Four absolute beginners attended the first session: three juniors and one adult (the father of one of the juniors). Fortunately, Alan Lea was available to introduce the junior beginners to the basics, and the adult beginner did very well to blend inconspicuously into the main class. We spent the majority of the session working on kicking techniques. The lower grades practised mae geri and yoko geri; the higher grades practised all four basic kicks in an unusual multi-directional routine.
In Ippon kumite partner work yoko geri was used as the attack. The defence was a simple block and punch for the lower grades; the higher grades used tae sabaki (body evasion) to set up a groin kick using maewashi geri.
The first session concluded with kata: Kihon; Heian Sandan; and Heian Godan.
Several members stayed on for round 2; that is to say the 7pm class! Following some vigorous skipping, a little stretching, and several repetitions of the 1st and 2nd dan special combinations we settled into the main body of the class. The emphasis was on developing an appropriate mind set when faced with a tough opponent in kumite and this was achieved in an interesting way: using the vehicle of kata!
Examples of ‘covers’ taken from Nijushiho and Sochin were considered. These and others were then practised randomly. We concluded from this practise that even ‘when the chips are down’ and we are taking a beating, we must have an active and aggressive defence to the end.
We then took this principle into kumite practise. Everyone fought everyone. There was a discernible improvement in attitude and physical response when under pressure. I was pleased to see that real progress was made.
The class concluded with ‘full blooded’ performances of Nijushiho and Sochin.
12 members trained in the session: Oliver Wood; Anthony Mills; Gobe Hobona; Kerry Lee; Tom Ludlow; Rachel Tyler; Charlotte Bonardi; Rory Cave; Josh Ludlow; Alan Lea; Arthur Hall; Rosemary Hall.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 