Wayofaswede

Congrats to you all and thank you for all the time, knowledge and kindness you share

Thanks Sensei and Bushidoman, sure felt clear and obvious for a moment Today I had happy and terrifying news from my C.I: I’m considered ready to test for brown belt, 2 kyu, in two weeks time! I still haven’t reached 2 kyu in any MA, so it would mean so much to me to pass that test. Preparing mentally for a period of more focused and intense karate practice… My daughter will test for the first time at the same occasion. In the end that’s of course even more important than my own journey

Thank you aurik and sensei. Such a moment is like catching a glimpse of a whale coming up for air, glistening for one moment of clarity in the sun. Only to realize it has returned into the depths again the very next second, leaving behind only the rippled surface of the ocean and a sense of having witnessed something extraordinary that has then disappeared out of sight once again. So you keep swimming…

I believe I just made an important discovery during the end of today’s solo session, as I was ending with two Naifanchi shodan katas as usual: ”Everything should start from the center” Suddenly all I’ve heard about staying centered (both physically and mentally), using hips not arms, ”the whip” concept - seemed to make sense! Feel eager to start applying this new found understanding to more and more of my karate and to conflict resolution in the public school where I teach. To more and more of my life.

Yes, my motto is ”Not a day without a kata” I start and finish every day with the first, short kata I learned, ”Go ho no uke”. Tried to switch daily kata to Naifanchi shodan, but realized the twisting motion without any warm-up at all wasn’t optimal for my lower back. I don’t do any kata fast, with full power and deep stances without warming up first During the day I try to find time to do a very quick ”3-block, 3-block-block-punch and 3-punch”, one on each side Preferably I find some time after work to do the same 3-3-3 as above, twice on each side and also a combo of mae geri/mawashi geri opposite side/yoko geri opposite side, twice on each side. I also do Go ho no uke twice then as well. This is all outside of the regular weekly karate training sessions. I totally agree that consistency is key, even if I only have time for the daily kata I never skip it. It reminds me of how important karate is to me, and helps me keep contact with the art every single day. (have the same motto for my drawing practice, ”Not a day without a line” but that’s another topic, same philosophy). Thanks for sharing your routine

Thanks for sharing, subscribed

I’ll just throw in a number of positives that I carry with me from my Aikido training to my current Karate training: - Breathing - Timing - Importance of connecting with the partner - Ukemi - Balance/Taking uke’s balance - Swordlike strikes and visualizing the arm as a sword - Some techniques - Attacking with a purpose as uke - Circular motions to get behind the opponent - A familiarity with jo and bokken weapons will help when/if I add kobudo to my karate - A sense of and strive for respect, sincerity etc in the dojo and when training, both during club sessions and solo Have a great weekend all KF:ers

After a minor health setback in the beginning of last week, I finally could make it to and fully participate in this semester’s first club session on Saturday. Happy that my daughter wishes to continue training for another semester, we went together and had a great start. Among other things we did (some of these were only in the final advanced session) kakie, and trained getting inside a guard, grabbing the neck of your partner from behind. Katas we did were Gekisaidai shodan, nidan and Sanchin (the ”real” version with turns - that I still don’t know well enough to train on my own). Will definitely look into that more so I can add it to my training routine. I try to start and finish each solo kata training with Naifanchi shodan and Sanchin. So far the Sanchin is the short version, without turns Hope you are all having a great start of the semester. Train hard, train well

Welcome to Sweden sorry for taking so long to respond. I live outside of Stockholm and unfortunately have no knowledge of any Uechi Ryu clubs. We train Shito and Goju in my club and the other club here teaches Shotokan. Maybe you could find an Uechi Ryu club via the swedish Budo and Martial Arts association? https://www.budokampsport.se/

Happy to hear about the recent steps forward on your MA path. Will be interesting to hear about your experiences in Aikido. I use it a lot in my karate, even though its been many years since I last wore my hakama.

Sounds great, congrats on training with your son.

I read this thread with great interest, since Kosokun-dai/kanku-dai is one of the katas I focus most on at the moment, training for 2nd kyu Thanks for clearing things up, and thank you Miick for linking to that Gimberline bunkai video, made so much sense. Realized I’m already subscribing to that channel, but will definitely add more of David Gimberline to my ”Karate seminars” playlist

Wonderful news, best of luck on the shodan testing. As many has already said: Breathe and remember that you have already ”passed” the test abilitywise since you’re ready to take the test.

Thank you very much bushido_man, a wonderful feeling to travel to the dojo and home together. I won’t be testing this semester, need to fully learn all the moves of and practice Ananko and Kosokun-dai first. But my daily practice of Naifanchi Shodan is making me more and more confident when it comes to performing that one

Thank you very much, sensei8 and bushido_man Have two good news to share: First club training again today after I got ill from the Covid19 virus and today also my oldest daughter, six years old, decided to start training karate in our club. Fantastic to once again have the privilege to train together with one of my children Wish all you KF:ers a great weekend

Wish you strength and courage in the current battle, sensei (read this today). You’re in my thoughts and prayers

I believe our short one is only half the length of the ”standard” one, Zaine. It includes no turn. Back home again after passing today’s test for 3 kyu. In our system that means a green belt with two stripes.

I’m honored. Thank you very much

Congratulations all fantastic contributors!

Thank you very much all three of you. Best of luck with your test Questor, do let us know everything about it. Just went through all the required katas for 3 kyu + bunkai for each. My ambition is to go through as many of these as possible each day now that it’s less than a week left before the test. Really enjoy mentally going into ”Karate mode” putting in extra time and focus the week before a test. If you’re curious, these are the katas: Ji no kata 1-8 Emppi/Shuto Roppo Go uke Pinan Nidan/Shodan/Sandan/Yondan/Godan Gekisaidai Shodan/Nidan Juroko Sanchin (short version - the one I know - is accepted)

Thank you very much, sensei8 Have two things to share: First is that I went to my 2nd Karate camp last weekend. Much focus was on the kata Sochin and it’s Bunkai. Today we had practice test and kancho told me I’m ready to test for 3kyu in two weeks Wish you a great weekend!

Thanks, none that I remember by heart. Finally back today in club dojo after some weeks with children with colds and Covid. Did Sochin and Shisochin and more.. Have a great weekend

Thanks a lot, Sensei8 A new kata that we started learning during today’s sessions was Seyunchin. Beautiful contrast between slow and quick movements. A long, challenging kata (at my level), those slow shiko-dachi sequences are superb static training for the legs. Have a great weekend, all KF:ers

Finally returned for a first double session in the club dojo yesterday! New kata we started training was Naihanchi Nidan, first bunkai then kata. So happy to be back training again! Hope you’re all well and training

Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures. Best of luck with your training, both of you