Do you Want it? Come and Earn it...

Before the Grading

I should have guessed the next grading test would be different on many levels from the ones I had done previously, before and during Covid, however when I was asked whether I remembered all my Kihon and had practiced them, my answer was a simple "yes." This was followed by an invitation to attend the next grading. I would be trying for my Blue belt.

In the days prior to the grading, I acted as (my son) Brendan's uke for an element that hadn’t been present in previous gradings that I had seen for the higher belts. The routines to escape from a double choke hold weren’t included in my grading, so I wasn’t really aware how anything was going to differ. The last grading I had done we had no paired elements in that, only basic pad work to demonstrate competence in our Kihon Gata.

The Test Begins

Come grading day I thought it would be tough due to my lack of stamina from COPD and the absence of seriously strenuous exercise prior to returning to the dojo several months earlier. I was told this would be taken into account during the grading, as my examiners were fully aware of my issues.

I'm nothing if not bloody-minded though, and at the start of group Kihon I did my best to fully keep up, only dropping the power but matching the other students’ repetitions.

It took two or three techniques and I was almost gone, anything fast was nearly beyond me. Fortunately, the chief examiner told me to go a bit slower rather than trying to keep up. That way, I just made it through Kihon and Kihon Gata, though I was well aware that much of it was probably more ragged than that of other students.

Kata and Recovery

Fortunately, there was a break at that point as the more advanced students went through their additional Kihon Gata. I only had to demonstrate 1 to 4, while some of the other students going for purple belt had to demonstrate all 10.

By the time I got to the point of having to demonstrate my Kata (Naihanchi Shodan), I was determined to get it right. Unfortunately, I didn’t fully relax into it and there was some stiffness but I did manage to get to the end without any major mishaps. That was it — I was done, for better or worse. Or so I thought.

The Circuit Challenge

The higher grade students went through their choke hold, ground work, and other routines that took up a good while. I thought we were done. Silly me. I should have remembered the last face-to-face grading I did before Covid, where they had started to introduce pad work. To my dismay, rather than ending there, out came the various pad sets for circuit work.

There were to be three circuits to be done, from one end of the hall and back, performing the various Kihon Gata combinations on the pads to the call of the pad holders. This was going to test me to the full — and so it did.

I managed to do the first part of one circuit, which was mostly punching techniques, and started on the back sequence. By halfway down the return leg, I was struggling for breath, and I didn’t quite make it to the end. I stumbled off the mat and ended up in a heap on the floor, with someone kindly bringing my inhaler to help me recover. I was unable to participate in the other two circuits, as they were done before I got my breath back.

The Sparring Surprise

At that point, I felt that I had blown my chance of grading, which was deeply disappointing even though I had tried to the best of my ability.

Then came the last part of the grading — sparring. I had never seen this feature before, and it fully convinced me that I had no chance of passing. There were three rounds of sparring to take place, one minute each, and the first two rounds took place with me simply being an onlooker.

Then came the last twist in the tale. I was told to get my sparring kit on and that if I wanted to grade, I had to complete one minute of light sparring. It was against one of the younger students going for purple belt, who I knew had excellent technique, so I didn’t hold out much hope of doing anything meaningful.

However, having been thrown a lifeline, even if it was a challenge, there was no way I was going to miss out on the chance.

One Minute That Mattered

The next one minute was a blur, but one thing that did stick in my mind was that I was actually happy with — was that in response to a mawashi-geri jodan, I ducked my head, raised my shoulder, and took the kick. One of our black belts might remember why I was happy with that?

I remember my Sensei telling me “20 seconds to go,” “10,” then it was over. Again, I was on the floor needing my inhaler, but at least this time it was with the definite knowledge that I had completely given it my best shot.

The Result

I was still semi-resigned to having probably missed out, but there was this little seed of hope.

Then to the awards. All seated on the mat, awaiting our names to be called one by one.. and WOW, I had passed!! Admittedly it was only a C grade, which meant I had just scraped it from any point of view, but I had made it!!

 To say I was happy was an understatement. If you want it enough, sometimes it is possible to earn it even when you think you don’t have much of a chance. Don’t give up — even if it doesn’t work the first time, stick at it and you might just get there!

Thanks for reading.

REY 30/10/2025

Reflections

 

Now that I’m back in the Dojo, it seems like a good time to reflect on the art I’ve chosen to learn.

I began training in Karate in 2018, initially to support my son — but it quickly became more than just a shared activity. The physical discipline came highly recommended by my doctor, especially given my heart condition and later diagnosis of COPD. But it was the suggested depth of history behind Karate that appealed to the nerd in me.

