The 6.15pm session began as usual with Alan warming the class up. The period of kihon (basics) that followed was with a view to subsequent kumite drills. The beginners had their hands full getting to grips with gohon kumite; the higher grades got their teeth into ippon kumite with four prescribed defences. A number of ‘small’ points were made. Each one on its own was relatively trifling; added together they were significant. In this incremental fashion progress was definitely made. The session concluded with kata practise.
The 7pm session was a little unorthodox in its format. We covered the kata and kumite syllabus for the 1st and 2nd dan gradings; no mean feat I can tell you – not in 60 mins!
After the now customary Friday night skip, we went straight into it. The format was simple: kata to count; kata all the way through lightly; kumite drill. Repeat.
In this way we covered the following katas: Jion; Enpi; Hangetsu; Kanku Dai. And we covered the following kumite drills: jiyu ippon with standard attacks; kaeshi jiyu ippon with standard attacks; jiyu ippon with any five attacks; kaeshi jiyu ippon with any five attacks.
The finale? Nijushiho for the black belts at full bore, Bassai Dai for the brown belts at full bore, and a couple of rounds of jiyu kumite to finish off!
Postscript
During the jiyu kumite I saw a flash of gi out of the corner of my eye: it was Audrius mid spin! His ushiro geri/maewashi geri double kick combination found its mark. If you scroll down you’ll see this very technique was drilled not two days earlier!
11 members trained in the 6.15pm session: Thomas Leigh; Willy Astley; Joseph Mann; Jason Mann; George Coates; Steve Cassapi; Oliver Wood; Harry Heather; Alex Heather; Darren Cockburn; Kerry Lee.
Assistant instructor: Alan Lea.
8 members trained in the 7pm session: Oliver Wood; Rachel Tyler; Charlotte Bonardi; Audrius Mikalauscas; Kerry Lee; Rory Cave; Josh Ludlow; Alan Lea.
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 