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Last night, though we’ve not graded yet, we had our first beyond-basics lesson.

New Strikes and Blocks

Two weeks ago we were unable to attend the yellow belt grading, but several of our class did attend and now have their belts (though they’re waiting for their Gi’s to arrive before wearing them). This week the yellow belts (and those of us who would/should have attended the same grading, began learning some new strikes and blocks.

Whilst GKR focuses on basics, we had until now been focusing on the most basic subset. The new techniques included:

• Soto Shuto Uchi
• Uchi Shuto Uchi
• Chuge Uke
• Kake Uke
• Mawashi Uke

Four of these five are open hand techniques, which we understand are not taught initially in order to concentrate on core muscle memory and to help limit the potential for inadvertent finger snagging when beginning simple kumite.

We did each of them very slowly, without going in to too much detail about technique. This was similar to the process we followed in learning the basic moves, start with a general idea using broad brushstrokes, and then refine it. Obviously the refinement bit will take a while.

Corners Exercise

A new exercise was introduced tonight, quite a tiring one this because we did approximately rokujyu repititions.
From Heiko Dachi we moved out feet to two shoulder widths apart and entrered Zenkutsu (only rotating our feet, and orienting our bodies to the left hand front corner of the dojo.

The exercise involved repeatedly executing a ushiro tsuki, then reorienting to the opposite front corner and again executing a ushiro tsuki. This meant we were throwing a right arm reverse punch to the left corner of the dojo, and a left arm reverse punch to the right, with the appropriate shift in stance from left to right and back each time.

After around sanjyu of these, Sensei changed the combination to ushiro tsuki, mae geri, chodan tsuki, ushiro tsuki. We then did another sanjyu, getting faster after each jyu.

Cotton and Canvas Gi’s

Whilst we were having a little water break I asked Sensei John a few things including “what kind gi might be most suitable for a beginner, cotton or canvas”. Since he’d not used canvas, his vote went for cotton. He did venture an opinion on the noise issue though. Canvas gi’s make a pleasing thwack sound when they are moved briskly (akin to whipping up the duvet when making the bed, and rather reminiscent of top-notch Hollywood sound effects). Sensei John pointed out that if you’re concentrating on the noise you make, you’re not concentrating (a) on your technique or (b) during kumite, on how your opponent is preparing to attack you. So for Sensei John, the pleasure of the audio feedback is not a plus, but a potential diversion.

Prior to this I’d also asked the wider community about Gi’s, and had some useful feedback.

Breathing Exercises

Sensei John brought up the subject of breathing exercises, and checked if he’d covered it at all. Now, previously I’ve heard of the the whole, in through the noise-out through the mouth “thing”, but it’s never made any sense to me. Sensei John said he envisages the inhalation going through the nose, then around his head and through his body, whereas the exhalation is an exhaust from the centre, so the nose mouth separation can help induce calm through focusing on self-familiarity if in a stressfull situation (such as meeting multiple undesirables in a dimly lit back street). Of course, this doesn’t take account of sniffles in the winter and hayfever in the summer, which is the main reason why I’ve never twigged the practical side of it, but conceptually at least, it makes sense now.