We began by practising a series of blocking and punching combinations, which, when we eventually pieced them together, created an interesting routine. We then ‘warmed’ the legs up with combination kicking; nothing elaborate – double kicks using different legs, and also using the same leg without stepping down. Many in the class were familiar with some of the kicking routines as they are performed during the basics in the higher dan gradings. Whilst they are challenging to perform in solo practise and enhance kicking ability in a general sense, they also have direct practical applications which we went on to consider.
Three kumite drills were practised using the three kicking combinations. These introduced a variety of principles including the angulation of delivery of the kicks, and the use of kicking as a feint. One drill required the kicker to aim the first kick at the opponent’s guard to facilitate the effective delivery of the second kick!
Jiyu kumite followed. The emphasis was on using combination kicking during the exchanges. We got so immersed in this that the 11.00am kata practise ‘watershed’ came and went. Mind you, a significant amount of progress was being made with the kumite so there was a legitimate justification for postponing our intense period of kata study until next week!
12 members trained in the session: Alex Cobb; Jonathan Cobb, Jonathan Osborne; Paul Osborne; Frank Dennis; Anthony Mills; Rachel Tyler; Jeremy Mason; Rory Cave; Arthur Hall; Rosemary Hall; Alan Lea
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 