Saturday, March 29, 2008

Last Tuesday

I just realized I never got in here last Tuesday to let you know how it went. (Thursday & Saturday are off of classes his week due to Spring Break.)

Last Tuesday, we practiced kata almost exclusively. Sensei explained a few of the things I was doing wrong in Takeoko, most notably my 3/4 turns. I need to do my foot turn-in differently, moving the toe instead of the heel, and draw my pivot leg back just a bit further before turning. I was winding up with too narrow a stance after the turn. This helped a great deal.

Practice, practice, and more practice.

Sayonara,

Dan

Friday, March 21, 2008

Yahoo Companion Discussion Group Started

You can discuss beginning karate to your heart's content at: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/emptyhand/

Sayonara,

Dan

Kata, Sparring

This evening, we spent the first half of clasas practising kata. Four of us tonight were white belts, and the four of us together practiced the first three takeo's, working together to perfect forms. Takeo Kai Ichei, Takeo Kai Ni, and Takeo Kai Son all use the exact same "I-pattern" foot work. In Ichei, you use down blocks and low punches. In Ni, you use middle blocks and middle punches. In Son, you use high blocks and high punches.

We also practiced Empi kata, which is elbow strikes. We did this one twice.

After kata practice, we moved to our regular dojo room. There, we had a graduation ceremony. One of the yellow belts earned sixth degree, which is the last degree of yellow belt. For this, green bands are added to the ends of the yellow belt. Another yellow belt earned his green belt.

In the ceremony, all of us get on our hands and knees to mark the special quality of the occasion, and out of respect for our classmates' achievement. Unfortunately, google image search is failing me on this one. Maybe I'll get to scan a photo when my first belt rank is passed.

After that, we did sparring, and I got to break in the new protective gear. It all worked pretty well, except I had trouble with one of the bottom straps on the left foot guard cutting into the webbing between my next to little toe and foot a bit, and the skin split there at the flex point. The mouthguard was ok, but I got rid of the strap on it.


(My set is all in the metallic blue, and I got a separate Shock Doctor "boil-n-bite" mouthguard. Click on the picture to get the gear pictured.)

The last couple of rounds of sparring, Sensei had us spar two-on-one, and we each got to take turns being the middle person who was getting double-teamed. it's tough, but not impossible.

By the end, we were all pretty tired and thirsty. Definitely a wash-a-gi night.

Sayonara,

Dan

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Kata Lotta, Kick The Bag...

Tonight, we practiced kata, several times. Takeio Kai Ichei for white belts, highest kata for yellow on up. (There were two of us white belts tonight.)

We also did Empi kata once or twice, all of us.

After that, we did kicks and strikes on Bob, the rubber head and torso on a stand.





We did combinations of kicks and punches, single kicks, and hand strikes.

Finally, we finished up with ten repetitions of side kicks on each leg.

Sensei advised us that we will spar on Thursday night. Also, there will be a belt promotion ceremony. Two of the yellow belts have earned their green belt. I'm looking forward to it.

I also learned that I have to boil my mouth guard and bite down on it to fit it to my teeth. I didn't know that before.

More on Thursday night.

Sayonara,

Dan

Friday, March 14, 2008

Sensei Was In An Explanatory Mood Tonight...

...so he took each of us and made sure he explained AT LEAST one thing we were questioning. For me, it was the upward block wrist positioning.

When doing an upward block, your wrist should be straight as far as the up-down bend, but your forearm should be turned slightly upward at a 45 degree angle facing out from your face, and your arm needs to be at a 45 degree angle over your head.

Some Google image search:



You see the first and last pictures in the series - this the correct end-of-motion position for the block.

Also practiced tonight were Takeo Kai Ichei, Ni, and Son. These use down, middle, and upward blocks and punches. Footwork is un-changed in all three kata. Ichei is down blocks and punches, Ni is middle blocks and punches, Son is up blocks and punches.

We also practiced Empi (elbow) kata - which uses several different elbow strikes.

When I get good at these kata, I may do some of them in this space as embedded youtube video, but for now I don't want you learning my mistakes only to have to correct them later.

Finally, we wrapped up with some kicking drills - and Sensei had each of us pick the kick we felt we had the most difficulty with. I chose the side kick, (so did at least four others) simply because I've done it the least and need to learn it better. Sensei then made sure to show us slowly and carefully exactly how it's done.

Last, but not least, I wore the new Karate Gi tonight. It fits far better than the Tae Kwon Do Gi and is easier to move in altogether. I am very well pleased with it. For $22.00 and change, shipping included, it is a great deal from Superfoots.com. See this post: http://karateemptyhand.blogspot.com/2008/03/ordered-new-gi.html
for details on the new Gi purchase and associated notes / photos.

It also didn't hurt that I was able to go to class in no more than a sweat jacket, seeing how it was 45 degrees outside in the West Chicago suburbs. Taieee!! Spring is springing!

