Denver Colorado Karate Classes Blog

Monday, October 30, 2006

Sensei announces after the warm-up that tonight’s class will be a “real workout.” He asked if we wanted to start off with punches or kicks. I chimed in and said “punches.”

We formed 6 groups of three and I was with two other black belts. The tasks on hand were rather simple but good form and the basic mechanics of the punches and kicks had to be applied.

Here’s what we did:

- 50 thrust punches (25 right and 25 left)
- 50 hammer strikes
- 50 elbow strikes
- 40 thrust kicks
- 40 crescent kicks
- 40 reverse crescent kicks
- 40 roundhouse kicks

Around 3/4’s into the class, Sensei asked if our group was done and I said “Yes, and we did 10 push-ups.” as a joke. One of the black belts challenged a green/brown belt to doing one hand push-ups or clapping push-ups. I jumped down to the ground and banged off 5 one-clap push-ups while the class counted. After that, it was back down to business.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

After warm-ups, we partnered up to do some punch and kick combos (up to four) while the other person uses some 10-point block moves in order to deflect the 4 kicks and punches. We did this back and forth numerous times in order to get used to using the 10-pt block in a defensive manner.

Monday, October 23, 2006

I don’t know why I always get into the upright position when the Sensei announces “pushup position” because sometimes the Sensei will explain a few items before actually doing the pushups and I remain up and off the ground for 30-45 seconds. That happened last night and our belt level had to do 60 pushups. Right around the 20th pushup, the deltoids started feeling some fatigue but around the 40th pushup, the fatigue went away and I banged out 60 strong pushups.

After the warm-ups, we partnered up to do some Buddha-palm. Sensei explained the differences between hard and soft offense and defense. First was hard and I did Stage 3 and my partner threw everything he had using multiple combos and every punch was blocked or checked. He was impressed. Then we switched partners and I got a blue/green belt who wanted to throw some hand combos with intensity and speed and I remained untouched. But when it came turns to switch sides, the blue/green belt was hit (it’s really tapped) in the head, chest, gut many times over.

Then we did some Chi Sou (soft) where you just roll with the incoming strike using a gentle deflection. Main point is to stay relaxed. The last two partners I was with, I closed my eyes and just used my senses to maneuver their punch and it worked pretty well.

Monday, October 16, 2006

This evenings adult karate class focused on taking a punch into the chest while at the same time reacting to the strike by slipping to the side and offering up a counter strike. After that we would up doing some pad work doing various leg kicks such as a front ball, crescent, roundhouse and back kicks. I write this entry 8 days later and now the class events is a blur.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

This tournament I participated in kata and no kumite. My kata was stature of the crane I recently learned Kata #4 as a brown belt but I don’t know it very well so I chose to perform with stature. I probably practiced this form almost every day so that I can do it in any direction. On the day of the tournament, I was chosen to go second. I bow in, start my routine and do my first crane hop. I started to bobble a little. Then onto a high crescent kick with a quick punch to the chest (opponent on ground now) and I lose my balance. I’ve done this form 200 times and never lost my balance. I think it’s the springy gym floor that subtly gives way an inch or two throws off your own balance. I finished up strong and ended up taking home 2nd place.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Our warm-up consisted of doing the usual exercises and then we has to do 15 sets of doing a frog hop, down to a push-up, then a crunch and followed up with a reverse crunch. By set #11 or #12, it was getting harder to do a decent leap into the air.

Then the Sensei showed us how to do some footwork using six different techniques. To hard to explain in this karate blog. Then we partnered up with our sparring gear on and we were to apply the footwork we just learned by evading a hard and fast attacking punch to the upper chest. If you didn’t react, you can get nailed real hard.

Then after that we did some light kumite going at 25-50% speed.

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Nearing tournament time so we did some sparring.

Monday, October 2, 2006

Tonights class was a workout. First we grouped close together to do our Kata’s. I did OK with Kata 1,2,3 and Pinan 1, 2,3,4 and 5. When we got to Kata 4 (which I only learned the full routine about a week ago), I think I cut out half the moves and botched the whole thing up. I need to practice more on Kata 4.

Then we paired up for some pad work. First it was doing right and left instep kicks, as many you can do in a strict manner in 30 seconds on each leg. Then it was cresent kicks, 30 seconds per leg.

The end of the class was nearing so we did right and left hand thrust punches, as fast as you can go for 30 seconds.