Wayofaswede

Another great club session today. Among other things we went through every move of Sanchin. Such a different and fascinating kata

Somewhat late, but...I studied Aikido to 3rd kyu and now that I study Karate I am often surprised by how many of the central concepts that are similar. Things like: timing, "connecting" with the training partner, breathing, breaking the balance of the opponent etc Since the attack as uke in Aikido often resembles the basic straight punch in Karate or similar, I think they make a good combination. Main difference I've found is that Aikido focuses on circular movement, while karate mostly focus on linear or at least much more subtle sidestepping. I believe training both will in the long run benefit your Budo - although the beginner stages might initially become more challenging, due to the risk of mixing techniques, katas etc up. I think of it as a new student of two languages. For starters it will probably be easy to mix words and grammar rules up - but in the long run the student will have the joy of knowing two languages.

Good to hear your back is better, congrats to the new grade and best of luck with the training

He is using the instep in the clip you linked, and the problem with the instep is that you will break your foot smashing into a skull. Interesting, maybe that's one of the reasons Sensei seldom (never?) demonstrates mawashi. We seem to use it primarily for agility/precision/endurance/kote kitae drills. None of the katas I've learned so far include any mawashi at all - come to think of it I don't believe I have seen any of the advanced katas include it either? As I have understood it, the mawashi to the head is generally regarded as ineffective in a RL situation - as it takes too much time and leaves the practitioner too unbalanced/vulnerable to counter attacks? Do correct me if I'm wrong - how techniques that we practice relates to RL application is an important (some would say essential) question

In Shito-ryu, we do the roundhouse or Mawashi with the top side of the foot, something like this: We use the ball of the foot when doing Mae geri, forward kick.

Thank you

I passed the test for 4 kyu yesterday! Thank you very much for all encouraging and wise words along the way. The road goes ever on...

Thank you very much. What a pleasant and unexpected honor

I will try this the next time I spar - actually did the opposite last time (yes, mostly against younger fellow club members)

Yes indeed, it makes the intended position of a hand much clearer. I will try to keep these four "basic positions" in mind when doing techniques/katas. This concept should also simplify memorization of new patterns and should result in more confident applications. Thank you.

Catch-up test for us that missed the one at the end of last semester is coming up in less than two weeks. We had a really physically demanding session this Sunday, so I have now added two more exercises to my regular "strength" routine - I do strength/kihon/kata when I train solo at home. What's fun is that my oldest son always wants to join for just the strength part The strength part of my solo session is now: -20+10+10 push-ups (regular with hands wide apart/knuckles/hands forming triangle -30 squats -33+33+34 crunches - Static training of holding each leg outstretched in a yoko geri On monday (club training Sunday as usual) I'll go into "test mode" and go through required katas on a daily basis. Train well!

That is some really good advice, sensei.

True and wise words, sensei. As always

First club session of the year was today! I will add one of the drills we did to my regular routine of blocks I go through continuously. Great to be back in the club dojo again

MA resolutions for 2019: 1. Keep doing at least one kata every day (probably will stick with Go ho no Uke) 2. Train strength/kihon/kata solo or in club dojo at least two-three times/week 3. Take the 4th kyu exam 4. Keep studying MA through various media and applying the new knowledge

Thanks, Delta. Last solo training session of the year just took place - it’s been a really good one from a Karate perspective with one passed test and solo training sessions (incorporating both strength, kihon and kata) as an essential part of each week. Wish all you fellow karetekas a great 2019!

Karate is really starting to influence the way I look at aspects of my everyday life. Never before have I felt such an urge to actually turn around and bow - as when leaving the club dojo - before leaving the office or workplace for the holiday. Karate teaches me so much about handling the everyday conflicts that occur in a public school - and handling everyday conflicts in a public school teaches me so much about Karate. Some days I feel truly blessed that I get the opportunity to walk the path of Budo, the path of life.

Unfortunately the 4 kyu test has to wait until next semester. My toddlers passed on their flu and although I kept hoping that I would get well soon enough, today I had to inform my C.I. that I had to postpone until spring. Hope the rest of you have been able to train - and maybe even test - as planned.

Congratulations on passing your test.

So true, Sensei The thing about rank is that my sense of responsibility to be a role model - stand in the front row, not in the back during strength training, being uke for the C.I. etc grows with each new grade. As it obviously should. That is when the vicious voice called comfort starts whispering about how much more pleasant and relaxing an hour in the dojo would be if you were still a white belt... I guess this has somewhat to do with my profession as a teacher. Leading and teaching children all day fills that need for being responsible and pedagogic in a way that I sometimes wish I could keep improving and getting better - and at the same time remain an anonymous beginner. I do try to always put forward my best - sometimes I'm afraid I take things to seriously, to the brink of obsession - because that is what I feel is what I should do. That continuous effort is sometimes like carrying a burdening responsibility. Still I know that the challenge is what makes us grow and learn as human beings - so I'll keep challenging myself, keep pushing, exploring boundaries both physically and mentally. I'll keep training hard, and hopefully well - thanks for listening to these thoughts put into words and telling me how you perceive my MA journey, from your point of view.

Doubt creeping up on me as I missed last session due to a clumpsy car logistics mess-up. I did do a solo session and even got my oldest son to put on boxing gloves for me to kick and punch on a "real" target. But...only one club session remains before the test. One part of me whispers: "You're not ready, stay on 5 kyu another semester, think about the new demands, weight of new responsibilites each new grade brings" And on the other hand my C.I:s assuring words that I'm ready to test. I think much of it has to do with my heavy focus on solo training. Actually getting to the club dojo does not occur as often as I would like it to. Not too fond of standing by my own doing katas and other parts I'm not 100 percent happy with in front of the entire club either. And yet...I'll probably get up there this time as well. I know I will go there to watch the others test - and once there I would feel really sorry if I would consider myself "not ready" and skip, although my C.I. says otherwise. Fear and excitement, dark and light - nobody said the path of the martial artist would be an easy one to walk...

Thank you very much bushido_man and sensei for your encouraging and reassuring words.

Training focused on the upcoming test started today. I performed ”Pinan yondan” twice in front of other club members as we went through solo performances of katas as preparation. Afterwards my C.I. told me that he thinks I am ready to test for 4 kyu! Thus the time of the semester filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness begins. Will put more focus on the new pinan kata (yondan) and go through all the katas once a day the week before the test that takes place in about 20 days. Looking forward to once again training with more focus and determination for a while. Other than that I got to practice both ”Ananko”, ”Sanchin” and ”Juroko” today. Notes to self: - Two double blocks - one low, one high - before ”pull back” in yondan - Keep lower hand higher in order to protect solar plexus when performing ”kaeshi”

Always interesting when a guest instructor leads a club session. Had a great such tonight. Went through a for me entirely new kata, ”Ananko”. Really enjoyed the constant change in directions and between the numerous techniques and stances in that one. May very well become a new favorite when I’ll eventually learn it by heart. Glad I’ve kept doing my 33+33+34 crunches practice at home - got to count number crunches 80-100 today. Finally starting to learn that I can block during kumite with open hand, as long as I hold the fingers closely together.

Yes indeed! A starry sky waiting to be explored...