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The last two classes have focused more on fitness levels and we seem to have fitted more into each class.

After warm up we’re now going straight through the basic blocks and strikes, and then also going through the open hand moves. It became apparent tonight that nobody else in the class had gone through the knife-hand blocks and strikes before (or they wouldn’t admit to it) so adding the second weekly class has definitely put us a little ahead of the group that started together.

Combinations

We did some moving combinations this week, moving up and down the hall in Zenkutsu Dachi performing:

1. Ushiro Tsuki, Mae Geri then Uchi Uke.
2. Mawashi Geri, Ushiro Chudan Tsuki

We also extended the Corners Exercise from previous weeks to include a Mawashi Geri. This made it a lot harder than it already was because of the significant extra movement.

Face to Face

We’ve also done a little more face to face work. Initially doing the straightforward:

1. Jodan Tsuki blocked by Kake Uke
2. Jodan Tsuki blocked by Uchi Uke

Before adding a block and response so that:

1. when A throws a Jodan Tsuki
2. B blocks it with an Uchi Uki, and then,
3. B responds with a Jodan Tzuki from the other arm.

This nicely illustrates the correct arm to block with since you either open up the opponent’s entire flank, or end up face to face with arms flailing.

Fitness

We’ve also started adding a little fintess work to the session (a doddle compared to the 2 hours of circuit classes I was doing during marathion training) but fun nonetheless. We typically split into two groups and line up at opposite ends of the Dojo before runing past each other and executing 5 of whatever technique sensei calls out, followed by 5 press ups or 5 sit ups. This continues until the less fit people look wobbly and start to lose coordination (and determination), which isn’t very long.

Grading Date

The other news tonight is that the grading has been moved again, though it’s still not confirmed. This means that we may not be able to attend, again. Apparently there’s a problem finding a venue, which is a bit lame really. Sensei is wondering aloud whether he could get a small grading set up at the senior class so that we can attend. The only thing stopping us at the moment is that we’re not yellow belts.

Recall

A final word - as there’s been more to write about it’s also harder to remember everything that happens in classes, which conversely means that writing it all down is probably a very good thing!