessions of sparring, up to about 90 seconds, but our visiting Sensei, in response to the request to "do something interesting" gave us 180 second sessions until the close.

I actually managed around one and a half minutes of the first session, and after that we changed partners.  I had to miss the session after that, but had a go at the remaining 5 or 6 sessions,  one a slowly but more accurate basis.  Again generally lasted about 2 to 2 and a half minutes, but still struggled for breath towards the end of each.

Initially, I was somewhat disappointed at what I had done; but then I thought back to the last time I had sparred it was for 90 seconds full on and this time I managed around 150 seconds.  Add to that, having never sparred for more than one session before, I had put myself in uncharted territory.  

On that reflection i think that, with or without the help of my new medication, I have actually managed to improve 😊😊😊.  So now the judgement on the effectiveness has to be put on hold, and it remains time to keep on taking my medication and carry on practicing Karate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Attention, Senior Sensei onboard!

Monday night was interesting, due to home and transport issues was running late, and had to make a call on whether to stay at home or go.  But with my regular Sensei away on holiday, it was their Sensei, Craig, leading the session, I was a bit apprehensive as to his reaction.   

I needn't have worried. As it was a 90 minute lesson, and I arrived before the first 30 minutes were up. I was allowed to train after warming up with stretches.  Sensei Craig is a good teacher and as we are coming up to grading, we were going through many of the basics.

Kicks - I missed a big chunk of this, as this was the first part of the lesson that I saw.  I joined as the stage the class were looking at Yoko Geri.  The explanation and demonstration of the technique to be used was really helpful .

Kehon Kata - After kicks we worked on Kihon Kata.  I stayed looking at Shodan and Nidan, the two I need for my next grading, whilst the more advanced went on to look at what they needed.  Our Senpai, Elisha, went through them with me one on one, including pad work versions.

Then we went onto Kata, this bit was fun.  Not only we have slow step throughs of the Naihanchi kata, we also went through some of the Pinans, and I think its the first time I have had a step through of Passai Sho 😊

Sensei Craig then did some one on one work with one of our class, whilst the rest of us did some Pad work.  I got to try out a tweek I had seen to my Mawashi Geri kick to kick through the target properly which seemed to make a noticable difference, on my best leg at least 😊

Kata warmdown - it was a hot and sweaty lesson, so was time to do a Kata to warm down with.  All in all an enjoyable lesson, thank you 😊😊

A Brilliant Day

This is a short post to cover a brilliant day, workout in the dojo,  part of the demonstration team at the Isla Rose fun day, and then on to see the first New Japan Pro Wrestling show in the UK, with my son 😀

Dojo day was warm up, Kihon - Uke, Tsuki and Geri, with Kata practice and walkthrough, followed by Kihon Kata padwork up to Rokudan. 😀 Needed when gradings are coming up 😀

Isla Rose fun day was just that, we did Breathing techniques, Kihon, Pad work, Kata together.  Then there was Okinawan wrestling from the cadets, Sparring from the cadets and adults, plus Kobudo from our Sensei and Senpai. 😀 In was fun and all in a good cause 😀

After that, with a few hiccups, on to the Wrestling.  My son was more than happy to see something special, and I thoroughly enjoyed too 😀😀