Denver Colorado Karate Classes Blog

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

“Humility” noun - “True humility” is distinctly different from “false humility” ” which consists of deprecating one’s own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise or adulation from others.

“Pride” - noun - Pride is an emotion which refers to a strong sense of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, nation or object that one identifies with…satisfaction with your (or another’s) achievements.

Tonight’s class had a core theme to it which was getting down to the basics of Kempo. After warm-ups, we went into the training drill of doing multiple blocks followed by a roundhouse, doing so on both sides. Then we paired up to do the same drills but with a person punching in at you - doing both righty and lefty. The first set was supposed to be a punch-punch and then a kick. I kept on doing a punch-kick-punch combo which is kinda like kempo #1. The second combo set I did fine even though the combo set was fairly similar to the first set. Sometimes it’s amazing how the mind and body works and why something clicks in and something doesn’t. After class, I joined the mini-group to do a private lesson which focused on fine tuning circle of the tiger.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tonight’s class started off doing the requisite warm-up exercises and then we moved into tonights lesson. Rather light class with about 9 people present. Monday Night Football? We paired off and the Sensei advised all to put on some arm pads. The first exercise did require the use of the forearms which consisted of doing an outward block, then an inward block and a downward block. The attacker would punch in throwing a right, left and right. We did this righty/lefty. Then we mixed up the combinations to defend using both arms to block multiple strikes.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I missed a couple of classes due to wanting to watch the debate (last Wednesday) and being in Florida (this past Monday). Tonights class was just a basic bang the pads hard until you drop workout. We partnered up using a hand pad. First we warmed up doing 50 jabs, cross-hand hammers, etc… Then one person would shuffle in and throw a jab. You reset and do it again on both sides for a total count of 10 on each side. Then it was two jabs and a back fist. Then two jabs, a back fist and a spinning hook kick. There were a few more combos/sets thrown in too. After class I did a 30 minute private session with two other students. I learned the basics of DM 22.

Monday, October 13, 2008

I skipped five classes since they were 100% focused on tournament training and I wasn’t participating this October. I didn’t mind the little break and I still did double privates at the studio each week.

Tonight’s class started off with 15 suicides. One suicide consists of 1-frog hop, 1-push-up and 1-crunch. Myself and the person to my right were going at a fairly good and clean pace. Even at reps 11-15, we were still going strong. Around rep 14, I noticed 5-6 people standing and already done which I think they “miscounted.

Post Script - If someone wants to short-changing themselves physically, that’s their business.

The main lesson was doing our DM’s with 2 people coming in to attack you one at a time. Our group had one person punching right handed and the other person punching left handed. I had to alternate back between a right and left handed DMs. It wasn’t easy to do.

After that we were in the same group doing our DM’s while the attacker did a 1-2 punch or kick-punch combo. Then the class capped off doing some pad work on our basic kicks.

I stayed later to take a 1/2 hour private and we did Plum Tree blocking.