Australia calling

This last week or so has been extremely hectic from a work point of view, and unfortunately Monday lessons seem to have been mostly lost as a result.  However, there have been a few plusses.  Getting to practice some Motobu Choki drills was one, but the biggest was definitely getting to train with my friend PJ Broomy from Australia online twice in a week ☺☺☺☺

Relaxation kata - June 29

On Wednesday last we had a one on one session in the morning UK time and covered some interesting stuff (lesson details and video here also).  Not only was the practical material, but some interesting discussion too, for me at least ☺☺☺☺☺☺  The different mechanism for punching that his style uses is interesting, along with the simple and direct methods of takedown. These are a lot easier to remember for me than those of Funokoshi Gishin, however those techniques also include transitions afterwards that add to the direct techniques shown by PJ.  

Fundamentals plus kata - June 30

So in my thing of these techniques as two parts, the direct part that should work and then the transition you can do if it doesn't.  Sandwiched in between the two lessons with PJ (he was one of two guest Sensei at our Saturday lesson), was our regular Thursday lesson where we went back to basics with kihon gata, and punches and responses.  Fundamental techniques always need working on ☺☺☺

Australia calling - 1st July

The Saturday lesson was extra special, Sensei Ben featured getting up from the ground with cover, and the first of the Motobu Choki drills I had missed in a previous lesson.  This drill was so direct, it was easy to remember and see how it could be effective.  Love it. ☺ 

After the lesson - 2nd July

For PJ's part of the lesson, we went through the ukes I had practiced earlier in the week with him, plus the sequence of five ukes and the three take downs featuring palm strike,chudan uke and gidan barai respectively.  All simple techniques, but that is what should make the combination work more effective, as they are also easier to remember than more complex combinations. ☺☺☺☺

5 blocks in sequence - 3rd July

Brian Bates' section of the lesson focused on four ditrctional elbow strikes, with and without pads.  Brian's emthusiasm and encouragement is superb and communicates well, even online.  We also did 30 minutes of bo basics.  All in all, a brilliant lesson ☺.  Thank you all 🙏

Lesson - 4th July

I missed the Monday lesson again due to work, but tried to make up a little bit by practicing a four directional mawashi empi drill and having a go at the first three of Motobu Choki's Kumite drills over the next couple of days.  Hopefully, we will get back to some kind of normal soon.

Kata after the lesson - 4th July

Kata - 5th July

Press ups, Mawashi Empi, Naihanchi - 6th July

Motobu Choki drills, Naihanchi - 7th July

0107

PJ Broomy session

Punches + retracted punch (short retraction after delivery of punch). Discussed atifa, technique for transferring power into opponents body (result of retracted punch) Receiving techniques + different gidan ukes Combining sequence of the 5 ukes Comparison of gidan uke (as opposed to gidan barai) to Pinan Shiko dachi step through with elbows on hips Comparison of transitioning for example in Naihanchi on double block. PJ style hand going upwards goes on inside so that descending hand can pull. Practical application of yoi - discussed muchini, stickiness Three throws Pull with front hand to hip, step forward and strike to chin / throat with advancing hand Pull with front hat to hip, step forward with chudan uke as hammerfirst Strong front arm gidan barai (uke) as sweep to block strike and spin them to expose the back Comparison with Techniques illustrated in one of Funokoshi Gichin's books, and demonstrated by my Sensei, which require rotation after the technique

0207

Kata
Kihon kata
Jab and response
Back hand and response
Front hand hook and response
Response sequence
1) jab - sway to back hand side, back hand block, front hand simultanious strike to just behind the elbow
2) backhand punch, small step to side with front leg.  Head moves to front foot side, front hand pushes across, back hand straight punch to solar plexus
3) front hand hook, step forward, front hand blocks with jodan uke, backhand upper cut.

0407

Ben

Going down and getting up with cover
Motobu drill, open hand fighting stance, step forward R leg, hand trap (L Hand) and cover (R Arm), drop right elbow into ribs and push away

PJ

Ukes individual and combining sequence of the 5 ukes (Jodan uke, Chudan uke, Soto uke, Gidan barai, Gidan uke)
Three throws Pull with front hand to hip, step forward and strike to chin / throat with advancing hand Pull with front hat to hip, step forward with chudan uke as hammerfirst Strong front arm gidan barai (uke) as sweep to block strike and spin them to expose the back

Brian

Mawashi Empi style drill
Left leg forward, set forward right leg rising elbow (R) (12h), turn to 6h Mawashi Empi (L), 3h dropping elbow (R), 9h hammer down elbow (L). Then with pads - need to remember footwork.
Free striking to pads with elbows, several strikes them get away.
Defensive, cover, crash, technique then get away.

Bo lesson

Kihon gata