By the way, I have lost 10 pounds since starting Karate. THAT is a thrill all its own.

Sayonara,

Dan

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The New Gi Arrived Yesterday...

...and I'll be trying it out in class tonight. What I like about the Karate Gi vs. the Tae Kwon Do Gi, is the way the shirt is done.

In the Tae Kwon Do Gi, the shirt is a pull-over. In the Karate Gi, it closes in front similar to a button-down shirt, but is held closed by your rank belt.

Pull-overs are a pain to take off in the locker room after a hard, sweaty work out. They stick to your skin when wet. Yuckity.

Sayonara,

Dan

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Sick out of class again

All, my apologies, but I was not well enough yet to attend class last night. Tomorrow night it will be.

Sayonara,

Dan

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Aaaaahchoo!!

I've had a cold for several days and it's been impossible to go to class or practice. I'll be back in class this evening, so please hang in there - or go kick your wavemaster...

Sayonara, and thank you for reading.

Dan

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Ordered a new Gi...






White Student Karate Uniform
ECNW$34.95Your Price: $12.49Size: 0000001 (+$2)=$14.492 (+$2)=$14.493 (+$2)=$14.494 (+$4)=$16.495 (+$4)=$16.496 (+$4)=$16.497 (+$6)=$18.498 (+$6.50)=$18.99 Click Here for Uniform Sizing Chart This traditional cut white martial arts uniform includes a white belt, elastic waist pant with draw string and traditional cut jacket. Made of a 8 oz per square yard of a 55% Polyester, 45% Cotton blend cloth resists wrinkling. The uniform jacket and pant are cut for the standard physical build of an westerner. This Quality Karate Uniform is an excellent lightweight wash and wear choice for martial artists of all rank."

Hopefully it will be here by Friday or Monday - and I can use the Tae Kwon Do Gi for practice at home.

Otherwise, I was between classes last night, and tonight I am on my 1st Thursday of the month where I have a regular appointment for something else, so I won't be in class this evening. I'll try to get in some practice on my own, though, or find something cool & obscure to report. (Those are always fun)

Sayonara,

Dan

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

500 kicks...per leg

Wow. Sensei really put us through the paces tonight.

First, we did kicking drills against pad bags, then a large wavemaster. We practiced combinations, and flying side kicks.

THEN, he started having us get on the bar and do fifty round house kicks per leg, alternating sides four times. After that, he had us pair with a partner each, hold hands, and fifty more facing away from each other with each leg. Then in groups of three, fifty more per leg. Then in groups of four, twenty five more per leg. Then in groups of five, twenty five more per leg, with a hop forward in a circle after each kick.

After that, four katas, including Takeo Kai Ichei, Empi, Takeo Kai Nee.

DEFINITELY washagi. (A GI is a karate uniform. We sweated bullets - get it?)

I think I'll crawl everywhere tomorrow - but lose a couple of pounds, too. Awesome.

Sayonara,

Dan

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Saturday Class Review and...a New Wavemaster!

Saturday:

Saturday is open instruction. Basically, Sensei comes in and gives everyone a chance at a free extra hour of instruction for taking the class. (Since I am on both the Tuesday & Thursday schedule, this means I pay for two and get the third free. Given the rates at the Y, this is a great deal.) The only separation is by age - the kids go in two divisions, beginner & advanced, and then the adults. He puts in a total of three hours.

The division isn't quite a hard, fast rule. There can be a little mixing of kids and adults on Saturday, but they train in separate parts of the room which serves as our dojo.

Sensei was pretty busy, so basically I just practiced kata, blocks, kicks, and punches for an hour after stretching. (I still use the Tae Kwon Do stretches.) I did kicks last, and worked out hard for an hour, raising a good sweat.

One thing I did learn on Saturday was proper wrist positioning on an upward block. I'm going to have to get a picture in here to explain it, so I'll reserve that for another post.

Then the fun part: I got a new Wavemaster Original model today! (I got it at Sports Authority, which was the same price without any shipping as the link below, but you can get more info at the link. Just click on the picture of the Wavemaster.)

It holds about 26 gallons or so of water in the base, so I got an extra work out toting water to the basement. Our house has a 2nd floor laundry, so no water in the basement. I used an empty gallon milk jug and a two-gallon flower sprinkler can with the sprinkler head removed to fill it, so about 8-9 trips from the kitchen sink to the basement to fill it up.

I broke it in with a 45 minute work out today. The bare concrete floor isn't fun, and leaves grey concrete dust all over the bag afterward, so I had to get a damp cloth and clean it up, but it works. I got a good sweat going, then cooled down with kata and blocks. (I couldn't do this Saturday at the dojo because I have to share BOB with the rest of the class.)

Now I've broken the ice working out at home - which should speed my training and fitness level a bit.

Sayonara,

Dan


The Original Wavemaster: