by Gene Crawford | May 15, 2016
I attended the Karate Seminar with Mr. Togisala. For about 2 hours we worked on some traditional Shorin Ryu Karate. After a good stretch and warm up from his Sempai we drilled stances.
First was Kiba Dachi, by moving around the sides of our ‘box’ or the lines in the mat. Then we drilled Neko Ashi Dachi by moving up and down the floor into a block. I did Mi Bo Sey. The Zenkutsu Dachi by rolling or tumbling and popping up into our stance. To finish off the drills we did a burpee and popped up into a horse stance. Those drills were very cool.
Then we learned Pinan Godan. I’m to be responsible for it on my Blackbelt test. It wasn’t too difficult but it will prove difficult because i’ll need to keep it top of mind and record it. Pinan Godan is a pretty cool Kata too.
**Parting Thought**
I was told to stay after and clean the Dojo so it would be ready for the students for the next day and following week. It wasn’t a big deal, it took about 2.5 hours. What was bad for me though was that I had both my boys with me. Luckily a good friend helped me out and took them to meet my wife (they hadn’t eaten all day… and also attended the seminar.) I didn’t like that they weren’t taken into consideration at all. It felt rather unfair. I would have happily come back later that night or even 30 minutes later after I took care of my family ,to stay all night, if that’s what it took. I’ll just have to be smarter about where I position myself in regards to things like this in the future.
by Gene Crawford | May 10, 2016
Brown & Blackbelt Class: Konku. We did Konku tonight, we finished the Kata. Kind of.
About 5 minutes before the first class was out Sensei called me to his desk and told me that i’d be leading Brown & Blackbelt class. We were to do Konku. The first 30 minutes was to be spent on review and getting another student caught up, then the 2nd half was to be spent finishing the Kata. Long night, and my brain is hurting but we got through it.
I had to ask the other 3 Blackbelts for their help in leading us all through the various stages of Konku, I surely wasn’t in the mind-space to actually teach it, But I did get them to teach it by walking us through it and reviewing it… 🙂
by Gene Crawford | May 3, 2016
Brown & Blackbelt class: We got right to work on Konku. We went a lot farther tonight that we had so far before tonight. If that makes any sense. Probably like ¾ of the way through it now. I’m really digging the Kata a good deal so far.
by Gene Crawford | Apr 26, 2016
Kata: We picked a Kata and worked on it, tried to pick it apart and perfect it. I kept with Giin since I felt like I could really work it and improve on it. Tonight was tough for some reason. I found my self intimidated by the 3 Blackbelts in class for some reason and it kind of got in my head a bit. I feel like I fought out of it pretty well for the last two times of doing the Kata though.
by Gene Crawford | Apr 26, 2016
Kata: Warmed up with some laps while holding a 15# med ball. 2 overhead hold, 10 running, 2 overhead hold, 2 walking. Then did some med ball deadlifts, 20. Good warmup.
We started with Taigo 1, 2 & 3, then drilled Giin.