Training continued steadily until 2020, when COVID hit and separated me from the physical dojo. Online training filled the gap, and unexpectedly opened doors I’d never imagined. I had the privilege of learning from Brian Bates, Paul Broomfield (PJ Broomy), Les Bubka, Jamie Chubb, Tuari Dawson, and Chris Hanson — with seminars by Noah Legel, Christian Wedewardt, Patrick McCarthy, and Andreas Quast. Under normal circumstances, I’d never have accessed such a diverse range of instructors.

In early 2022, as most returned to their dojos, my family and I remained cautious. My wife was also on the “at risk” list, and the idea of enclosed spaces without masks — or crowded trains at rush hour — felt impossible. Returning wasn’t an option.

Still, I didn’t stop. I trained online with PJ, who had become a close friend, and continued learning from Don Came and Russ Smith. My practice became more eclectic, as reflected in my blogs. Then came the crunch: in late 2022, my company announced a return to office work. The thought of commuting triggered what used to be called a “nervous breakdown.”

Thankfully, my employer acknowledged the mental health impact and arranged for me to continue working from home. Emotionally, I turned to an online CBT course — and found surprising parallels with Karate. PJ described it as Shu-Ha-Ri — the process of making the art your own. What follows is a reflection on the physical and historical connections that shaped that journey.

The Physical Journey

Shorin-Ryu — My Chosen Starting Point

When my son began practising Shorin-Ryu Karate, I joined him — encouraged by my doctor to pursue exercise tailored to my heart condition. The style’s core kata, Naihanchi Shodan, became my entry point. I informed the instructors of my limitations and never looked back.

Cardio Vascular Naihanchi — Robey Jenkins

Through a mentoring scheme on Facebook, I worked with Robey Jenkins to adapt Naihanchi Shodan into a slow, Tai Chi–inspired kata. It became a gentle but focused form of cardio, reinforced by insights from my sister, a former Judoka turned Tai Chi practitioner. We refined stretches and punches, improving hip rotation and arm alignment — addressing my “chicken winged” style and supporting posture and conditioning.

Breathing Through Tensho — Noah Legel

Later, I explored breathwork with Noah Legel, using Tensho to manage a lingering chest infection. We focused on:

• Six-second diaphragmatic breathing cycles to build control and rhythm

• Matching breath to movement, following the internal patterns of Tensho, with deliberate exhalation from the diaphragm

I began with short step sequences, gradually building toward fuller kata practice. The result was transformative. I could train without wheezing, and the breathing routine remains part of my practice today.

Mokuso and the Addition of Sanchin — Paul Broomfield

Mokuso — the quiet ritual of clearing the mind before training — resonated deeply with CBT’s emphasis on mindfulness and breath control. I began combining CBT techniques with kata, choosing three:

• Naihanchi Shodan for mindfulness

• Sanchin for tensioning

• Tensho for breathing and relaxation

Each kata took on new meaning. PJ helped refine my Sanchin, adapting it to my physical needs. Tensho was later enhanced by Les Bubka, adding a layer of relaxation. When I shared the full CBT kata sequence with PJ, he saw how each form supported both physical and mental alignment — and even applied the method in his own dojo.

Rooted in History – Scott Mertz

During one of our sessions, PJ noted that my practice was rooted in Karate’s three core kata. I hadn’t set out with that intention, but it prompted me to revisit the history — and I found something striking.

Karate came into being at a landmark meeting on October 25, 1936, attended by Hanashiro Chomo, Kyan Chotoku, Motobu Choki, Miyagi Chojun, Kyoda Juhatsu, Chibana Choshin, Gusukuma Shinpan, Oroku Chotei, and Nakasone Genwa.

The meeting is best known for formally adopting the name Karate (空手), meaning “Empty Hand,” replacing older terms like Toudi, Tode, Tii, and Te. But the discussions went far deeper.

Three kata were presented as foundational: Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Tensho. There was a clear desire to preserve tradition while encouraging innovation — especially to support Karate’s spread through schools and universities. Uniform standards were proposed, and Furukawa Gizaburo even introduced the concept of sports Karate, suggesting that competitive, educational, and traditional strands were all considered from the outset.

The meeting also revealed how secretive Karate practice had been, with some Masters unaware of each other’s methods. It’s a glimpse into the fragmented, often hidden paths that shaped early Karate — and makes you wonder what else was shared behind closed doors.

Thanks to Scott Mertz and his article on Karate Day, on which these observations are based.

Closing Reflections

Looking back, my journey has been shaped by both necessity and curiosity — by health challenges, historical inquiry, and the quiet persistence of practice. What began as a way to support my son and manage my condition has grown into something layered and personal. The three kata — Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Tensho — have become more than forms. They are anchors. They connect me to tradition, to recovery, to breath, and to the resilience that carried me through isolation and fear. And now, back in the Dojo, they continue to guide me — not just in movement, but in meaning.

