Denver Colorado Karate Classes Blog

Monday, June 29, 2005

The karate class is getting smaller and smaller as the summer weeks progress. Average class size has been about 12 lately versus the usual norm of about 20 students.

This evening class centered on having us pair off with another student and we can only use our white, yellow and orange blocks and kicks. First we did some one hand blocks with a front-to-knuckle punch or a front ball kick. Then we were able to do a punch/kick combination. Then near the end of the class, we could get more technical and do a punch, kick, elbow, knee combinations in whatever order we wanted but still using only techniques from an orange belt or below.

This made you think about how you can use your basic moves to fend off or disable an attacker without having to rely on fancy kicks or punches. It required some discipline in not throwing a higher belt level punch or kick.

Monday’s Adult Karate Martial Arts Training Class - Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Tonight we were trained on the tactical application of having an attacker come in at you and grabbing both wrist in order to immobilize you. We learned how to escape the wrist hold, shuto to the neck, trap the attackers hand that is holding your other wrist and then follow-up with a straight ball kick to the groin. I was practicing using different kicks and kind of liked the round house kick to the face.

Then we learned a simple escape move when an attacker comes from behind and does a choke hold around your neck using both hands. The escape move ends up with a flying elbow to the attackers face. We had a new white belt student in the class tonight and a blue belt grazed the new students nose with a flying elbow. Not sure if the new student will be returning Wednesday night after getting a near broken nose.

Karate, Martial Arts, Self Defense, Kick Boxing, Women, Children, Adults - Colorado

Tonight is another evaluation of students who are being looked at for the upcoming higher rank belt test. We did our forms in small groups of three in front of the rest of the class. After that, we partnered up and did buddha-palm using different stances. The hard part is blocking the partners punches using one arm while the partner can use two arms to strike at you. I did pretty good using good reaction and anticipation. I think the key is to zone off an imaginary empty cube space between you and the partner and if anything enters the zone, you try and block it. It works for me.
Test cards were awarded at the end of the class and my son was presented with a Belt Test card for 2nd degree Brown Belt. He’s ready.

Monday, June 20

Belt testing is getting nearer so the warm-ups consisted of doing our standard warm-up (e.g. push-ups) but what was different tonight was we had to do a Pinan or Kata in between each warm-up exercise. I think the class goes too fast and rushes the Pinan’s which sacrifices good form and technique. I did the forms pretty good. I messed up on one turn but quickly recovered and got back into the form routine. We then split off into smaller groups and we did our top 10 defense maneuvers and top 10 Kempos. I have my required 12 DM’s and have 15 Kempos (3 more than needed). I also have down pretty good 8 overhead knife attack defense techniques.

The class ended with the Sensei announcing to the class that I will be testing for my Blue/Green Stripe belt this Friday. I think the double privates, practicing at home almost everyday and going to the dojo every Friday to practice on my own has helped me a lot.

I can’t wait.

Wednesday, June 15

The class started off with a group choice posed by the Sensei. He asked, “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” We agreed to hear the bad news first. The Sensei then told the group that we are doing 30 right front ball kicks, 30 left front ball kicks, 30 right side blade kicks, 30, left side blade kicks and 30 right roundhouse kicks and 30 left roundhouse kicks. With basically no rest in between sets. I did the sets pretty good and kept my breathing at a pretty good pace so I wasn’t dead tired at the end of doing 180 kicks (running in the streets helps in this department.)

The whole point of this exercise was to maintain your kicking discipline when your body begins to fatigue. It’s easy to throw sloppy half-hearted kicks when your body’s lactic acid begins to build up in your muscles. Concentrating on your form tends to helps maintain the kick with better velocity.

Monday, June 13

The adult class centered on having someone hold a pad while your practiced your basic kicks. The kicks include a front ball kick, side blade kick and a spinning reverse kick. All kicks were done using your right and left leg. It most mostly form over function so you can focus on getting your kick to snap in and out using a proper technique.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005

Tonight’s karate class was to train on using either your right or left side blade kick and then follow-up with a rear back kick. It sounds easy but does take some practice in order to get the proper timing down and align up properly in order to get your kick squared up in the target space.

Monday, June 6, 2005

This evening karate adult class was centered around performing our defense maneuvers and kenpos in a faster manner. The partner was to punch in on you in almost a full speed strike and you had to react to the strike by using your DM. If you didn’t move out of the way in time, you would get hit in the chest.