The Drills have it (or is it the Aches?)

 

The weather since I last wrote here has been rather hot, which places a big limitation on what I’m able to do. On particularly warm days, my son and I have shifted our training sessions from Saturday daytime to Monday evenings, to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. This has paid off to some extent — on at least one occasion, I managed to walk home from the Dojo without a break. The first time I tried that, I believe I needed four or five pauses. So getting back into training is definitely proving beneficial there.

I’ve continued making notes on drills — checking them with our Sensei — so I can remember them for practice at home (or in the open space nearby), which we do from time to time. I generally include these in my blogs to help date them for future reference, and this entry is no exception, with three drills listed below from simple to more complex.

This Monday was cooler than most of our previous sessions, and my breathing felt easier, so I decided to push myself a little. The first sparring-type exercise was introduced early in the lesson (following our warm-up, of course): one person attempted to grab the other’s Gi while the other tried to block. If a grip was made, the defender had to break free. My partner was my son, and it began well. The exercise lasted a minute; we each managed a few successful grabs and breakouts (one of mine was an arm bar, which I was quite proud of). However, during the third or fourth attempt, I struggled for breath and dropped to the ground, trying to roll out — but instead just collapsed in a heap.

I’d become so engrossed in the exercise that I ignored the warning signs of overexertion. I was completely out of breath and struggled to recover due to my COPD. It took my inhaler and around 10 to 15 minutes of slow breathing to re-centre myself. From then on, I was ultra-cautious for the rest of the lesson, taking part mainly in Kata. Still, I realised I’d managed 50 seconds in that sparring drill — not far off my pre-COVID level.

In the final third of the lesson, we started full sparring (albeit light contact), and I couldn’t resist having another go. Again, my son was my partner, and again I clocked around 50 seconds, this time pacing myself more effectively and recovering more quickly afterwards. I was then able to take part in the Kobudo segment of the session with much less downtime.

I left feeling pleased with that final sparring round. Although light, we exchanged solid shots, and I didn’t end up on the floor. Just how solid was confirmed the next day when my calf was sore from a well-placed mawashi-geri! But there were absolutely no repercussions for my breathing — so that side of things feels like a definite win 😌.

While the job hunt continues to be much tougher than expected, Karate provides structure to my week — a routine to build around — and a chance to do something positive and creative like writing this blog. If you’ve read this far, thank you for taking the time. I hope you found it of interest.

REY
16-07-2025

Below is a key to the abbreviations and the exercise listings.

a) = attacker d) = defender Rh = right hand Lh = left hand

1) Both in fighting stance. a) Jabs d) Lh counter with outside block, controlling the arm d) Steps past on outside with right leg d) Rh back-fist to face, then pushing a) down over right leg

2)

a) Wrist grab d) Sweep grabbed arm up as in outward block d) Sweep other arm under and outward, as in matching outside block, grabbing attackers raised wrist d) Continue sweeping motion to extend arm and open opponents back d) Hook punch to ear/neck area with free hand d) Added extra drop elbow onto back of attackers extended arm d) Perform arm bar and turn to throw opponent to ground

3) Both in clinch, left arm behind neck, head down to prevent head butt a) Pushes rh up inside clinch for eye gouge (simulate) a) Locks rh behind head, left leg knee strike to abdomen/groin a) Releases grips, sweeps left arm under and round d) right arm a) Grabs left wrist with lh and pulls d) across a) Right arm raises to perform arm bar, right elbow goes on top of left elbow of d) a) Extension of arm continues to complete arm bar and lower head a) Right hammer-fist to l side of d) head under ear, push hand past head and pull up (chin, nose, eyes) a) Right leg back to complete pull up. a) Release both hands and lh punch to exposed throat, chin, etc

February Turmoil, something positive and light at the end of the Tunnel

The joys of being able to work from home are becoming a bit thin now.  Being on the "high risk" list, I realise I am much luckier than many in having a job I can do from home and an employer who allows it, but shielding effectively for almost a year is beginning to take it's toll.