Beyond the Dojo - Finding Clarity in Practice

 

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition. Rather than give in to it, I chose to take action. At the time, my son was practising Karate, so I asked my doctor whether joining him might be beneficial. His advice was simple: go for it, but let the instructors know about any limitations. I did just that, and I’ve never looked back.

To support others facing similar health challenges, I began blogging about my journey and how Karate was helping me. Then, during a heart stress test, I was diagnosed with COPD — the result of many years spent smoking. I checked with my doctor once again, and he confirmed that Karate could aid with that too. So I continued, not only to improve my wellbeing but also to share quality time with my son. Naturally, I broadened the scope of the blog to include this new aspect.

Then came COVID. With two co-morbidities, I was classified as high-risk and required to work from home throughout the pandemic. Fortunately, my Dojo embraced modern tech and offered online lessons via Zoom — unlike many others. For two years, those sessions became a cornerstone of my home/work balance.

When restrictions lifted and I was expected to return to office work in the City, everything unravelled.

I suffered a breakdown at the prospect (having already been on medication for stress-related anxiety) and experienced suicidal thoughts.

I was prescribed stronger medication and referred for a course of online CBT. The concept of mindfulness in CBT immediately reminded me of "Mokuso" in Karate — the practice of clearing the mind. I worked that into my personal routine, combining awareness, controlled breathing, and the tension–release cycle. I documented it all in my blog, hoping it might help someone else, just as it helped me.

That shift got me over the mental hump, and I was offered a work-from-home role with my company. My condition was acknowledged as bordering on a disability by both my doctor and occupational health. Though my fear of travel and meeting strangers remains, Karate has remained a steady anchor.

When I was made redundant, I leaned hard on my Karate routine — especially to clear my head and decide on next steps. Ironically, I’ve always been willing (albeit uncomfortable) to travel familiar routes at off-peak times when needed.

In February, while contesting the redundancy, my 79-year-old sister in Sussex needed help. I took a train to see her — but at Upminster, a gang of suited teenagers boarded and surrounded my table. I nearly panicked. Yet thanks to Mokuso and CBT, I kept my composure. Controlled breathing got me through as they loudly bragged about assaults and unpaid gambling debts.

A week after returning from Sussex, I caught COVID — vindicating my fears about travel and exposure. Unfortunately, so did the rest of my family. 😞

That said, it passed within a week. I had the mildest symptoms thanks to being fully vaccinated. Now, the fear of COVID has eased for all of us, and we can venture out again. My fear of travel and strangers persists — but what’s top of the agenda? Returning to the Dojo with my now 18-year-old son, reconnecting with old friends, and rediscovering the life we once knew.

I’ve also resolved to blog consistently again — sharing how a strong, healthy focus can steady the mind and support you through the hardest of times.

Thank you for reading this far.

REY
16-07-2025

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

Karate: A Family Affair

OK, the title might be a little misleading — but to me, the dojo members are like extended family, and my son is family, so you could say Karate is a family affair for us. 🙂

This week we were lucky enough to train with — tongue in cheek — the “Granddad” of our dojo: Sensei Nohara (10th Dan), President of the Ryukyukan International Karate and Kobudo Federation. He came to give a seminar, and I think he brought the Okinawan weather with him, as the dojo was distinctly hot and humid! Due to my condition, I couldn't train nearly as much as I wanted — but opportunities like this don’t come around often, and they’re not to be missed. 🙂

We trained again on Saturday, marking the first time in five years that both my son and I had been to the dojo twice in one week. That session was a bit of a struggle, thanks to the after-effects of a rather large and spicy pizza the night before! Still, I managed much more of the lesson than I expected, and my son picked up a few more drills than I did — which led us nicely into a Father’s Day follow-up.

My Father’s Day suggestion to him was:

“Go beat me up — then I can do the same back.”

Given that he's bigger than me and a higher grade, it felt like a fair challenge! 🤣

We began with a drill I wrote down two weeks ago (see below), then moved on to material from our previous session — before I inevitably ran out of steam. We practiced kata up to Pinan Shodan, and I shared a few ideas I’d been exploring from a White Crane form I’ve been working on. Honestly, it was some of the best father-son work we’ve ever done. We both finished soaked in sweat, and with grins to match.

---

Starting Drill

1. Attacker (with pads) advances toward defender
→ Defender: verbal command + fence stance

2. Attacker strikes pads to sides of defender’s head
→ Defender: backhand palm strike to pads (head)

3. Attacker throws a roundhouse punch
→ Defender: triangular frame block, protecting head

4. Attacker drops pads to simulate a knee strike
→ Defender: bridges onto attacker’s shoulder and pushes down
→ Then: two knee strikes, followed by release

5. Attacker raises pads for an elbow strike
→ Defender: bridges to pads, delivers two elbow strikes
→ Then: releases bridging hand

6. Defender grabs attacker's wrist (opposite side of bridge)
→ Former bridging hand slaps attacker’s head
→ Body rotates in direction of pull, extending and rotating attacker's arm
→ Slapping hand moves to attacker’s elbow, forcing it downward
→ Rotation continues into an arm bar

7. Attacker is taken to the ground

---

To all the dads out there — Happy Father’s Day, and I hope you get time with your loved ones to sweat, laugh, and share a few bruises in good spirit.  And to all the mums, thank you for putting up with us.

