boakes.org

The first thing we noticed upon arriving at the dojo this friday was a new Sensei who we’d not met before. We guessed he’d be the Sensei because of his black and white belt, which all GKR instuctors wear.

The second thing we noticed was Aaron had advanced from green to blue belt (he’d obviously gone to the same grading as Tony last weekend). So Portsmouth is now a little more colourful. When we began at our own dojo, only orange belts were in evidence, one of those belts (Tony) has now advanced to green, and in the “other” dojo there are now two blues (because there was someone we’d not met before there last night).

Sensei Duncan, for that was his name, began the class with the usual bow in, and Mike took warm up. What was immediately apparent was that Duncan’s classes have more chat and banter. This is probably a reflection of the fact that our class all started together so we’ve maintained a bit of that newbie shyness and respect as a group.

Strike and block with stances

Following warm up we normally go into strikes, then blocks, then stances, going through slow, and medium pace before doing hard and fast. Occasionally later on in the sessions we will go through some combinations, sometimes in Heko Dachi and other times travelling forward and back. Tonight, however, we started straight out combining blocks, stances and strikes in a way we hadn’t before.

Starting in Heko Dachi we dropped back to Zenkutsu Dachi with a Jodan Age Uke over the front leg, followed by a Ushiro Tsuki. Then as we change stance we repeat it - with the other leg and arm. This was a concetration exercise as much as anything else and worked hard on our coordination.

Maintaining Zenkutsu Dachi throughout we did other block and srike combinations with the block always being first and done with the arm over the front leg:

• Uchi Uke with Jodan Tsuki
• Soto Uke with Ura Uchi
• Gedan Barai with Hiji Ate, and
• Gedan Uke with Mawashi empi

We followed this with some advacnced blocks and strikes, but again instead of staying in heiko dachi we would begin in kiba dachi for the first few strikes/blocks and then move into Shiko Dachi. We did the following strikes:

• Haito uchi
• soto shuto uchi and
• uchi shuto uchi

and the following blocks:

• chuge uke
• kake uke and
• mawashi uke

Kick combos in long stance

Having thoroughly tested our brains and coordination it was now time to test our legs. We initially focused on Mae Geri, and worked through the kick slowly. Then instead of one kick per count we moved to 6 repititions of 2 kicks per count, and then 3 kicks per count. We did the same with Ushiro Geri, but only for 2 kicks per count. We’re finding the kicks the most difficult thing at the moment, so it was great to focus on them in this way. I’m sure as our legs get stronger and our balance better we will find them easier, however the movements still feel quite alien.

Looking Kata

Following some leg stretching we went into taigyoku shodan, but with a twist. Normally each count represents a block or strike, however this time in addition to the blocks and strikes being counted, everytime there is a change of direction one count is taken up by a look to the intended direction of travel. With the looking kata, wheverver someone flinches or makes a move when they should be simply looking, we yame, start from the beginning. This exercise reinforces the importance of looking.

A kata is a representation of moves associated with defending yourself against several imaginary opponents. Without looking you are simply going through the motions without appreciating the reasoning behind why, and the kata then turns into some obscure form of japanese line dancing. It took us several attempts to get this right but it served not only as good lesson, but also a good opportunity to fine tune the kata in time for our grading.

Yellow stripes

Following the seiza those of us who had yet to officially receive our promotion, from 10th to 9th Kyu, were awarded our ‘yellow stripes’. This is recognition of our learning to date, and doesn’t require any official grading like promotion to yellow belt would. On receiving this accolade we received a certificate and a yellow stripe ribbon. This would attach nicely to the white belt of our Gi (if we had one). We can grade for our 8th Kyu (yellow belt) without wearing a Gi, but we are not allowed to wear our yellow belt until we actually get our Gi. The canvas/cotton decision will probably be made once we’ve been graded to yellow belt, which apparently could be as soon as next week - watch this space…