Karate helping to deal with a heart condition:
Karate fighting, Cardiovascular workout, confidence, rebuilding stamina, fun, self defence, over 50s but not only, over 50, is it too late, exercise, nerd, okinawa karate, shorin ryu, full contact karate, heart, aging
September to December 2021 was quite a rough period for me, but karate practice as ever was a part of my routine to keep going. I worked it in with my mental health techniques as well, in the form of Kata for mindfulness and relaxation. Below are a few sample videos and the playlists for Shorts, Solo Practice and Lessons for this time.
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)
This blog is one of the hardest I've had to write, as I think the best way to describe what I suffered from was a dose of the Covid blues. It's been over eleven weeks now since I left the house, and the and after the 10th week it was like running into a brick wall. Being on the at risk register makes you more aware of the risks, and seeing the country gearing up to go back to work, but coupled with the lack of responsibly some people seem to show put extra worries on top an already fraught household.
After the 25th May lesson...
It's fair to say that my family has more than it's fair share of issues, some relating to mental health, which sit on top of my own health concerns. My own mental health hasn't been the best, making more distracted and tetchy than usual. The worrying prospect of having to go back to work on insanely crowded public transport, without any reasonable treatment having been found was looming on the horizon was and still is a big factor, but the final straw as it felt at the time was the weekend of the 30th of May.
Kata at dusk (27th May)
Watching footage of people piling on to beaches yet again, insane traffic queues following the government's ill advised (in my opinion) opening up of unlimited travel set the alarm bells ringing. Then we found we had new neighbours...... They announced themselves with a barbecue with guests from outside the household. There certainly wasn't space in their back garden to socially distance and it sounded like they were having an after barbeque drinks part inside as well. It didn't feel safe to go out and train that day and honestly felt like Covid city had come home to roost on the doorstep 😔😔😔
Kata after 28th May Lesson
On top of that some cricitcism I got got stuck iny brain, so I didn't venture out for about for about three days. In the middle of that was Jamie Chubb's seminar and a Nunchacku lesson, all indoors. It's fair to say I felt nowhere near my normal levels of enthusiasm for doing karate. I had a mental health counselling session booked in for the Tuesday morning though, and these have been another thing that have kept my going. I felt the need to do something positive prior to the session, so on the Tuesday morning, ventured out to do some kata in the garden.
2nd June, The dawn kata
That and the counselling helped, so I started to feel better about myself, though a lot of the worries still remain. I ventured out the following morning in the early hours to get myself back in the habit of going outside, this time with a little improvised work and to keep pushing myself.
3rd June, Bo, kicks and kata
The Thursday lesson I did indoors due to a rather wet and inclement evening, bu there was no way I was staying in doors for the Saturday. There was a bit of drizzle but to be honest it felt good to train outdoors again, both for the regular lesson and the bo lesson that followed. Afterwards I did a bit of bo kihon and regular kata, still with a little bit of rain coming down, hence the title of that video "dancing in the rain" ☺☺☺☺
6th June, Dancing in the rain
Made sure I got outside again on the Sunday as well to do a bit of practice base on one of the week's lessons, plus a recap on the Nunchaku lesson from the week before. Just got to keep on going and trying my best to live in the moment, and put to one side for now what the coming weeks might bring. I will have to face those challenges when I come to them, but since I don't know what they will be, there is no point in worry in what they might be. I must also try to keep my own reactions to situations on an even keel, and not take too much to heart. These are my resolutions for the time being, as to how well I do going forward, only time will tell.
