After a thorough warm up taken by Becky Cassapi the whole class was then immersed in a concentrated period of basics. We worked as always on explosive movement and correct body dynamics. Thereafter the white belts practised kihon kata and then gohon kumite; whilst everyone else practised Heian Shodan and then ippon kumite. The higher grades used the ippon kumite drill as a vehicle for practising the tetsui (hammer fist strike) found in the kata at the fourth move. We didn’t deliver it in an orthodox fashion, the technique was fired directly to the jaw whilst unbalancing the opponent with a sudden snatching action. I think it’s safe to say that the efficiency and potential of the move was not lost on the seniors in the class!
In the 7pm class we worked primarily on the 2nd dan grading syllabus after warming up with two rounds of skipping. The session involved a vigorous phase of kicking which included the double kick combinations and the multi-directional kicking routine used in the dan gradings. The importance of developing a tolerance for intense anaerobic training was at the forefront of the minds of most!
We then worked on jiue ippon kumite considering amongst other things: tactics; rational distancing; appropriate mind set; optimal striking distance when countering; eye concentration etc etc. This fed into jiue kumite where these methodologies were employed.
Just when we thought it was safe to straighten our gis and kneel down, the question of close quarter fighting was raised by a student as a post script to the jiue kumite. This was an ideal platform for an analysis of this area; a practical analysis! So following the introduction of some concepts and ideas we engaged in some safe grappling where the objective was to unbalance the opponent.
The final dimension of the session dealt with what is often the ‘weapon of choice’ for many would be antagonists: extreme close quarters.
More food for thought!
15 members trained in the 6.15pm session: Jacob Gracie; Iona Dennis; Willy Astleigh; Lee Proudlove; Izzy Ponsonby; George Coates; Jonathan Osborne; Paul Osborne; Frank Dennis; Steve Cassapi; Harry Heather; Alex Heather; Kerry Lee; Myles Ponsonby; Gareth Thomas.
Assistant instructor: Becky Cassapi.
7 members trained in the 7pm session: Becky Cassapi; Steve Cassapi; Darren Cockburn; Ryan Skilton; Jack Robson; Gobe Hobona; Gareth Thomas
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 