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

Karate, kata, forms and relaxation

A stressful week from a personal point of view, but an interesting one from a karate viewpoint.  Started off being a bit down, as I keep repeating the same mistakes in my Naihanchi Shodan, plus some other things non-karate related.  So I did what I usually do, look for something to throw myself into to stop myself  brooding on things, that was to look into a Quijong form Eight Brocades.  It's a good self contained form of exercise, that can be practiced as individual elements or as a whole, with as few or many repetitions as you want, or have time for.

Of course from a karate stand point, we had the regular three online lessons, which are summarized at the end.   The Monday lesson was something different, then the Thursday and Saturday lessons were polishing up kihon gata and the Quadrant drill. Typically, when not feeling too hot about my kata, in the middle of the week our Sensei told us about an online competition being organised by another club to which we were invited.  I toyed with the idea of not competing, but then the "don't give up" part of me kicked in and I have given it a go.  Still had a twist in the tale though, I recorded it in a black gi, then had a thought... Our dojo wears white for representative combinations, so asked our Sensei and sure enough, needed to re-record.  Home dojo has a lot to answer for lol.

There are still mistakes in my Naihanchi Shodan, but have realised they are mostly in one direction.  My left hand side actions are not too bad but on the other side, not so hot.  After talking to my Sensei am going to start specifically doing the hand movements on their own, in order to check my observations and work on improving my techniques.

The end of the week Karate wise was quite fun though, we entered in to Iain Abernethy's  Karate pub quiz, with our team having face time on Zoom (same as we use for training).  So nice to interact socially again, a few drinks were had, and I even got a couple of questions right ☺☺☺ An absolutely brilliant way to end the week, and a big thank you to my team mates: Alison, Ben (both our Sensei), Elisha, Chloe, Sam, Marian, Koen and Anita, tor making it such a fun occasion!!!! 🙏🙏🙏.


Our lessons:

20-04

Warm up,
Mokosu, formal opening
Stepping in combat stance, forwards, backwards, left and right.
Forward step, jab, back step
Forward step, jab, reverse punch, back step
Forward step, reverse punch, front leg sweep (Ashi Barai), back step
Forward step, reverse punch, Ashi Barai, reverse kneeling punch to grounded opponent, step back
Kata, up to Naihanchi Sandan, perfomance (Naihanchi Shodan)
Shadow sparring to called combinations
Warm down kata

Tuesday workout including Monday's lesson content and Eight Brocades

23-04

Warm up,
Mokosu, formal opening
Kihon gata:
Shodan - Jab, reverse punch, Mae Geri Nidan - Mae Geri, jab, reverse punch Sandan - Jab, reverse punch, Mawashi Geri off front leg Yondan - Mawashi Geri off front leg, 2 punch combination Godan - Right Mawashi Geri (land in front), left Mawashi geri (land in front), reverse punch, jab. 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, ushiro mawashi geri Judan -Shuffle, backhand forehand punch, shuffle, backhand forehand punch, right then left mawashi geri, hisa geri

The competion Video that wasn't

25-04

Warm up,
Mokosu, formal opening
Kata
Then working on the first half om the Quadrant drill
Jab, cross. hook
Hammerfist, looping left, hook
Backhand slap, elbow, step back left knee, step back, right knee
Headbutt, break grasp, shoulder barge.

Kihon gata, Quadrant drill workout

The Voyage of the Damned

At 58, having heart and lung complaints, I'm somewhat at risk from this shitty CoronaVirus.  I'm damned by work because of, despite doing social distancing, splitting the teams in two and only essential people having to go in, as a chief fire marshal I have to go in two weeks out of four.  

Then I have some criticism for not taking the virus seriously enough and having to go into work.  I'm accused of not caring enough, because I go into work and put myself at risk, both there and using public transport. 😞😞😞

Finally, I'm damned by a common cold.  My son has a common cold, and looks like I've got the start of one, so neither of us can train and tomorrow is grading.  Oh balls 😞😞😞  Oh well it stopped raining for a while outside, so I though I might run through the kata, fundamentals and kihon gata needed for grading, followed by a wind down.