Kata Imperfect -0102

Family issues and increasing work demands have made it harder to train during the winter months, with dark nights, cold weather and having neighbours who have scant regard for the Covid rules make me uncomfortable in training outdoors, even when the light is good. My Sensei have been really helpful in offering Zoom lessons all the way through this pandemic.

Monday wasn't a good day 0202

However, the demands of work have made many of the evening lessons unavailable to me.   What made it worse was that I could hear my son training downstairs and I honestly wanted to join in 😞😞  

Kata after the lesson 0402

The mental tolls of nearly a year continuously at home have also had an effect.  The boundaries have become more blurred, with home intruding on work and vice versa.  At times, karate has been the only anchor point in a sometimes unstable environment.   Lesson this month included variations upon famililar themes, with the quadrant drill featuring again.  Shadow sparring, many variations of teisho strikes, some paired work, striking at different heights, lunging stances to disrupt and take the opponents space all featured alongside kata.

Snow kata 0902

There were three notable things from February which will definitely make it hard to forget though, all on the more positive side of things: 

1. In snowed, so I got to do kata in the Snow for the first time
2. Got my first Covid-19 jab ( 11th Feb) so there is light at the end of the tunnel (and my Sensei allowed me to do Seisan in lesson whilst in self isolation)
3. There was an interesting session with Andreas Quast, re-affirming the earliest known performed kata were Kusanku and Passai (around 1849) and discussing the undocumented Japanese influence on Okinawan culture ands martial arts. 

18 Feb - Rusty run through

When things are a struggle small achievements or good moments take on a bigger significance, and standout moments become milestones.  The opportunity to do kata in the snow I would have taken anytime, but that it happened during lockdown made it feel more special. 

23 Feb Goju kata

Getting vaccinated is a proper landmark, it is the first small opening onto the light at the end of the tunnel.  Training in our bedroom was a challenge (small space), but the opportunity to do a different kata during lesson time made it memorable for a good reason.  Finally, the opportunity to participate in a session of any sort with Andreas Quast is always a pleasure as there is always something new to learn about the history of karate.

4th February Lesson Outtakes

I hope for better things in the future.  If you have got this far thank you for reading.

REY 24/03/2021

04/02/2021
Shadow sparring, using specific combinations, kata combinations.
Moving to the side in sparring.  some pairwork on techniques

06/02/2021
Fundamentals, padwork (striking whist circling, jodan, chudan, gidan), kata

11 Feb - An aide memoire

11/02/2021
Teisho drills, straight reverse teisho, upper cut reverse teisho, hooking teisho, using hips to generate power. First is long range to close the distance, next two are close range.   Straight reverse teisho, crash, upper cut reverse teisho.
Use of lunging stances with front knee strike to disrupt:  Zenkutsu dachi, Shiko dachi (possible drag over step behind leg and punch to finish), Nekko achi dachi (followed by front kick to groin)

13 Feb- an unusual kata for a lesson - Seisan

13/02/2021
Addition to first teisho drill, straight reverse teisho, upper cut reverse teisho (broken energy), hooking teisho, reverse elbow strike (continuous energy).  Kata (including Seisan for me), Short teisho pinan  drill: glanching reverse teisho, front hand grab and step through, rotating forearm strike.

18/02/20201
Fundamentals, padwork, kata

20 Feb- Continuous kata during the lesson

20/02/2021
Quadrant drill, first 6 elements, continuous kata, pad drill from the Pinans

A private talk with Andreas Quast

27th and 28th Feb: Weekend Workouts

27/02/2021

Jamie Clubb lesson - anti abduction, including the bystander effect

Never give up, never give in

The month of November, going into December you could say has been a testing one.   Work has been manic, having had to work the last two weekends and again this weekend, I have managed to train at least once a week, but sometimes that has been it in some weeks, apart from short snatches of kata or drills here or there.

Naihanchi Drills 0511

It has been somewhat challenging at home too, with the ups and down of mood and tension that goes with four people being at home all the time.  The separation needed doesn't always materialise and things can be magnified many times over as a result, but we have to keep on going.

