Led the Kwanbu Kihon and Heian Shodan katas, demonstrated Heian Godon, ipon kumite, hit-move-hit, line drills.

Showed improved flexibility, strong spirit and proper breathing throughout Heian 5. Need to improve timing of the end of actions (e.g. the foot landing at the same moment and the double knife hand completes).

Big thanks to Sensei Hudson!

During the mixed session, most of the time was spent with the kids doing various kicks against a pad. They performed front, side, scissor, crescent and reverse crescent kicks. We ended up with flying drift kicks performed while running full speed and jumping over a stick.

Another emphasis was staying in a horse stance for quite a while. Knees say, “ouch.”

For the adult session, we did conditioning (20/20/20 crunches front/right/left) and 45 pushups (5+10+15+10+5). And we ended with Haien Sandan performed as practice, all power, all speed and correct dynamics.

First, we practiced low, inside middle, outside middle and upper defends, once with ten reps per side with speed and technique but not emphasizing power, then with five reps per side with technique and power. The speed reps are aerobic.

Secondly, we worked on moving from a circular motion to a linear motion. We executed a crescent kick (circular motion) but instead of continuing the rotation to perform a spin kick we instead paused, lifetd the leg towards the chest and executed a side kick (linear motion). Moving from one motion to the other requires good balance and strength to halt the spin.

Thirdly, we worked on defending against a lunge punch using a move to the oblique. Starting in a closed stance, the attacker starts the step and lunge punch. The defender rotates the front foot back and behind (ala the plus pattern) while executing an outside-inside middle defend against the punch. This defend is more of a parry than a full block as the intent is simply to avoid the punch to the face. Finally, the defender steps in, lowers (ala ipon kumite #1), twists and delivers a punch to the attacker’s side. The defender should ensure the non-punching hand is raised to protect the side of the head. To counter the defense, the attacker can rotate the punching hand downward to defend the counterpunch, step the oblique and punch to the head or side.

Instead of the three other things I was supposed to do last night we went with B, R, H & N to see Cathy Rigby in her farewell performance of Peter Pan at the Aronoff.

Sensei took advantage of the fact that no little kids were there to concentrate on training and conditioning. Everyone did stairstepped pushups, kicking line drills and practicing moving into an oblique position by taking a fighting stance, moving the back foot up (without raising the head) and moving the other foot back so that the body is on a 45° angle.

We worked on basic fighting technique, specifically using the swap-jump to better position ourselves for a counterattack.

1. Attacker and defender in closed fighting stances.
2. Attacker reverse punches to chest.
3. Defender perries punch downward while sliding back (ala ipon kumite #3).
4. Attacker uses swap-jump to position obliquely while raising an easy middle defend. Attacker then steps in, lowers and attacks ribs.

A variation on this involves a front kick by the attacker and a hand sweep by the defender (defender blocks kick with an easy scoop of the hand that flows gently towards the definder’s chest).

We also studied a few terms: