Thursday 28th February

I was feeling a little tired this morning after the many beers last night but it was off to the dojo for the 10.30am session with Nagaki Sensei. We done a fitness style class to begin with we done the following exercises - 100 sit ups, 50 leg lifts, 50 rotating pull ups, 50 back extensions, 50 rotating back extensions, 30 push ups, 30 push ups arms wider then shoulder width, 30 push ups both hands centre of the body, 30 push ups on our knuckles and finishing off with 100 lunges. We then practiced all the Heian Katas and Tekki Shodan each one time to the count slow and then one time to the count full speed. Nagaki Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei throughout this section of the class were helping me improve certain parts of each kata to make them more accurate and faster. Yamaguchi Sensei asked me to chose a kata to finish the class off with and I chose Kakyoku Sandan - Nagaki Sensei done this kata with me three times slowly to the count.

After training I headed to the Tokyo Skytree (this is the tallest building in the world at 634 metre high) as this was the only thing left for me to do on the trip so would be a shame not to go. However, when I arrived it was a busy day even for a Thursday afternoon. I had to queue for over an hour to get a ticket and then 20 minutes for the lift so I was a little tired and grumpy by then. I headed up to the viewing Gallery at 450 meters high which is the highest view point and it was a termendous day so the view over Tokyo was fantastic.

I headed back for a late lunch before a quick snooze in preperation for the evenings two training sessions.

The first evening session was taught by Kanayama Sensei we started the class with 100 squats in the kibi dach position with the final 10 holding in the stance at the lowest point pushing down on our own legs ouch! At this point Yamaguchi Sensei was leaving the dojo he looked at me and smiled in  a laughing kind of manner and the look he gave me said good luck! Next we did oizuki in the kibi dach stance for the count of 30 for two sets. Next in front stance we practiced gyakizuki to the count of 30 on both the left and right side followed by kizamizuki gyakizuki for the count of 30 both the left and right side. Next in cat stance we practiced maigeri off the front leg for the count of 50 on both the left and right side and by this point my legs were aching. We finished the class off with Heian Yondan, Junro Shodan, Junro Neidan and Junro Sandan each kata to the count one time slow and one time full speed.

The final session was taught by Matsue Sensei - the first section of the class focused on many exercises practicing maigeri and my already sore legs were taking more punishment. First we stood on one leg and to the count we lifted knee to chest in preperation for maigeri and then returned the leg down without touching the floor to the count of 40 both left and right side for two sets then we moved on to swing the leg forward and back again standing on one leg for the count of 40 both left and right side for two sets. Next sitting on the floor we practiced maigeri kick upwards for the count of 30 each leg for two sets and finally in front stance maigeri for the count of 30 left and right side. By this point no pain as I could no longer feel my legs. Next we practiced khion up and down the dojo followed by one attack jodan, chudan, maigeri, kekomigeri and mawashegeri both left anbd right side with two different partners before finishing the class off with Heian Yondan to the count two times and one time on our own full speed.