Part 1`

Part 2

Part 3

Silent Thought: Uncomfortably Numb

Yesterday's atrocity took my mind back to 1996.  I had been due to go to Harbour Exchange on Friday, 9th February to check on systems I was responsible for in Harbour Exchange on Canary Wharf.  The day before, I finished what I was working on early, so decided to change my plans and go down to Harbour Exchange there and then.   I got off at South Quay station around 5pm and popped into the newsagents adjacent, before going to Harbour Exchange to do what I needed to do.

Little did I know how fortuitous that decision to turn out to be, as the following day, an IRA bomb was detonated in the car park next to South Quay station, at the same time as I had been there the day before.  The two people I saw in the Newsagents the day before were both killed in the blast, and it was a near miracle that only another 100 people were injured.   I was oh so lucky, but what happened next rammed it home.

It was thought to be a long shot, but I was immediately asked to accompany an Engineer to the building I had some responsibility for, to see whether we could get in to do a damage assessment.  As luck would have it, I used to live around the corner from the site, so when the cab we were in was stopped by police, we made our way on foot and I suggested a pedestrian entry point to the Engineer where we might get in.  There was only local Security on duty at that point, and we were let in as I was recognised.

What followed was to haunt me for a long time and left me numb.  We got the building in question, but the area was eerily quiet, and though  shielded from the masin blast, the severe damage that had occurred was readily apparent.  We completed the survey, and then came out and were immediately confronted by the police wanting to know who wanted to know what we were doing and how we got in.  Apparently it was still a live bomb site, as a second device was considered a strong possibility.  At that point, the whole situation hit home hard, both the luck I had and the enormity of the risk I had put myself in.

I felt numb for a long time afterwards, and each terrorist incident brings it back home.  My response to yesterday was to sink myself into Karate, both in practice at home and into today's dojo session.  Today's "Silent thought" was much needed, as was the workout that followed (basics plus Naihanchi Drills).   Please spare a thought for all the innocent victims of Terrorism, and the bravery of those who confront them 🙏🙏🙏

Dojo basics

Saturday's Dojo session was back to basics,  The warm up exercises included stretches, cami rolls and break falls.  After that, it was on to Kata.

For Kata, we went through Naihanchi Shodan to Passai Sho.  Each one was done step by step and then performance, with people who don't know the Kata dropping out on the performance part.  I only did Naihanchi Shodan as performance, because although I know the basic flow of Nidan and Sandan, I don;t think it's good enough to do perform in the Dojo as yet.

From there on, it was pad work drills with different partners, following the Naihanchi Shodan Kata 
Naihanchi pad drills following the Kata sequence.  We went through:

Crashes, 
Head control to knee strikes, 
Elbow strikes, 
Re-directions, 
Punch and Stamping kick combinations  (knee, ankle, shin, inside leg)
Arm drag, head control and over-hip take-down with punch, 
Followed by final stamping kick and away

It was any enjoyable lesson, but what was more enjoyable was the realisation that I am noticing the difference in getting through lessons 😊😊😊  The combination of  exercise and a change in medication is definitely working just now for me 😊😊😊.   There were definitely pains the next day though lol, I nice Okinowan tattoo on the inside of my ankle and aches all over, the price for improvement 💖💓😈

Dojo calm in the midst of things

This last week at home and at work has been a little mixed to say the least, some of it through my own shortcomings and some not, so time at the Dojo on Saturday was a welcome break.  The session was varied as always, which is one of the reasons I love training there 😊😊

There were the usual stretches, plus a few newer ones I first tried last Monday, followed by Kata; only Naihanchi Shodan, this time, as our work was going to be based on that.  I got complemented on being able to tense my stomach well to take a punch, which I appreciated.

Then there were a good few drills, some of which I certainly hadn't done before.  We started off with the Quadrant drill, with different partners,  but then did two drills new to me:

Forearm strike drills, with alternate strike, block, move arm combinations. We did right side then left side practice .with different partners.

Hook drills, alternate punch, block (Neko Ashi Dachi Shuto u
Uke), move combinations, firstly with ducking to change sides, then with take down after third repetition, with different partners.   

After that we went on to Kobudo, with both Bo and Nunchaku.  With Bo we did Kihon Katas Shodan and Nidan, with Nunchaku we did the first part of the Hamahiga Kata;  featuring direction changes and figure 8s. We also did some pad work with Nunchaku, on figure 8 strikes.

A really enjoyable lesson, and I now seem to be struggling less with staying the distance 😊😊😊😊.  I should put this properly to the test in April next, as I just booked mine and my son's places on an Iain Abernathy seminar in April.  4 hours should be a good work out 😊😊😊.

Aching All Over 😊

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

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

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

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

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

Escape to the dojo

There is a lot going on in my world at the moment, some of which isn't good but not of my making.  At times like these, the dojo represents a routine, a solid reference point in a sea of turmoil.  

So it was conditioning, kata, kihon kata and bo work, at least I didn't forget my Naihanchi Shodan this time.  However, was picked up on for being too tense.  I can't say that other factors didn't play a part, but I think it was more remembering what had happened the time before.

Wasn't too clever on the kihon kata, was running a bit out of steam so didn't complete all of them.  I tried to have a go at most of them though, whereas when I started I used to try full on and not get past the third or fourth one.  Always seem to miss the one with the spinning heel kick though.

The bo work was actually going through a full kata, but at this stage it's very much at the conscious that I don't know very much of it stage.  But to be honest, today wan't so much about how well I did, so much as the taking part, surrounded by familiar and friendly faces.

So thank you to my Sensei and fellow dojo members 🙏. Being a part of a group like this can really help out.  And happy birthday to Sensei Alison, you kept that quiet until today 😊

Pushed: In the dojo

I have to admit I didn't feel at my best today, but wasn't a day for shirking.  After the warm up, it was trying to keep each leg in turn up at kicking height for 10-15 seconds.  Given I am no the best, needless to say I ended up with two lots of forfeit pressups. 

Then it was on to stepping drills, keeping moving in fighting stance without crossing legs.   This was folowed by the same drill with punches, then with each foot in turn on a fixed spot, turning in stance to the position called by our Sensei. 

After that was padwork on punches, stressing punching through and spending time on the target; Naihanchi drills then kicks onto pads.  The one that pushed me the most was the pyramid, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mawasha-geris with one leg then the same with the other leg.

It certainly pushed me as hard, if not harder than, I've been pushed before and got my heart rate up enough that I had to take a few breaks.  The last half hour was fun though; bo kihon kata 😊😊😊  Naihanchi Shoda to wind down then finished: An excellent lesson 😊 

After dinner, I had to go and do a bo kihon kata in the garden to work off a little too much food.  Thought it wouldn't do too much harm to video, but please excuse the state of the garden.  It's been badly neglected whilst wasn't I too clever and then with other things going on, so will be one of this summer's projects  😊

A personal Thank You

I am no paragon of virtue (I'm not perfect by a long chalk), but I know my family have overcome a lot of difficulties in their time.  My Grandfather and Grandmother were deaf, he could speak, she couldn't.  

My Dad died in his mid 50s of the same condition I have, and my Mum had a nervous breakdown trying to cope.  I live with that and some members of my family have mental health issues. We have to try to cope and carry on.

Karate has of late been a cornerstone in coping, so thank you to all who have helped, especially my Sensei Alison and Ben, along with Graham, plus my fellow Dojo members.  Also a special mention to Gary Hood (whose comments are invaluable) and Cesar, who I met through my federation's competition earlier in the year (and who has similar issues).

To you all and my family; Thank You 😊🙏