Wednesday, October 30, 2013

A Beginner's Point of View 523-524

Day 523:

Today we had class in the gym as the dojo was being used for other functions. We used the long dimensions of the gym for stamina training. We started with kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, and doh-ouchi. We worked on some advanced drills that teach you to react to your opponent’s seme. Men-debana-kote and kote-suriage-men.

We finished with some kakari-geiko and ji-geiko. I think I’m really improving my stamina little by little. I never even felt like sitting out once.

Day 524:

Today we were back in our dojo. Those springy hardwood floors are really nice. We did the class lengthwise to take advantage of the space. We did kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, kote-ouchi, and doh-ouchi.

We then did more of those seme drills. Reacting to an approaching opponent, men-debana-kote, and men-debana-doh. We finished strong with a long kakari-geiko and several rounds of ji-geiko.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

A Beginner's Point of View 521-522

Day 521:

Today we went back to a regular practice. Kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, doh-ouchi, and kote-men-ouchi. My endurance seems to be getting better. I didn’t have to sit out today.

Today’s focus was on hiki-waza. We had long lectures on proper footwork. You need to use fumi-komi to stomp and propel yourself backwards. The secret is to start not to start totally face-to-face at tai-atari. You need to be half a step backwards at tsuba-zariai. Then going backwards puts you at proper maai. A good modification for balance is to discreetly slide your left foot back a bit, then fumi-komi backwards.

We finished with some ji-geiko. I really was feeling the rhythm and made a good showing.

Day 522:

No class today because I am ill.

Friday, October 18, 2013

A Beginner's Point of View 519-520

Day 519:

The instructors have brought us a new way to train. They say we need to understand how to react to others pressure. We did a new set of drills.

We did kiri-kaeshi all the way down the length of the dojo and back. We approached our opponent using okuri-ashi and then strike men, kote, and then doh. The motodachi did a drill to approach us with ayumi-ashi until we were in issoku-ittou-no-maai.

We then did some more advanced drills of suriage-men when the motodachi steps into maai. We then did some kakari-geiko and then a new way. We did kakari-geiko with the receiver ‘resisting’. Resisting means stepping away, dodging, and lightly blocking. I liked resisting. I was pretty good at it. I wasn’t bad at striking a resisting opponent, either. We finished with ji-geiko. I didn’t have to step out once.

Day 520:

We started with the new kiri-kaeshi. I don’t like it much since it’s awkward to know when to stop together. We did men-ouchi normally, with okuri-ashi, and motodachi ayumi-ashi. We practiced men-debana-kote and kote-suriage-men to sharpen our technique. We then repeated the kakari-geiko and kakari-geiko with resistance.

We finished with ji-geiko and kata. In kata, I practiced the first five with a student and then I did six and seven with sensei. Sensei said that my six and seven has improved. I remembered to not rush through the footwork and turn my body to the left as shidachi in seven.

Friday, October 11, 2013

A Beginner's Point of View 517-518

Day 517:

Today was a great practice. We really ground repetitions over and over to build endurance.

We did kiri-kaeshi, several men-ouchi, kote-kiri-kaeshi, kote-ouchi, doh-kiri-kaeshi, doh-ouchi, kote-suriage-men, and men-debana-kote. I was exhausted.

We finished with several rounds of ji-geiko and then we broke up for kata. I practiced a full seven kata with the instructor. Overall, he said I was much better and did not have any significant errors. Just fix a few little things like looking back at the uchidachi sooner to match gazes.

Day 518:

Today was a hard day. It was cold and rainy. I must be getting old because I like this weather but it sapped my strength.

Kiri-kaeshi, men-ouchi, kote-ouchi, doh-ouchi, men-debana-kote, kote-suriage-men, ai-ouchi-men, and a couple rounds of ji-geiko. I feel that flexing my left wrist makes strike better. I sparred with a classmate of mine who seems to have adopted ‘my’ nuki-men technique. I only say that because I used to use that waza against him all of the time and now he’s started to use it against me. It’s actually funny because I have a hard time defending against it.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

A Beginner's Point of View 515-516

Day 515:

No class today as I am recovering from illness.

Day 516:

No class today as I am recovering from illness.