Monday 18th February

Well a fantastic training session to start the week off with Kai Sensei we started in kibidach stance doing 80 squats followed by oizuki in natural stance for the count of 30. Next we done another 80 squats from natural stance position followed by gyakizuki to the count of 30 both left and right side. We done 40 maigeris on the spot before moving onto 30 on the left and 30 on the right side followed by kekomigeri to 4 counts each kick for 10 sets followed by 10 side snap kicks and 10 side thrust kicks again we done this both left and right side. Next we practiced khion up and down the dojo for the count of 6 each exercise forwards and backwards - oizuki, sanbonzuki, age uki gyakizuki, soto uke gyakizuki, uchi uke gyakizuki, shuto uke, shuto uke nukite, maigeri, maigeri oizuki, mawashegeri, mawashegeri gyakizuki - finishing with 4 side snap kick forwards and back and then 4 side thrust kicks forwards and backwards. Next we done one attack sparring both left and right side, followed by one attack sparring each attack from side of our choice and finally free style attack from any side of your own choice. I partnered Watanabe Sensei, Okamoto Sensei and Kai Sensei for these exercises. We finished the class off with Kakyoku Shodan three times to the count and once full speed on our own then Kakyoku Neidan three times to the count.

 

 

I headed out to Hongo for a bite to eat and a latte in Starbucks before heading back to rest for the evenings session.

The first session of the evening was a busy one and taught by Kai Sensei we started off with gyakizuki to the count of 40 both left and right side moving onto maigeri for the count of 5 then double maigeri for the count of 3 then the final two counts three kicks then switching to the other side. Next we practiced maigeri for the count of 10 kekomigeri to the side for the count of 10 followed by mawashegeri forward returning leg into back position for the count of 10 then we done five sets of the three kicks switching to other side and repeating. All the time Kai Sensei focusing on the preperation of each technique. Next we practiced one attack sparring both left and right side with three different partners before moving on to Jion, Bassidai and Enpi - doing each kata three times to the count.

The final session of the evening was taught by Watanabe Sensei we started off the class working on kizamzuki gyakizuki to the count of 30 each side focusing on the knee position of the front leg and hip rotation. Next in front stance with our knee against the wall we worked on the hip rotation so we could focus on the knee remaining in the same position for the count of 20 each side. Next with our back foot pressed against the wall we practiced maigeri and the purpose of the exercise was to make sure we returned the foot to the correct position not shortening our stance  we then moved back into the dojo and done maigeri to the count of 40 each side. Next we done many footwork exercises up and down the dojo - driving forward and backwards holding distance between our feet and the correct stance position, then we done two forward motion on one leg switching to the other again forwards and backwards and finally fast bouncing motion forward and backward on the balls of our feet holding stance position and moving forward and backwards quickly (it was pretty tough). The final part of the class we moved onto partner work using the focus pads practicing half step up and front leg mawashegrei, mawashegeri from back leg driving forward, ushiro mawashegeri from back leg again driving forwards.

Three fantastic session to kick the week off and many more to come !