Thanks as always to those of you who read this.
– REY, 15/06/2025

Remembering drills, Aches and Pains....

Going back to the dojo after a long time was a major shock to the system.  Much as I had kept practicing my kata as part of my mindfulness and breathing exercise, it was no preperation for the loss of stamina, and having to learn again how to pace myself to last a lesson given my health issues.  Along with such exercise also come the aches and pains of using muscles vigourously for the first time in ages.

Nontheless it was a great feeling to be back amost friends, and now in the same class as my son.  Before Covid he was a cadet, and now he's 18 and was even keener than me to get back into the swing of things than me😊.  We've just finished the third lesson back, and of course the biggest realisation after practicing solo for so long, is how much I missed the pairs work.  Some of it was familiar as basics never change, but a fair bit of the drill work was new to me.

Some of it I remember from the online lessons during Covid, but of course ultimately it's no real substitute for practicing with a partner.  It's one thing to think you've grasped the dynamics involved, it's another to actually get to practice them on a person, rather than on a pad or thin air.  Especially with a willing partner to practice with at home!

The drill I want to practice to get the dynamics right is the one I've documented below.  One habit I intend to keep up from previous blogs is to document some key elements of practice to act as an aide-memoire, once I've checked them with my Sensei.

Response to grab (single handed)

1)    Place nearest hand on grabbing hand, open handed slap to the side of the head with opposite hand.
2)    Move slapping hand across to other side of the neck and hook it round the neck.
3)    Release grabbing hand and slide your other hand over the grabbing arm and under the armpit
4)    Hook hand under the shoulder to break the grip, then step back with leg on slapping side.
5)    As you take a step back, push the head down and lift the shoulder up
6)    This should put the head below chest level and give enough space to get in a knee strike

That's so I can practice with my son later 😊

Thanks for reading 

REY 17/05/2025

Well it started out as Sanchin

 Of my original introduction to Karate through Shorin Ryu never included Sanchin, but through my interest in the history of Karate, I always had a hankering to have a look at that kata and Tensho.  I learnt Naihanchi as the fundamental kata of my style, but there were three kata named as fundamental to Karate in the first official meeting of Masters in 1936: A nerd blog, the birth of Karate

First came Tensho; when I asked for a Mentor to show me how to use Karate as a form of breathing exercise, Noah Legel offered to help using that kata.  I didn't learn the sharp breathing normally used with Tensho, and indeed Sanchin, rather slow, deep in through the nose, out from the mouth breathing to accompany the "draw in" and "push out" elements of the hand movements.  This was to help me cope with COPD, and I still use in any kata I have picked up since based on the Goju style. Tensho and Breathing Kata

Then Covid hit, I had been lucky to chat with PJ Broomy before that, due to us both having heart issues.  Covid gave us the chance to train together through some formal online lesson, and then develop on a more personal basis.  PJ kindly agreed to show me his style of Sanchin (Bukai, not strictly Goju), which I happily took on board.  My latest video of this kata is shown below.

Bu Kai Sanchin

Post Covid, I still have strong fears of going into crowded places due to my co-morbidities, COPD and hereditary heart problems.   As a result, I decided to ask Russ Smith if I could study some of his Five Ancestors lessons (very much a precursor to Karate).   Some of the basic moves there suggested something similar to Sanchin but different. (The double outward block. followed by a strike particularly).  So I used the Sanchin embusen to practice these.

5 Ancestors basics on the Sanchin Embusen

I suppose the next development was inevitable, in practising, I merged the two together. Sanchin embusen, final arm positions and punches, with 5 ancestors turns and arm crossings (traps rather than blocks, which resulted in the below hybrid version.

5 Ancestors basics / Sanchin Hybrid

Probably of no practical value other than to keep me practising, but isn't that the same goal for us all? Whether it be for competition, body mechanics, self discipline or health, we all have to have our motivation. Health is mine.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for Ben and Alison (my first Sensei), Noah, PJ and Russel for getting me this far.

REY 09/06/2024

The understanding of a form and (some of) its uses....

I have a penchant for trying to learn kata and forms both for mental stimulation.  I started to try to work out Ho Chien Wat out of curiosity, as I thought it was a beautiful form with definite elements of sharp contrast.   In doing so, I found that I was learning something that was both potentially good for breathing and, for me, good for exercise if performed as close as I can in the manner I originally viewed.

 

Where I am with the latter version of the form now is shown below.

Ho Chien Wat to the Best of my Ability

What I did find in the early stages though, was that although I studied the form many times and wrote down as much details as I could from what I had viewed (Anatomy of a Form: Ho Chien Wat), translating that into a decent approximation of the form.  Then I got a chat from my friend PJ Broomy about doing one of our occasional chats/training sessions.  I had an idea that trying to explain it to someone else from a similar background would help me work things out, so I asked PJ if I could show him what I was up to. 

 

The below videos were made after the video session and can be contrasted with those of the earlier blog.   As to how it worked, I broke the form down into the three elements: Salutation, Mid-Section (repetition) and Final Sequence. Then I showed PJ the movements to each part slowly.  The mid-section, was not as long as it looks here, as I just did the RHS then LHS progression once.   

Ho Chien Wat salutation

Ho Chien Wat middle section

Ho Chien Wat final sequence

Showing and trying to explain what I was doing I found helped my own understanding of the movements involved, and feedback received, helped me to do some fine tuning.   I spent four or five days taking on board the better understood version, and finally felt comfortable in using the form in the same manner I use Tensho, for slow, deep breathing connected to the movements.

 

Ho Chien Wat slow

Given that I sometimes don't have a lot of room to practice in, I had also worked out a static version of Tensho, for specifically just relaxation and clearing the mind.  I have now developed a version incorporating Ho Chien Wat with a part of Tensho.  As this requires more focus to perform than Tensho on its own, I find that this is even better for clearing the mind.  the exercise itself is shown below.

Static Slow Breathing exercise

With more confidence, I found I wanted to use Ho Chien wat more often as exercise, and with that came the quicker articulation of the form as shown in the first video.  I make no claim to understand the form as a tool for fighting, that I acknowledge would take years of work.  However, as a tool for deep breathing, mindfulness and exercise, I believe that there are clear benefits to the form, for me at least.

Hope you enjoyed reading.

Thank you to Russ Smith and PJ Broomy for their support and input.

REY 31/01/2024

Anatomy of a Form: Ho Chien Wat, Crane Battle Method

 

For the last few months I've been sticking to practicing the basics from the first two lessons of Russ Smith's five Ancestors lessons, as I have had other things on my mind.  However, a vide recently appeared in my FB feed of Russ executing the Ho Chien Wat form.  It immediately grabbed my attention as something I would have to take another look at.  So much so that I found myself taking notes on the form, as I knew i wanted to try it myself.

These are notes, along with videos of the first run through, for comparison with the notes.  It is very much a work in progress, but I thought it might interest one or two people, so I decided to share it.

Long Salutation

Step out with Left foot into opening stance, relax.

Move hands inwards, pointing flat, fingertip to fingertip, palm own.

Form fists, while turning hands inwards so facing thumb tip to thumb tip

Draw Right shoulder back, Right fist following upward to chest level. Left fist moves upward to chest level across the body.

Hands open rapidly palm up, then turn over and push down quickly with Right should moving forward so torso is front facing, hands open and palm down, pointing inwards.

Right shoulder moves forward, hands move upwards, fingertips up with arms bent at elbow to shoulder height.  Right arm in front of Left, Right palm facing outward, Left palm facing shoulder.

Hands sweep out rapidly to either side, arms bent at elbows, to head height.  Hands hook into Crane posture, arms angled outwards to approximately 25 degrees.

Hands open up, fingertips upwards, rotated outwards about 30 degrees at wrists.  Arms come down, elbows bent until forearms are parallel to the ground at waist height, hands rotate out to 45 degrees on descent.

Right hand rotates outwards and clenches into a fist, as Right shoulder is drawn back, Left hand moves upwards across face.  Right fist is pulled fully back to chest height and Left hand continues to cover with open palm.

Body rotates so torso is front facing, hands are extended outward together, Right first in Left open palm until forearms parallel with floor in front of body.

Right fist opens so fingers pointing outward, back of RH still in palm of LH. Open hands (thumbs out) move out to shoulder width, forearms slightly angled upwards, with hands at a slightly steeper angle. 

Body rotates to Right, Right shoulder back.  Arms maintain their position but move slightly downwards, so that when Right shoulder is drawn back fully both hands are parallel to the ground, with the Left arm being across the front of the body.

Body rotates so torso is front facing, hands rotate outwards and up (thumbs in), ending up with hands in front of shoulder line and forearms slightly angled up, hands about 30 degrees from vertical. 

Forearms drop slightly, until they are parallel with ground.  Hands tilt outward slightly to about 40 degrees from vertical, settling into Guard position. 

Mid - Stepping sequence

Right step forward (RL in front)

Right step forward, wide gaited stance, knees slightly bent, hands palm open (thumbs in) facing forward.

Hands turn in, palm down.  Right shoulder and arm pulls back, hand drawn up to chest level with the Left arm being across the front of the body, also at chest level.   

(*All sequences ) Body rotates rapidly, torso to the front. both arms push fully out in front, hands open and parallel to the ground.

Hands close to form One knuckle fist, index middle knuckle prominent. wrists rotate inwards, so backs of hands face floor.

Hands open out, and arms move outwards in a circular motion.  Hands rotate outward and move with arms until the circle is closed and arms cross if front of face.

Left hand moves in front of Right as they the cross and move forwards and down (back of hand to back of hand at moment of crossing).  Hands move into crane (hooking) hands as the come in line with the shoulders.

Hands pulled inwards and upwards, forming fists whilst elbows remain bent until fists reach above head height with arms fully extended.

Hands come down to head level, elbows bending slightly and fists turn inwards before opening up into splayed hands with clawed fingers.

Hands come down and inwards, in line with shoulders and level with chest.  Arms are bent at elbows and fingers turn outwards, closing with palms forward (thumbs in) and at angle and pushing forward at the same time.  Settle into Guard position.  (48 seconds)

Left step forward (LL in front)

Left step forward, wide gaited stance, knees slightly bent, hands palm open (thumbs in) facing forward.

Hands turn in, palm down.  Left shoulder and arm pulls back, hand drawn up to chest level with the Right arm being across the front of the body, also at chest level.   

Sequence repeats as from * above until next step forward.

Right step forward (RL in front) - repeat RH move sequence as for previous RL in front

Right step back (LL in front) - repeat LH move sequence as for previous LL in front

Left step back  (RL in front) - repeat RH move sequence as for previous RL in front

Right step back. (LL in front) - repeat LH move sequence as for previous LL in front 

 End Sequence

Right hand moves down and back, behind the body line.  Left hand moves upwards in line with shoulder with wrist turning inwards.

Right foot moves outward and forward, until toes in line with Left heel, Right arm continues moving in an upward arc with Right shoulder going back.   RH ends up alongside Right ear, fingers splayed and pointing forward, palm pointing away from ear.  LH continues moving up in line with face and pushing across open palmed an vertical, to outside the Right shoulder.

Weight moves onto Right foot, hands move up in line with top of head (finger tips LH, blade of RH), winding up for strike. Left foot drags inwards and back behind heel line of Right foot, shoulder width gap between, then pivoting to Left on balls of feet to 45 degrees off forward facing.   At same time LH sweeps down palm down to waist height, whilst RH strikes across at neck height, palm up, in a bladed strike.   Both strikes to 45 degrees in line with body.

Left foot steps out into wide legged 45 degree stance, knees bent.  LH moves down and back, behind the body line, continues moving in an upward arc ends up alongside Left ear, fingers splayed and pointing forward, palm pointing away from ear.  RH moves upwards in line with shoulder with wrist turning inwards then continues moving up in line with face and pushing across open palmed and vertical, to outside the Left shoulder.

Weight moves onto Left foot, hands move up in line with top of head (finger tips RH, blade of LH), winding up for strike. Right foot drags inwards and back behind heel line of Left foot, shoulder width gap between, then pivoting to Right on balls of feet to 45 degrees off forward facing.   At same time RH sweeps down palm down to waist height, whilst LH strikes across at neck height, palm up, in a bladed strike.   Both strikes to 45 degrees in line with body.

Right foot turns inward to face forward, pivot Left foot backwards to present a sharply bladed stance, with Left leg almost behind Right leg, but with Left foot angled outwards.  LH remains in place relative to the body, whilst RH moves across to under Left, in vertical line with Left shoulder.   Body weight shifts back onto back leg, which bends at knee to accommodate.  RH goes back under Left arm, RF drags back into Cat stance.  LH pulls back in line with L side of chest, R arm flicks out and up, RH is initially pointing down, but flicks up into ridge hand at the end of the arm extension.

RH moves in from should line to in front of face, LH draws across to RH side of body.   R foot takes long stride forward, RH pulls back in line with R side of chest, L arm flicks out and up, LH is initially pointing down, but flicks up into ridge hand at the end of arm extension.  So there is a counter point of RF going forward, as LHS of torso twists forward.

LF pulls up, LH comes back RH comes to front as torso realigns.  R Elbow bent and RH open at an angle.  Footing settles into standard stride length, L arm pulls back until LH in line with LHS of chest, R arm extends as elbow is straightened RH extends into a flat position parallel to ground, wrist bent slightly inwards.

L foot goes back half a foot distance, coming inward to give a more bladed stance, RH rises slightly to above height of LH. R foot pulls back into Cat stance, RH moves across and wrist tilts up so RH palm facing forward at an angle.  L foot drags back further into deeper Cat stance, R arm drops slightly and R wrist rotates so RH is pointing downwards.  At same time LH starts to move forward, with L wrist rotating so that LH palm starts to face forward with fingers pointing upwards.  RH stops at groin height on Centre line, facing palm out fingers down, LH stops at chin height on Centre line, facing palm out fingers up.

LH closes into fist, wrist turning and LH pulling back to RHS of chest, RH closes into  fist and R arm rises to cross over L arm, with RH resting to LHS of chest.  RF goes back to side of LF, standing straight.  Fists pull back to just under chest line either side of the body.  Hands draw back further and hands open, palm up, wrists rotate so hands facing palm down.  Then hands push down quickly, palms parallel to the ground, fingers facing forward  Knees bend slightly as arms extend to full extent.  Knees unbend, hands fall naturally by sides.

First Run Through

I tried my first end to end "walk through" of the form on 10th December.  Very jerky with some pauses and in a limited space (which meant stepping back and forth, rather than three steps forward, three steps back as the form actually requires), and I definitely ended up on the wrong foot (stepping through with left foot, rather than stepping up and pushing on with right).

Very much a work in progress and different to most Karate kata, but for me it's just the kind of form I find relaxing and will be a good addition to Tensho.

REY 10/12/23

!0 weeks and counting ....

This blog is very late due to work and other issues 😟 However, I still want to keep on blogging, so here goes.   Week 10 of lockdown was challenging to say the least, there was a big down after the good ending to the previous week, with the Kata with family call that I did.

Kata with family

Work was starting to ramp up up with preparations for offices I cover region wide making preparations for re-opening, and the tensions within a family of 4 being cooped up together for 10 weeks bubbling along, there was not as much quality time for training.

Monday kata after the lesson

That said, formal training is an absolute lifeline.  With the extra kobudo lesson my dojo are now doing, plus a free lesson on the Sunday by Brian Bates, that I was invited to by my Sensei, I managed over four hours of training that way, best ever ☺☺☺  Because I have been keeping up my training, my physical health hasn't been too bad despite the lockdown, however it has taken a toll mentally.

Practice 1905

The worry for me about what will happen when the lockdown ends is starting to kick in.  I have been lucky enough to get mental health support, unlike some members of my family,  and this has been really helpful for me at least.   If we don't try facing up to our problems, they become even harder to deal with 😟😟

Two things that have become clear to me with time are that:

1) You can only be responsible for your own feelings and behaviour, not those of other people

2) Whatever the mistakes of the past, you can only deal with what is here and now

Going down the route of what if and if only is the route to complete bitterness and confusion 😟

For me, without family, a job and karate, I would be lost.

1805

Kata - Naihanchi Shodan, Nidan (Sandan)

Kicks

Front leg Mai geri, back leg Mai geri, both sides

Front leg Mawashi geri, back leg Mawashi geri both sides

Front leg Yoku geri, back leg Yoku geri both sides

Spinning back kick, both sides

Balancing, knee up, front leg Mai geri, Mawashi geri, Yoku geri, rotate 45 deg then back kick without kicking leg touching the ground, both sides.

Shadow sparring, first practising jab, cross, upper cut,

 and jumping front kick then free form.

Naihanchi Shodan

Naihanchi 2105

2105

Flowing Naihanchi - continuous smooth

Hands only Naihanchmovementsi

Then interpretations of Naihanchi

Pre-emptive strike (2 palm strikes), crash, two knees

Elbow strikes to arm, eyes closed,

Back slap, elbow, pull in, two knees

Front hand hook and forearm strike, back hand hook

Developing into Front hand hook, forearm strike and pull, two back hand hooks

Imagine someone holding clothing.  Back hand strike down (onto holding harm), back fist

(Open hand slap to face) Back hand strike down (onto arm), back fist, strike down (onto arm), front hand punch, back fist

As Drill: Back hand - open palm strike, strike down, backfist, Naihanchi double block (front hand up and outside, back hand down, front hand back fist

Then equivalent kata movements in fighting stance as drill, back hand block, double block, front hand back fist

Back fist, front leg stomping heel kick (to knee) forearm strike (to side of neck)

Back foot stomping kick, back hand pulling (arm), front arm chudan uke. (represents pulling opponents arm out straight and rolling over nerve point with other arm then hyper-extending)

Step out with front leg, double arm sweep (represents step behind, back arm clears opponent's arm, front arm pushes opponent over leg)

Flowing Naihanchi - continuous smooth

A bit of a workout

2305

Kata

Kihon gata

Bo lesson

Shushi no kon

2405

Pad work

Palm, elbow, elbow, knee (groin) , drag down, stomp (first four going forward)

Crash, forearm strike, clinch head into shoulder, knee, drag down, stomp

Crash, forearm strike, clinch head into shoulder, elbow, elbow , knee, drag down, stomp

<you are in a clinch> eye gouge, (bite, head butt), elbow, elbow, knee. dragdown, stomp

Nunchaku, Family and commitment

Last week was week 9 of lockdown for me, and being on the "at risk" list is more worrying than ever, with it seeming like people are being asked to go back to work before there is any proper kind of control on Covid-19. That said, karate training is my rock in uncertain times and never fails to deliver in terms of variety with stability, kata, fundamentals and the quadrant drill always feature somewhere in the mix.  

Sunday working (1005)

The variety this week was in the form of one lesson featuring the use of fundamentals in a dynamic rather than static setting, working on various stance transitions away from the kata, and some variations in pad work.  My kata work is improving, so I now get to perform our second kata as my highest known in lessons, and we had another lesson in kobudo, this time in Nunchaku fundamentals.  ☺☺☺ This is when commitment pays off ☺☺☺.

1105 after the lesson ends, one more kata outside

I especially enjoy being allowed to perform Naihanchi Nidan, but will still keep the emphasis on practising Naihanchi Shodan. There are many common elements I still need to work on, such as transitioning, the double uke and backfists.

The Nunchaku lesson consisted of the start of the kata taught in by dojo, the "Hamahiga" kata broken down into simple actions, then put together into a longer sequence practised on both sides.

1405 Kata calling

The final action of the week involved something I had actually planned as a FB live feed between me and my sister, with a few others invited online to attend.  I originally had the idea of me doing kata for 30 minutes, whilst my sister did her Tai Chi forms. with maybe her grand childen doing their exercise routines.  On the day though. it developed into something else, as my son wanted to join in.  So we did a live chat instead, where my son and i took turns to demonstrate kata or kobudo basics, whilst the other chatted with our family in France.  They in turn shared videos of what they were up to.  All in all, a brilliant end to the day and the week ☺☺☺

1305 Outdoor session including the Quadrant drill

1105

Warm up
Mokosu
Formal opening
Kata
Quadrant drill

Lesson reminder from 1405

1405

Warm up
Mokosu
Formal opening
KataShuto Uke
Cat Stance steps
Yoi, turn right into Cat Stance, RH Shuto Uke, Left foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi, LH Gidan Tsuki. Retutn to yoi, turn left into Cat Stance, LH Shuto Uke, Right foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi, RH Gidan Tsuki.
Naihanchi Steps
R side then L side fighting stance, Jodan Uke, backhand punch.
R side then L side fighting stance, Chudan Uke, backhand punch.
R side then L side fighting stance, Gidan Uke, backhand punch.
R side then L side fighting stance Jodan Uke, Chudan Uke, Gidan Uke, back hand punch
R side then L side fighting stance, front foot sweep kick, kneeling Gidan Tsuki
R side then L side fighting stance, jab, cross, front foot sweep kick, kneeling Gidan Tsuki
Kata, practice to Naihanchi Sandan, performance to Nidan

Time lapse of Padwork recap of 1605

The final action of the week involved something I had actually planned as a FB live feed between me and my sister, with a few others invited online to attend.  I originally had the idea of me doing kata for 30 minutes, whilst my sister did her Tai Chi forms. with maybe her grand childen doing their exercise routines.  On the day though. it developed into something else, as my son wanted to join in.  So we did a live chat instead, where my son and i took turns to demonstrate kata or kobudo basics, whilst the other chatted with our family in France.  They in turn shared videos of what they were up to.  All in all, a brilliant end to the day and the week ☺☺☺

1605

Warm up
Mokosu
Formal opening
KataFundamentals (Punches, Receiving techniques kicks)
Pad work: Crash, left knee, right knee, RH slap, elbow, pull in to R hip, hook, hammerfirst hook

Kata with family including Nunchaku

Nunchaku

Nunchaku by left side
Step out into yoi, tension Nunchaku at eye level
Step forward RF into Shiko dachi, hammer down RH (LH Nunchaku held horizontal, RH Nunchaku held vertical.
Touch both Nunchaku to R forearm, then Front hand and Nunchaku comes through the middle to vertical over the R shoulder.  Back hand and Nuchaku go round the outside to vertical behind the R shoulder.
Back hand releases and comes back to guard, front hand flips Nunchaku forward, and from the wrist performs several figure of eights.
Nunchaku flipped to guarding hand and trapped step out to Yoi.

Step forward LF into Shiko dachi, hammer down LH (RH Nunchaku held horizontal, KH Nunchaku held vertical.
Touch both Nunchaku to L forearm, then Front hand and Nunchaku comes through the middle to vertical over the L shoulder.  Back hand and Nuchaku go round the outside to vertical behind the L  shoulder.
Back hand releases and comes back to guard, front hand flips Nunchaku forward, and from the wrist performs several figure of eights.
Nunchaku flipped to guarding hand and trapped step out to Yoi.


kata with family