7th June, Ukes, nunchaku and kata
Lessons 2505 Jab, cross, step forward, RH jab, step forward LH, knee strike, RH elbow, head control. step forward, pivot of right foot to left takedown, 270 degree rotation, gyaku tsuki, stomp Cat stance, inside scoop (of kick), step through into Shiko dachi, Right elbow strike takedown, gyaku tsuki, stomp Outside sweeping block, Step in front leg, jab cross should be in there ( missed out in lesson) take down (hooking neck with forearm over shouider), gyaku tsuki, stomp Inside sweeping block catstance, side kick, low sweep with left foot, elbow under, take back, stomping pick, gyaku Tsuki, stomp 2805 Fundamentals including tobi mai geri (jumping front kick) and outside block kata padwork on hooks, hammerfist and cutting elbow 3005 Guest lesson with Jamie Chubb - soft skills, use of the sprawl, checking for escape routes Nunchaku lesson Kihon kata, strike down, forearm touch, transition behind, figure of eight, transition behind, strike down 0406 Jodan uke in yoi, transition to Shiko dachi, jodan uke again Chudan uke in yoi, transition to Shiko dachi, chudan uke again. Shoto uke in yoi, transition to Shiko dachi, shoto uke again Jodan uke, gedan uke, one side punch other, repeat both sides Jodan uke, gedan uke, shoto uke one side punch other, repeat both sides Jodan uke, gedan uke, shoto uke, chudan uke one side punch other, repeat both sides Short piece of work on other uke combinations Kata Pad work on back fist Kata 0606 Quadrant drill, individual elements, short section drills, through to mawashi geri Jab, cross, front hand hook. Hammer fist, looping left, back hand hook. Front hand slap, cutting elbow, left upper cut, right uppercut Left hand ridge hand, right hand shuto, gable grip, LH step back and drag, left knee, switch to RH drag and knee Head butt, hands up, LH shoulder barge. Right leg mawashi geri, back to stance, switch,left leg mawashi geri, back to stance, switch, hold out right leg mawashi geri, back to stance, spin through mawashi geri, round back to stance Bo First six kihon kata
First full runs through with modified hand gestures
Naihanchi and solo bunkai
Well sort of bunkai. Two attempts at corrected Naihanchi Shodan with video aide memoire from yesterday's lesson.
Tensho revised breathing
First attempt in full of Tensho with revised breathing, all breathing in done on pulling in movements, exhale on all the push away movements. Had some of this mixed up and need to keep practising. This run through was I felt, way too tense.
Exercise after work
Not the 20 minutes I was aiming for, but got through balancing, the quadrant drill, Naihanchi Shodan, and attempt at the solo bunkai for Naihanchi, Naihanchi Nidan, the first 5 kihon gata and Tensho,
Naihanchi Shodan
Performance x 2
Taiso Tensho
Still working on breathing to hand movements co-ordination
1704 Workout
After a kind of torrid week, after finishing my work needed a de-stress, so Naihanchi, lesson recap and Tensho. Pad work and Kihon kata variants, spinning back kicks are so not me lol
1804 Kata after lesson
Performance of Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan and Tensho
Fundamentals workout
Naihanchi Shodan, receiving techniques, punches, kicks, various other techniques, 5 kihon gata
This morning's kata before work, Naihanchi with intent and Tesho with tension. Got to start putting the meaning in to see whether I'm progressing.
Kata Homework
Naihanchi slow then faster, trying to incorporate points given by my Sensei, and Tensho, with tension added to punches as per Noah Legel
Round about midnight.....
The other kata escape occasionally for an airing... I swear I'm beginning to resemble an extra from the thriller video .... can't dance though lol
The three Naihanchi (Shodan that is)
These are the three different ways I usually do Naihanchi Shodan - slow, with intent, and the one I do least often, hontai. Being a leftie, the last isn't as hard as I thought it would be, but still lose my position occasionally.
Give me my morning kata
Tensho and slow Naihanchi on the menu today
Thursday's Lesson 020420
Online lesson featuring kata, combinations, free solo sparring. kihon gata and warmdown kata
Morning workout
Combination workout based on yesterday's lesson, plus Naihanchi Shodan and Tensho
Naihanchi Nidan fish oil warm
I have progressed sufficiently with Naihanchi Shodan to now send videos of Nidan for correction. This is the first one submitted, but the lighting was awful. I started playing with it and this is what I got, with fish eye lens, oil painting and warm effects applied.
Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan
Today's lesson was mostly about kata. These are the two I can do a performance of in my style. I know the bones of Sandan but they are pretty bare just now.
Tensho
Today's lesson was mostly about kata. After the lesson ended, I also performed Tensho, which I do as a breathing exercise as much as anything. I do however want to improve it.
My other kata
TaiChi no Naihanchi, Tomari no Naihanshi (Shorin Ryu); Naihanchi Sandan. The "Tomari no Naihanchi" kata is actually hontai Naihanchi Shodan from my style, but the dominating feature of the Tomari version is starting to the left, right foot first...
Taiso Tensho and the Naihanchis
05-04-20, this morning's kata,Taiso style version of Tensho, concentrating on relaxation and breathing, followed by performance of Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan.
