Been a long time..... or Ring Rust

Its been a while now since my last blog and so much has been going on, it's been kind of hard to keep track.  I've kept my usual notes on the lessons, done a few videos but that was about it, not been writing anything else down as too much else is going on.

0907 Slow kata and press ups after lesson

In the end I suppose all I can do is try to summarise.  Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. early in the lockdown it was a blessing, as it allowed me the flexibility to train three times a week for the first time ever.  Later in the lockdown it has become a bit of a millstone, as there has been so much work going on to get ready for offices re-opening that it has overflowed at times into home life and time.  On balance though, I still believe it to have been good for me, as it allowed me to keep working full time even though I have had to shield.  Now comes the uncertainty of when I will be asked to go back to the office, and how that will be done when travelling on public transport will become a major issue for me.

1107 Tensho to go

On the family level, the lockdown has put a strain on all concerned.  I think even the best of families would have been pushed to all stay in the same house 24x7 for four months. I had some mental health issues going into the lockdown and I think it is fair to say that all of us have suffered with various issues over this period.  My biggest mistake I think was trying to deal with my issues in isolation from other things that have been going on, and that added somewhat to the tensions we have all geen suffering from.  In recent weeks, though things have eased somewhat as we are all talking to one another and are trying to work things through.

1107 No Lesson so Fundamentals

On the karate front, I still use my karate to help both my phyiscal and metnal health.  Even my wife gave it a go for a few lessons, before deciding it wasn't quite for her just now.   I think the different ways me and our son approach karate and try to show things didn't help, at times that can get confusing for a complete beginner, I'm still a novice myself of course.   There is still a lot of variety in the lessons, but it's obvious that many are chomping at the bit to get back in the dojo.  That cxan't happen for me anytime soon, so the online lessons will still continue for some time to come, even when the dojo does re-open.

1407 Compass elbow drill practice and Naihanchi

Work and family issues have limited training over the last month or so down to one or two times a week on average, but during this time have at least had the opportunity to train with PJ Broomy again.  This time both me and my son took part, and managed to get some partnered drill work in,  another great lesson, thank you PJ.  

1507 Kicks, take downs and kata

For my own part, when I have had no lessons, I've been trying mostly to do forms for exercise and practice fundamentals and kata as a more formal kind of practice, rather than working on aide memoires from lessons.  Usually we would have gone over the material over the course of a couple of lessons and some of the ideas would have stuck, but the sporadic nature of my attendance has mean this hasn't always happened, so made the aide memoire style of working much more difficult to do.

1507 Open handed Naihanchi and Tensho

Until I have to go back to the office full time, I am aiming to train at least two times a week if at all possible, so as not to have to knock off the ring rust again. Will have to see how things go.

Lessons

0907
Fundamentals
Kata - Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan, technical performances

1607
Kata, single move and performance, Naihanchi Shodan
Speed combinations
Jab, reverse punch, hook, upper cut, knee, then three variations to follow:
Drag down, stamp
Encircle waist with arm, turn away, hip throw.
Step through after knee, leg sweep and reverse punch to ground
Last 5 kihon gata -

Rokudan	Ashi uke, jab, cross, Mawashi Geri
Nanadan	Mae Geri (land in front) right jab, back kick
Hachidan	Mae Geri (land in front), back kick, reverse punch
Kyudan	Shuffle, backhand forehand punch, shuffle, backhand forehand punch, right then left mawashi geri, spinning kick
Judan	Shuffle, backhand forehand punch, shuffle, backhand forehand punch, right then left mawashi geri, hisa geri

An Australian lesson

1907 - lesson with PJ

Advanced stuff comes from understanding the basics correctly. We did 3 levels of tzuki. Looked at wrist alignment. The importance of breathing. Considered the workings of the modern and primitive brain under stress. We did a combo Gedan barai (arm clear), yoko uraken (which includes the empi uchi) and a gyaku tzuki to change the relationship and facilitate a rudimentary nage waza. Followed this up kote waza (kansetsu waza) to stop conflict immediately.

2007 Kihon and kata

2307 Forms and kata

2307
Kata then Naihanchi Sandan drills

• Double grab, trap and forearm smash into neck while turning body away and to the side (zenkutsu)Step in front of attacker  into zenkutsu for taiotoshi (body drop throw)

• trap grabbing hands, forearm strike into neck while turning body away and to side (zenkutsu), elbow, backfist, knee
• block / trap hook with one hand, taisho, push past head, circle under arm to lock elbow with other, secure second arm and free up original blocking hand to strike.

2307 Kata peformance

Warm down form and kata 2507

2507
Summary of today's lesson: Kata, escaping from headlock (elbow, slap, hammerfist, followed by knee then escape). Stepping to one side to evade, then attacking. Emphasis on moving back foot across the using an appropriate technique) Bo was first 4 kihons plus walk through of Shushi no kon.

2707

2707
Fundamentals, kihon gata, padwork

Tensho after the lesson3007

30/07/20
Kata
Quadrant drill
Jab, cross, hook
(FH parry & BH punch: BH parry, FH punch : high receive & Mawashi empi Uchi (elbow strike to sternum))
Hammer fist, looping left, roundhouse right
(FH Jodan uke, twist, BH uppercut : BH jodan uke,  twist, FH groin slap : FH Jodan uke, BH Shuto Uchi (knife hand strike))
Backslap, elbow

Ring Rust 0408

0608
Kata practice and questions.  I got the one about the opening of Naihanchi Nidan and answered with it being a counter to a bear hug, sink and open up the shoulders and arms to break the hug.  Worked on a short drill from one of the Pinans, as pad work.  Intercept punch (symbolised by pad hand), ear slap then head control, front leg knee strike, then front hand goes under the arm, back hand controls the head.  Pivot on front black, back leg moving away to effect a throw.

Reminder after the lesson