Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Good Class!

After warm-ups, we started with munetsuki kotegaeshi. From that we jumped to munetsuki udegarami with an interesting lift pin at the end. Very compelling! We followed that with munetsuki sokomen iriminage and practiced using weight-underside with nage's elbow resting on uke's shoulder or collarbone. If you have acheived a "throwing condition" then it's easy. Next, we did a munetsuki sankyo variation that never really goes into the classic wind-up but, instead, nage drives the uke to the mat in a quick downward spiral. The last technique was munetsuki sumi otoshi. Then we did a few rounds of randori for those approaching testing and finished up with kokyu dosa.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Sankyu test for S.F. Part 2

Tonight we worked on more stuff for the rest of S.F.'s sankyu test. Suwariwaza (kneeling technique) versions of shomenuchi ikkyo, kokyunage and nikkyo. S.F. passed his test.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Sankyu test for S.F. Part 1

In helping S.F. prepare for his Sankyu test, we worked on Munetsuki Kokyunage variations. Instead of a pre-test, Sensei decided to have the first half of the test tonight and the last part on Thursday.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Ukemi and Munetsuki

T. had a sore throat so she didn't come to class tonight.

We started off by warming up with ukemi practice from variations on ryotetori (kokyunage, iriminage, sokomen iriminage, and others). To add intensity to the practice Sensei reminded us that when we're working without a weapon treat the attacks as if they did include a weapon and when working with a weapon do the technique as if there was no weapon there. The idea is to be in the state of mind that allows full concentration but stay open to the whole situation by not focusing exclusively on the weapon.

Then we worked with munetsuki variations, some that, for me, were awkward. After preemptively parrying the munetsuki at the elbow (weight underside!) we did an inside tenkan spin transferring the control of uke's elbow or forearm to the other hand behind our back. From there, as our movement spun uke around we have openings for, oh, so many techniques: iriminage, sumi otoshi, ikkyo, sankyo, kokyunage, etc.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Godan!

Sensei was awarded the rank of godan (5th degree black belt) last weekend! Ya-tah!

We worked on some of the bokken techniques that they worked on at the instructor's seminar last weekend and the hand techniques that they inspire. We worked on the shomenuchi tai sabaki and, from there, progressed to several bokken-dori techniques (mostly kokyunage variations) and kumitachi (paired bokken work).

After class, many of us took sensei out to Kikuya for sushi. We (including T.!) made speeches extolling our love and appreciation for the gift of our teacher. Sensei also spoke about how his students inspire him to teach.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Ushiro Tekubitori

Tonight we worked on ushiro tekubitori variations, mostly kokyunage but also sankyo. I didn't poop out too much! T.'s foot is "colorful" again. Best showing (if I do say myself) in the last two weeks.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Wiped!

I'm still feeling pretty wiped out from last week. T's foot got "colorful" - the top of her left foot is bruised. I can't even remember what we worked on, tonight.