What they did...

What they did on Friday 4 May 2012

First hour and a half spent on Kata Channan with a detailed examination and analysis of the first four moves.  Last half hour responding to the question, “Tell me what move in the kata you would like me to explain.”  I was absent on this occasion, having put petrol in my diesel car showing my ongoing and increasing capacity to be a total numbnut.  That's what comes of increasing senility and driving both petrol and diesel cars.

A note on Yakusoku Kumite

What we did on Tuesday 1 May 2012

Group 1: Shinzen – correcting posture, move hips not shoulders.

Group 2: Yakasoku kumite complete.

Group 3: Tenzen 1-14 inclusive.

Group 4: Channan takedowns.

Watching the practise of Yakusoku kumite of late has reinforced the recognition that there are a number of difficult concepts within the set that cannot be executed by relatively inexperienced students.  Yakusoku kumite was conceived as a basic set for ‘beginners’, but in order to be so a teacher must avoid the temptation to become to demanding or too deep.  Yet it is these very principles that we are anxious to impart early on.  I speak of looseness, fluidity, continuity of movement, accurate positioning involving distancing, centre-lining and an ability to utilise both hands as defensive or counter offensive tools takes time, patience and effort to develop and become intuitive.  The term ‘yakusoku kumite’ is appropriate as it means ‘agreement to adhere to convention’ hence the consistent use of the term ‘formal kumite’ to describe these exercises.  There is no implication in that term to suggest that the exercise is in fact basic or easy even if it is taught early in training.  It is an exercise that will underpin other pairs work throughout training and throughout the attainment of more advanced levels.

What we did...

What we did on Sunday 29 April 2012

More repetition work today

Group 1: More work on posture.  A need to push the right hip forward. Achieved four steps unaided.  This is significant and reveals the potential for walking unaided once the musculature has been strengthened.

Group 2: Kinesiological exercise 1 (Undougaku Waza Sho).  An introduction and so there's much work to be done to make it fluid.

What we did...

What we did on Friday 27 April 2012

Repetition work today

Group 1: Shinzen, Buttataku Waza (pummelling method)

Group 2: Yakusoku kumite (seven part formal pairs).

Some improvements with a way to go.

Brief description of Undougaku waza

What we did on 24 April 2012

Group 1: Review of basic kata, Matsumura no Seisan, Shinsei no Seisan, and other kata.

Group 2: Working detail on the formal pairs exercise (Yakasuku Gumite).  Problems in speed and fluidity stemming from a lack of relaxation – the tea towel flick effect.

Kinesiological exercises 1-2 (Undougaku Waza Sho and Ni)

The two undougaku waza are now complete.  It must be remembered that these exercises are taught in one simple mode.  The exercises may be performed in alternative ways, starting at different positions, reversed, both hands in unison, following or contrary motion and large circles or small circles.  The number of ways these exercises can be executed is extensive and limited only by the practitioners imagination. It is for members to reflect upon the import of these exercises and what lessons, principles and concepts are contained within them. Look for ways of creating coordination challenges by changing the roles of each hand.

Undougaku waza sho:

Brief description for right hand (left hand works in contrary motion).

1. Working around a sphere anti-clockwise (seen from above) with vertical anti nodes, the primary being at the bottom.

a. Clockwise (on vertical plane).

b. Forward rolling (on vertical plane).

c. Anti-clockwise (on vertical plane).

d. Backward rolling (on vertical plane. Add one quarter revolution).

2. Working around a sphere clockwise with longitudinal antinodes, the primary being at the front.

a. Clockwise (as seen from above), on horizontal plane.

b. Forward rolling (on vertical plane).

c. Anti-clockwise (as seen from above), on horizontal plane.

d. Backward rolling (on vertical plane.  Add one quarter revolution).

3. Working around a sphere clockwise (as seen from the right) with lateral anti nodes, the primary being on the right.

a. Clockwise (on vertical plane.  Add one quarter revolution).

b. Clockwise (as seen from above), on horizontal plane.

c. Anti-clockwise (on vertical plane)

d. Anti-clockwise (as seen from above), on horizontal plane.

Thereafter repeating the twelve step sequence as described or going straight into undougaku waza ni.

Undougaku waza ni:

Brief description for right hand (left hand work in contrary motion).

1. Flowing clockwise: semi circle on left of front face of cube.

2. Following through; semi circle on rear side of top of cube.

3. Semi-circle on bottom of left side of cube.

4. Semi-circle on right side of rear of cube.

5. Semi-circle on front of bottom of cube.

6. Semi-circle on top of right side of cube.

7. Flowing anti-clockwise: semi-circle on left side of bottom of cube.

8. Semi-circle on top of rear of cube.

9. Semi-circle on front side of left side of cube.

10. Semi-circle on right side of top of cube.

11. Semi-circle on bottom of front side of cube.

12. Semi-circle on rear side of right side of cube.

Brief description of Buttataku waza

What we did on Sunday 22 April 2012

Group 1:  Getting up and down off floor.  Walking unaided.

Group 2: Cubic and Spherical tornado hands models. Kinesiological exercises 1-2  (Undougaku Waza Sho and Ni).
  

Buttataku Waza (pummelling method)

1. Left palm jab to nasal / upper lip or orbital region; 

2. Right reversed palm thrust to right aspect of mandible; 

3. Left roundhouse palm strike to ear; 

4. Right rising palm thrust to underside of mandible; 

5. Left inwards elbow strike to temple or lower ribs; 

6. Left hammer-fist to temple.  

7. Right oblique inward sword hand strike to neck; 

8. Left shovel hook to lower aspect of the rib cage; 

9. Right knee strike to the abdomen; 

10. Right palm strike to testicles; 

11. Right ball of foot kick to knee.  

According to skill level and preference (and in conjunction with advice from sensei) techniques can be modified to use alternative hand or fist weapons to alternative targets.  Remember that these techniques are intended to incapacitate and must be executed at relatively high speed, with focused power and without hesitation.

What we did...

What we did on Friday 20 April 2012

Kihon Waza (all the basic techniques of the system)

Overview of all basic kata (Shinzen, Tenzen, Tenshu, and Channan)

Yakusoku kumite (seven part formal pairs exercise)