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Our most recent class was hard work, and it’s all thanks to Aaron. Sensei Duncan wasn’t available, so we didn’t learn anything new in this lesson; instead we concentrated on fitting in a good practice of absolutely everything we have covered before now, as Aaron took what was probably his first class in a black and white belt.

Immediate Combos

One thing that is particularly nice about getting beyond the complete basics is that the practice gets more interesting because it is done in strange combinations.

Leg work and kicking.

One thing that’s apparent about Aaron is that he’s a lot younger than Sensei’s John or Duncan, so his approach is more energetic. One of his more enthusiastic exercises was to prepare for Mae Geri, and then (keeping the raised knee up at all times) perform a hop, then two hops in quick succession, then a three, then four, and then a rest (still with the knee up). Then do 2, 4, 6 and 8 hops, then another knee-up-rest. Then 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 hops.

Then change legs.

That’s 90 hops per leg, after which we went into kicking practice.

This made the kicks particularly hard work and also quite messy, because our major muscle groups were already burning, so the supporting muscles had more work to do. I was ok for most, but was, for the first time in a karate class, a little short of breath by the end of the kicks.

Aaron will be starting his own class soon, aimed at young kids, who hopefully have more energy than we more senior students.