A good turnout of members helped generate a really positive atmosphere in the dojo. At one end we had 8yr old novices; at the other, 2nd and 3rd dan black belts – one of whom is a septuagenarian! (look it up in your Oxford English); in the middle we had orange, yellow and purple belts again ranging from junior school age to fully signed up adults!
The kihon, kata and kumite reflected the composition of the three groups. In a way there were three concurrent sessions taking place. We began with those below brown belt practising blocking and punching from a stationary stance; the brown and black belts worked on uraken, gyaku tsuki again from a stationary position. Kicking practise followed: the lower grades worked on mae geri and yoko geri keage; the middle order grades worked on maewashi geri and yoko geri keage; the brown and black belts worked on the double kicking routines which form part of the 2nd dan grading syllabus.
To complete the period of kihon the special combinations were drilled by the higher grades: brown belts practised the 1st dan combination; the black belts the 2nd dan. The novices worked on the basic blocks with the added challenge of a direction change; the coloured belts worked on a similar routine with the added challenge of a reverse punch to complicate matters! They all handled this aspect of the session very well. Of particular note was young Jamie Cassapi who trains with us occasionally and is always a welcome face. He showed great determination in getting the combinations exactly right. Well done Jamie!
Kumite followed: gohon kumite for the white belts – this week they tackled chudan attacks as well as jodan; ippon kumite for the coloured belts – good progress was made particularly with dealing appropriately with kicks delivered with the opponent’s left leg; jiyu ippon kumite for the brown and black belts – each attack countered with one of the four standard kicks.
At the 11.00am watershed we divided up into groups for kata practise each led by a black belt. The benefits of doing this have been mentioned in a previous post and are manifold! The class concluded with the black belts performing the kata they had worked on with their groups of students. They were watched like hawks by their particular student groups: none of them disappointed!
Great session!
Remember no training next Sunday – we have the little matter of the KUGB Nationals to attend to!
18 members trained in the session: James Gordon; Luke Cobb; Jonathan Cobb; Harry Brown; George Coates; Jonathan Osborne; Paul Osborne; Jamie Cassapi; Becky Cassapi; Bob Dainty; Anthony Mills; Steve Cassapi; Jack Robson; Tom Ludlow; Caroline Todd; Steve Hull; Rory Cave; Rosemary Hall.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 