Naihanchi after the lesson 0711

That said, I did manage to fit in a lesson with PJ Broomy at the start of November, and led to something a little different later on.  From my own dojo's perspective, we have been concentrating mainly on kata, the Naihanchi pad drills and fundamentals, mostly online due to the lockdown (all online for me of course).

More Naihanchi, drills and kata 1411

One of the signs that I, and fellow students of a similar grade, are making progress is that we have now started to be shown Naihanchi Sandan and perform it in lessons.  At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, my only kata to perform was Naihanchi Shodan, but zoom lessons have by their solo nature for practice have included kata as a strong element of our lessons.

Kata and Naihanch drills 1911

Our Sensei also keep asking us to provide performance videos of our kata, so that they can check on progress individually.  This has resulted in a good amount of feedback, which I like to think has gone a long way towards the progress.  Along with lots of practice of course.

2111 Lesson Part 1

One of the lessons we did, I videoed my part for the whole session, as a sample record of what we are doing and guess what, it was fundamentals plus the Naihanchi drills. The good thing about this is that it allows me compare what I do now against what I was doing when I started ☺☺☺

2111 Lesson Part 2

The good thing about that, is I got to realise the improvements I have made over time.  They are only small ones on a day to day basis, but over two or more years they mount up to quite a lot of progress.  As always though, there is still room for improvement.  That's an attitude I always want to keep, as nothing I do will ever be perfect.

2211 Lesson Part 3

Sometimes, when work is demanding and home life is problematic, an escape is needed.  Karate easily provided that during the summer months, with space in the garden to train and get away from all the other issues for a while, but then comes autumn and winter.  The weather isn't so clement and night draws in.

2111 Part 4

The first victim was kobudo, as space indoors even during the daytime, doesn't allow for the use of bo and nunchaku, the weapons taught primarily in our dojo.  Them the number of lessons I could attend dropped off, due to me having to work my full and sometimes extended hours, to meet project requirements and catch up on basics.  Due to family needs, the space available later in the day is far less than the earlier hours.

2111 Part 5

I found myself drifting back towards online life and gaming, which before karate had always been my release.  But it is nowhere near as mentally challenging or gives the self discipline and physical outlet I need to cope physically with my medical needs or mentally, to combat the current circumstances.  Fortunately a friend had inadvertently offered a lifeline.

2111 Kata after the lesson

When the "Karate Nerd in China" came out in December / January, I was an avid viewer, and the series piqued my interest in the "oldest kata" in karate, Seisan.  My lesson with PJ Broomy at the start of the month had me frustrated, because I couldn't join in directly with the kata part.  They do Tekki Shodan, but not as a part of their core, but they do Seisan.

Seisan, first part

PJ kindly shared a video of him doing the kata, with detail, so I set myself a challenge: To learn it.  I did this with a twofold purpose, it could be used as a breathing kata to add on to Tensho, that I already practice, and to know I kata I could do if I do another online lesson with PJ's dojo.  The history also fascinates me, so I think it will be the source of two further blogs: Nerd meets Practice and then a pure Nerd blog, in truth the first one is part way there.  That's another challenge, the mental stimulus.

2811 Kata cool down

So now I'm back to training more and today is the last weekend scheduled I have to do project work, so there is light at the end of at least two tunnels (the other is more personal, so not for here).  I have even gone back to the tai cho kata form of Naihanchi Shodan, inspired by Robey Jenkins, and added Noah Legel's Tensho to the mix for cardio and relaxation.

2911 kata - Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan, Tensho

So my motto has to be "Never give up, never give in" and I want to say thank you to my son Brendan, and my Sensei Ben and Alison for the source of determination and perseverance, and my online mentors, Robey Jenkins, Noah Legel and PJ Broomy, for the direction in how to adapt what I do ☺☺☺☺  Also, a big thank you to all of my extended dojo family (Hanshi Nohara, Senseis Craig, Darren and Graham, Elsha, Jack, Sam and all) for giving me the reason to continue 🙏🙏🙏.

3011 Rotating the strike

0211

Early morning lesson with PJ Broomy
Following along with a regular dojo class

0511

Kata,
Kihon Gata
Naihainchi pad drills #1-3

0212 Early Morning kata

0711

Kata
Kihon Gata
Naihanchi pad drills #1-2

1211

Fundamentals

Punches, receiving techniques, kicks, shuto, hisa-geri, uke
Kihon gata, combinations
Kata and performance

1411

Kick, punch called combinations, turns and combinations
Naihanchi drills 1 and 2 padwork
Kata

2111

Fundamentals, punches, receiving techniques. kicks, etc.
Naihanchi drill #1, elements and drill
Kata

0312 Kata Tai Chi Style

2811

Jamie Clubb lesson, sprawls, spear take downs, going to ground, knee control, breaking grasps, going to the back, etc.

3011

Kata
Rotation and elbow strikes, round the clock moving the nearest foot and round the clock with back foot as the pivot
Naihanchi drills

0312

Kata
The four basic kicks, turning ushiro geri on an uke, mai gei and mawashi geri in self defence
Naihanchi drill one with variations, including turning to get sight of a second attacker and being taken to ground on the knee strike and recovery.

A bit more Aussie Magic and the value of variety.

The last few weeks have been even more demanding from a work perspective.  I haven't trained as often as I would like, but when I have there have been some interesting sessions.  Perhaps the strangest was at 01:00 hours on a Saturday morning over Zoom with Sensei Tuari Dawson and the Cairns Dojo, at the invite of Sensei PJ Broomy. 😀

2408 - Compass point work

The lesson was in kobudo, and I needed to do it outdoors due to the lack of space inside, when wielding a bo or nunchaku.  I did a bit of a warm up on my own, but then the lesson started.  It was to cover a lot more than I expect as it turned out to be an introduction to bo, tonfa, nunchaku and sai. 😀

2908  - Before the Lesson

We learn bo and nunchaku in my doji, but not tonfa and sai. Not at my level anyway, so learning something new is always a fun challenge.  Tonfa I just had to watch, as I don't have any, but was able to borrow my son's sai (onlysmaller ones) to have a go it that.  It started to rain part way through, so trying to learn in the rain whilst keeping my tablet dry was a challenge on it's own 😀

2908 - Bo, tonfa, nunchaku and sai

Fortunately I was able to move back inside for the sai part of the lesson, which is just as well, as handling sai proved to be tricky enough as it was, without adding to it by trying to handle slippery weapons in the rain!  All in all though, was a fun lesson, with an excellent Sensei. 😀😀 Plus I still managed it fit in my regular Saturday  training in both karate and bo.

2908 - Working the compass again

Even on days where I miss training due to work, I still try to fit something in later on, and one of the predominant themes at the moment are the 10 kihon gata.  I can finally remember all 10, though not in random order as yet 😀  However, that spinning hook kick in gata number 9 just isn't there yet.

3108 - An Evening workout

I think from my own dojo, the best lesson for me was one where they taught combinations of knee strikes, and elbow strikes.  My limited abilities make the use of knees very attractive, as well as being effective.  What was the clincher for me though was the realisation that the whole range of kicking techniques we use include knee strikes.  😀😀

0509

At close range, a mawashi geri is of no use, but if you do a roundhouse knee and they move away, it turns immediately into a mawashi geri.  Similary a straight knee can be turmed into a mai geri, and I guess something like a ushiro geri could be a knee to the side followed by a kick behind.  Similar extensions can also be applied to elbow strikes, a downward elbow can be extended into a hammer fist, a crashing elbow can be extended into a back fist, and so on.

0809

The brain also needs to be fed, and after the lesson in knees and elbows, I had the privilege of attending a zoom lecture by Patrick McCarthy, but more of that in another blog. The important thing is the variety and mental stimulus it brings.  In times of uncertainy, an anchor point for anybody can be something such as karate.  The routine of training being maintained is a conforting one, however if all it contains is endless repetition of the same things trhen the end result cam be couner productive.

1009

For me, the lockdown has given many challenges, but the constant of having more opportunities to train, and the regular nature of the framework, has been a constant about which I have been able to build a routine to cope with both my physical and mental health issues  However, having done this for over five months now, if there wan't any variety the value would have been greatly reduced.

1209

As well as doing the routine training, it has been necessary for me to go outside the box as well as rely on the lesson, but I think anyone who wants to progress in any direction has to do this anyway.  I have been lucky in that my Sensei, Ben and Alison Slack, always try to work something in over a period of time that we haven't done in the same way before, or expand on what we have done before.

Also, if people wanted to (and I did), they have offered the opportunity to work with different instructors as well, via Zoom.  I have had the incredible luck to be able to train with Brian Bates, PJ Broomy, Les Bubka, Don Came, Jamie Clubb, Chris Hanson and Sensei Nohara, and though PJ train with Senei Tuari Dawson.  I have taken part of a "lockdown" pub quiz with my dojo, hosted by Iain Abernethy and attended lectures by Andreas Quast and Patrick McCarthy, so what can I say?

To cope with massive uncertainty, a strong routine is a massive plus in being able to be able to cope.  But to to be of any value, the routine has to have a degree of variety built in, and preferably with the opportunity to develop things further for the students if they wish.  I am glad to say that my Sensei offer all of that, and on a personal level have been so supportive I can never thank them enough 

2408

Kata, all 10 kihon gata

2908

Sensei Tuari Dawson

Kobudo - Bo, Tonfa, Nunchaku and Sai - introduction and drills

Regular lesson

Teisho and escape practice
Step back Zenkutsu dachi with hooking receives (FH) - upper tudan uke, tudan uke, gidan uke, to receive same sided stirke and open up the back.  Working in the after.
Kata, pad work. - Face slap (to ear cup). head to chest clasp, shoulder barge, head but, elbow. Then wall trap drill. Slide to side, groin slaps, head control, turn into Zebkutsu dachi to drive head into wall, then hammerfirst or downard elbow strikes to finish.

Bo,

First 6 kihon gata, followed by short run through of what each person remembers  from Shushi no kon

3008

Jamie Clubb

Discipline - including cued padwork, with one and two attackers

0509

Kata
Quadrant drill
Pad work - gross motor skills, hammerfist, teisho, elbow, knee, turning takedown

Nunchaku

Kihon gata, including one legged stance

1009

Fundamentals

Kihon gata

Pad work

Teisho, hammer fist, elbow, knee, step through, turning throw (back leg move across, front leg pull back)

Groin strikes x 3, knee, turning throw (as above)

Kata - asked to perform

Groin strikes x 3

1209

Kata

knee strikes, straight knee, roundhouse knee, Inside knee

Four in combination

Elbow strikes, Cutting elbow, rising elbow, dropping elbow, spinning elbow, 

four in combination

Bo

Kihon gata., going forward and backwards

Lecture 

Patrick McCarthy Standing of the shoulders of giants

Notes on The Martial Arts of Ryukyu - a Nerd blog

These are my recollections of the online lecture given by Andreas Quast to Karate Virtual on 22/08/2020.  This lecture was given against the timeline given in:

Peridization of Ryukyukan History

Pre 1609           - Old Ryukyu
1609-1879        - Early Modern Ryukyu
1879 onward    -  Modern and Present Ryukyu

Old Ryukyu, according to the lecture, was a very martial place, but not by way of open hand martial arts.  There were originally a number of distinct early kingdoms which were unified at the start of the Sho dynasty (The Ryukyukan Royal family from 1429 or 1470 to 1879).  The Ryukyukans of the time prided themselves on their prowess, and with the Royal family being invested by the Chinese, they had a monopoly of trade with the mainland.

The Satsuma clan from Japan, a part of the Shogunate, had tried to come to arrangements with Ryukyu for access to trade and intelligence, but weren't exactly met with approval.  On a least one occasion, the severed head of an emissary was sent back to the Satsuma clan.  The final straw was when an army from Ryukyu attacked the Satsuma holdings in Japan itself.  This resulting in the Satsuma clan's army invading Ryukyu and subjugating the country in 1609.

The Satsuma clan allowed the Sho Dynasty to keep the throne of Ryukyu (presumably to maintain the links with China), but gained access to trade and information, and took control of the protection of Ryukyu, with the arrangement to defend the kingdom if needed.  They instituted an uncontrolled Fire arms ban, but access to swords and other weapons was never removed.   At this time, Japanese martial arts would have also started to feature in the culture of Ryukyu.

The martial aspect of Ryukyukan culture was not removed, but rather reflected into internal security.  Duties such Coast guard duties, defense of official shipping against against pirates, local law enforcement, protection of property and noble families, etc.  became a major feature of their culture.  Local officials started to be trained accordingly and eventually three "schools" were established for this function.   These were in Shuri, Naha and Tomari (sound familiar?) with (if I remember correctly) the School in Naha concentrating on Coastal and Shipping protection and the one in Tomari on Law Enforcement.

The use of fire-arms was permitted, but only under license from the Satsuma clan.  There was an arsenal maintained in Naha, from which were signed out Cannon and other firearms, for use in the protection of shipping against piratic activity.  Once the duties were finished, the weapons had to be returned to the arsenal and accounted for.

Apart from swords, naginata and the like in the hands of nobility and their protectors, two other weapons that were in use at the time, for things such as law enforcement and property protection were probably bo and sai.  The sai of the time were not stabbing weapons but were blunted, possibly used for prodding, weapon and limb trapping and control.

Martial arts of the time were not just limited to security, coastal protection and law enforcement; they took the form of dance, physical exercise, sport and cultural events.  The use of bo in village festivals is well established, there are dances which draw heavily on martial influences and demonstrations of martial prowess formed a part of things such as building dedications. There are definite local roots to sports such as wrestling (Shimi is an old local form of wrestling similar to Sumo) in Ryukyu as well.

Where do kata feature in all of this?  That there was a long established Chinese trading enclave in Ryukyu is long established, and the practice of forms as part of Chinese martial art is also well established.  However, there were also Chinese settlers in Ryukyu. Most of these lived in the area known as Kume village.

For many years, the earliest known demonstration of kata took place at the Ochayagoten in the East garden of Shuri castle on March 24th, 1867, for the visit of the Chinese Sappochi, as part of a three part demonstration of folk dance, drum music and bujutsu.  The kata performed at the event were seisan by Aragaki Tsuji. and suparinpei by Tomura Chikudon.  This is event has become known as "The 10 items of Bugei" 

10 items of Bugei - Jesse Enkamp (P. McCarthu)

What is less well known is that the performers were not from Shuri, Naha or Tomari, rather they came from the village of Kume.

However, more recently an earlier demonstration has come to light, from an interview carried out at the start of the 20th century with one of the participants.  The demonstration to place in the late 1849 for the renewal celebrations for one of the wooden palaces at Shuri Castle.  The kata he recalled being performed were Passai and Kushanku, again by the people of Kume village.

In conclusion (these are mine, not Andreas')

The Meiji restoration of 1879, dismantling of the Kingdom of Ryukyu and militarization of Japan all probably helped trigger the foundation of what we know as Karate of today, but what it is made up of is a melange of all the things that went before, during the Early Modern period.  What individual styles teach now is more likely a result of who the originators were taught by, and trained with, rather than the place they came from.

Kata similar do not belong to any particular style, as labelled Shuri, Naha or Tomari te in origin, but are again a function of what specific masters learnt from others around them.

A video of the full lecture can be found by following the below link:

Martial Arts of Ryukyu Through the Centuries - Andreas Quast /Karate Virtual

You can always watch and drawn your own conclusions.

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

Times they are a changing,,,,

Missing practice definitely messes up the routine I have developed for myself to cope with the claustrophobic feeling of being cooped up for over three months now..  Work has become much busier though, due to the firm I am contracted to starting to ramp things up for going back to more office based working towards the end of July.  

Dancing in the spotlight 1706 

I've missed the last two Monday Lessons (15th and 29th of June) as a result, but the weekends have been more full, so I suppose that kind of makes up for it.  As well as the additional kobudo lessons we've been having in bo and nunchaku, on Sunday 21st we had our first zoom lesson with the head of our Ryukyukan Shorin-Ryu association, Hanshi Koei Nohara.  On Friday evening of 26th, I got to watch Senei Noah Legel's Naihanchi Seminar (that may have been a bridge too far as it was from 23:00 to 01:00 UK time and had no practice, so actually dozed through a part of it 😞😞😞) and on Sunday 29th my dojo hosted an online seminar about awareness, given by Jamie Clubb.

Kata and pad work 1806

Katate for me has become my touchstone for my mental as with as physical health, as I have documented in earlier blogs.  I feel that is important for both that I am able to train and take all the opportunities I can to do so.  Mentally, it gives me the "space" I need to be able to subconsciously process all the dynamics of home and work, when they both have to be done from the same location.

Bo Practice 2006

There are many issues that I have to prioretise, including some that clamour for immediate attention have had to take a back seat, due to the intensity of work.  This gives me little time to pay the proper attention to these things, but karate for me helps me the clarity of mind that it is best sometimes to delay this things until I have proper time to deal with them.  Sometime it is worse to try to do things in a rush, as the resulting complication could actually make things far worse,

Kata and press ups 2106

I thing tensions in any home would be strained if people who normally spend time apart are all cooped up for three to four months with no mechanisms for release, and where mental health is involved this can be doubly so.  This can be magnified if multiple people with such issues live together.  Here again, the relaxation and realisation of the way things can escalate areof great importance to me.  I am no paragon of virtue, but the lessons learnt through karate again I believe stand me in good stead.

Bo and kata 2306

From a purely dojo based point of view the last few weeks have involved going back to our roots.  Last week, two of the lessons focused on the throwing techniques of Funokoshi Geishin, and the lesson I missed this week featured the kumite techniques of Motobu Choki.  I have been promised the next lesson will follow on with his work, definitely looking forward to it ☺☺☺☺

Smorgasbord 2406

I short Karate is one of the few reliable constants I have at a time when things, and the challenges they bring, are constantly changing.  I really need to continue to train ☺☺☺.  And now I'm doing the 25  press up, 25 day challenge aimed at raising the awareness of mental health issues.

Kata after the lesson 2506

Lessons and Seminars

1806

Kata
Padwork, Fence, palm strike, crash, head control, knee strikes, head up and elbow strike, arm drag, head pull, punch, escape
Naihanchi shadow sparring

2006

Take downs x 6 from Funokoshi

1) To topple a folding screen.

RH fighting stance open handed.  Rising LH block to RH punch then arm grab. RH open palm under chin.  R leg step through behind opponent, push up and through with RH, using trapped arm as  pivot, push over stepped through leg.

2) Spinning top

RH fighting stance open handed. Step outside RH punch, hook over with RH and grasp / pull.  LH push onto back of exposed shoulder, step back with R leg and turn into Shiko dachi. Pulling through with RH, pushing down with left.

3) To encircle the neck

RH fighting stance open handed. Step outside RH punch, hook over with RH.  R leg step through behind opponent, R arm comes ups to encircle neck, rotate upper body to left to pull over stepped through leg.

4) Half wheel throw

RH fighting stance open handed. Step outside RH punch, hook over with RH.  R leg step through in front of opponent.  R arm comes ups to encircle neck, L arm goes down to go grab leg.  Step back with right leg to throw (turn, lift and pull)

5) V turning swallow

RH fighting stance, open handed.  Cross block to rising punch, left hand hooks and controls, R foot step in (in front of opponent) and punch under their chin, then grab under extended (r) arm into the armpit.  Pull wrist to hip, and step back with left leg, rotating counter clockwise and sinking to onto the left knee, using the rotation of the arm to throw the opponent.

6) To throw off a cliff (hip throw)

RH fighting stance, opponent throws hook punch. Block high left and grasp RH, step in with R leg and punch to gut with R hand.  Grab round back with right hand and pull with LH./Push in with R hip, step back left leg and pull them onto and over R hip to floor, keeping hold of R hand.  Punch and release.

Bo

Shushi no kon

Kata in the rain 2707

2106 (Sensei Nohara)

Fundamentals -ukes and tsukis, mai geri, shuto, hisa geri
Kata Naihanchi, Pinan and Passai (stayed with Naihanchi)

2506

Jamie Clubb's 10 round MMA workout, at over 30 degrees.  My heart rate was over 150 after the first two rounds, and so say I had to miss some bits out was an understatement, but kept trying.  Then kata to finish, including 1 legged Naihanchi

2606

Noah Legel's Naihanchi Seminar

2706

Kata
Funokoshi throws

To circle with the arm
Opponent attacks two handed, step back (L leg) and counter with two handed rising block.  Sink down (sliding R foot forward) and deliver two hammer fists to the sides.  Sink down further and take down by tackling behind the knees then pulling back

To hammer upside down

Opponent attack right handed high punch, step back (L leg) and counter with right hand rising block.  Slide (R leg) forward into Shiko dachi, sliding right shoulder under opponent's arm pit and taking hold of opponent's left thigh.  Lift and overturn, drive head into the ground.

Nunchaku

A run through various techniques and transitioning.

2806

Jamie Clubb's awareness seminar

Killing Time

Things are obviously staring to move on with regard to the current situation.   With my work, we are preparing for offices across Europe to re-open, but for me I'm in a state of Limbo.  It'd fairly certain my son won't be going back to School until September at the earliest.  For me, I don't really know what will be happening for the next few months or even until the end of the year.

Warm down kata 0806

What is required for work the next few months is already mapped out and 95% percent of the facets of my work can be done from home, until the main London office becomes re-occupied.  That isn'yt expected to be until maybe mid-August at the earliest.  However, as I am on the list of people who are expected to shield, they have only given an indication of what is expected until the end of the month.  That gives me a kind of limbo that means just now I am killing time until the point that I do know something more definite.  I many ways I am lucky, but I don't think anyone finds the limbo easy to deal with.

Kihons and kata

Karate is my touchstone for both physical and mental health, and overcoming the self-doubts caused the comments of others was an important thing.  Now I can carry on focusing on something I really enjoy doing, Due to the lack of room both inside and outside, for two people to train without close contact, I now take it in turns with my son, when we can, to make use of the outside, that seems to be working better too for both of us. 

After the rain

Towards the end of last week, I got a mail about something I had to check that I had been worrying about, and to be honest I was a bit nervous about looking to see how bad something was (not health or jobwise fortunately).  Missing out on Karate on the Saturday morning didn't help, but at least I made up for it with a training session based upon some ideas from my Sensei in the afternoon, and then on Sunday we had the Karate for Mental Health webinar to foucus on.  Some really excellent teachers there, and some good material to work on.

After the lesson (1106)

So today I took a look at what it was that was worrying me, as I have come to appreciate, sticking your head in the sand when decisions have to be made just doesn't work,  Things were as bad as I thought they might be, maybe a bit worse.  However, it was something I had anticipated and now I just have to get on with dealing with it, and it should be manageable.  There is actually a big release when you face up to something you have to deal with. So felt a lot less stressed going into today;s lesson which was a really good workout with a lot of sweat......

1306 Practice

So now to get on with things, work, karate, and those aspects of life that can be worked on, and for the rest it remains one day at a time.

Karate for Mental Health 14 06 20

Kata to coll down after today's lesson (1506)

Lessons and sessions

0806

Fundamentals
punches, ukes, kicks, including tobi mai geri,
kihon gata to Nanadan (7th), both sides
Naihanchi Shodan

1106

Kata
Pad work - punch. elbow, knee, hammerfist, palm strike, head butt


1306

Missed lesson - did short session based on instruction from my Sensei

3x1 minute shadow work rounds

1st round simple combos

2nd round clinch range strikes

3rd round ground techniques

1406

Seminar on Karate for Mental Health

Pad work - Brian Bates
Kata - Chris Hanson
Deep breathing - Don Came
Discussion - Les Bubka

1506

Zenkutsu dachi steps and steps with punches
Shiko dachi steps 
Naihanchi Dachi steps
Kata
The three Naihanchis, performance on Shodan and Nidan
Pad work - punch, palm, hammer fist, then puch, palm, palm, hammerfist combinatiom
Pad work, elbow strikes