We had a healthy turnout in the 6.15pm class. Alan put the junior beginners through their paces again, whilst the higher grades worked on a variety of mainstream blocking and punching drills. We emphasised the timing of the body/hip rotation when punching in combination and also when delivering multiple blocks with the same arm, which is what the brown and black belts worked on. During this stage of the session an important principle was highlighted: the use of the core musculature to engage the trunk and the legs. In the absence of this engagement, the body’s full potential to generate power can not be tapped into.
The first session concluded with grading kata practise. In order to prevent people from looking downwards, which is a common flaw generally, I required those in the back line to stare at the back of the head of the person in the front line! It added a little something: posture was better; attitude was better.
After three rounds of skipping, the 7pm session was spent constructing a combination that culminated in a standard ashi barai augmented by an osoto gari (major outer reap). The ashi barai was practised in isolation initially and then in combination with the reap. Everyone was able to blend the two techniques quite nicely, flowing from one to the other. Why two techniques? Well, in my experience sometimes the initial sweep works totally; sometimes it works to some extent; and sometimes it doesn’t work at all!
So with scenario two and three in mind, a second throwing technique is a viable option. Most people would follow a failed sweep with a strike of some description, maybe a punch or a kick. We were following up with another take down. That was our intention: to get the opponent on the floor.
We worked the throwing combination with a partner using a ushiro geri attack; kick, sweep, throw! Skill levels developed and the technique evolved. We found that the throw worked against the opponent’s front leg or back leg, it didn’t matter. To ensure safe practise when attacking the back leg we used a prescribed angle of approach so as to avoid any distress to the opponent’s knee joint.
Kumite followed. Good strong encounters, but safe encounters, where both protagonists attempted to bring into play ushiro geri or ashi barai if feasible. Everyone fought everyone, and everyone fought hard.
We finished with kata: black belts, Nijushiho and brown belts, Bassai Dai.
19 members trained in the 6.15pm class: 2 beginners plus; Izzy Ponsonby; Thomas Leigh; Willy Astley; Sam McCallister; Archie Beardsley; Jonathan Osborne; Paul Osborne; Frank Dennis; Steve Cassapi; Gregory Mills; Anthony Mills; Harry Heather; Alex Heather; Alex Hull; Darren Cockburn; Kerry Lee; Steve Hull.
Assistant instructor: Alan Lea.
10 members trained in the 7pm class: guest; Oliver Wood; Ryan Skilton; Gobe Hobona; Tom Ludlow; Steve Hull; Kerry Lee; Rory Cave; Josh Ludlow; Alan Lea.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 