Following Rory’s warm up routine we began by practising the four basic kicks. The lower grades concentrated on delivering a mechanically sound kick; the higher grades added the standard punches after each kick, and progressed to adding a kick before the kick (!) – namely, a mae geri on the spot.
The lion’s share of the session was spent working on kuzushi waza, or balance breaking techniques. Working with a partner we practised a variety of different methods of using ashi barai, the foot sweep. We built up from the fundamental idea of disturbing an opponent’s balance as a platform to deliver a finishing blow. We attacked the front leg, from outside to in, and from inside to out; we attacked the back leg; we attacked both legs; we practised combinations of sweeps, attacking the front leg and then the back leg, or attacking the front leg from different directions to capitalise on the opponent’s attempts to regain balance; we added punches and kicks after the sweeps.
We then engaged in an exercise where one side attempted to use any foot sweep to ‘up end’ the opponent, whilst the opponent attempted to avoid such a catastrophe occurring! The exercise worked very well with just a few ground rules in place to prevent any unnecessary pain or suffering being caused! Jiyu kumite followed. Both sides were attempting to add foot sweeps where practicable and there was a discernible improvement in skill levels as this added dimension came into play.
Before heart rates had had a chance to recover from the kumite we finished off with spirited performances of Heian Sandan and Heian Godan.
8 members trained in the session: Paul Osborne; Miguel Dennis; Frank Dennis; Becky Cassapi; Anthony Mills; Tom Ludlow; Steve Hull; Rory Cave.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 