Rachel Tyler started proceedings with a comprehensive warm up routine. We then began with kicking practise to a static target provided by a training partner. Lower grades practised yoko geri keage, whilst higher grades worked on maewashi geri. The kicks were then practised on the move. The keages delivered from kiba dachi, the maewashis from a fighting stance with a uraken, gyaku tsuki finish. These kicks later formed the essence of an ippon kumite drill. The lower grades defended a jodan oi tsuki attack by side stepping and countering with the snap kick; the higher grades defended four consecutive jodan oi tsuki attacks counter kicking maewashi geri each time and adding an elbow strike conclusion on the third and fourth attacks.
Kata practise followed: lower grades worked on the detail of Kihon kata, whilst higher grades considered Heian Sandan.
The 7pm session began with three rounds of skipping. Again real progress was evident. Oliver Wood in particular has come on in leaps and bounds – quite literally actually! The warm up continued with very light performances of Heian Yondan and then Heian Godan, which were each repeated twice increasing the tempo. The final drill used to warm everybody up was a multi directional punch/kick routine which raised heart rates to an appropriate level.
With a relatively small group in attendance we departed from our usual Friday night kumite orientated session and turned our attention to kata. Three katas were analysed in detail: Jion; Enpi; and Hangetsu. Hangetsu is an unusual kata and is perhaps neglected a little. In any event it is a compulsory for 2nd dan, and appropriate learning for 1st kyus. By the end of the session it was a welcome addition to everybody’s kata repertoire; at least to a level where it could be taken away and practised as homework!
9 members trained in the 6.15pm session: Izzy Ponsonby; Archie Beardsley; George Coates; Jonathan Osborne; Paul Osborne; Anthony Mills; Gregory Mills; Tom Hughes; Alex Hull.
5 members trained in the 7pm session: Oliver Wood; Ryan Skilton; Rachel Tyler; Charlotte Bonardi; Steve Hull.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 