Training Course and Grading - IBM Centre Hursley Hampshire

22nd August 2010

An enjoyable and extremely informative training course given by Sensei Ohta, with the emphasis throughout being placed on hip positioning and correct distancing.  A well attended course from a number of students in the region and an invaluable training session with Sensei Ohta.

The course also attracted a recently formed club in the South West Region – the Velocity Karate Club which was formed this year by Sensei George Taylor 5th Dan.  The size of the club is growing and has a strong following of keen students all eager to learn the disciplined art of Karate. The club is based at Velocity, which is a state of the art Health and Fitness centre in Farnborough and has attracted students of all ages, both girls and boys, men and women.  The recent success at the first grading attended by 9 students from the club is a reflection not only of their individual effort and commitment but particularly the excellent training, support and encouragement provided by Sensei Taylor.

Sensei Ohta did say we should try hard to remember these points and incorporate them into our regular Dojo practice.  The following notes some of the important points stressed by Sensei Ohta and general training notes made at the time are listed below.

Training Notes:

Basic punching practice.
Shizentai. Bend knees, push right knee forward, punch right fist 45 degrees to the left then repeat other side. Concentrating on tension in backs of legs and strong hip rotation. Strong legs relaxed upper body.

Oi zuki  / Gyaku zuki (to three counts; then together one count)
1. Oizuki - Hips fully forward rear leg straight and strong.
2. Relax and rotate hips fully back 45 degrees.
3. Gyakuzuki - Rotate hips fully forward again squeezing inner thigh muscles.
This emphasised the hip vibration movement required for the Gyakuzuki (not punching using the arms only).

Sanbon zuki: (three counts; then together one count)
First punch: Hips forward but catch hip slightly and keep rear leg slightly bent.
Second punch: Rotate hips fully forward and round squeezing inner thigh muscles.
Third punch: Relax hips allowing them to rotate back slightly then snap forward again with tension in rear leg.  (Note there is a difference between a single Oi zuki and the first stepping punch of sanbon zuki)

Blocking
Age-uke, Soto-uke, Gedan barai and Uchi-uke using same arm in front stance:
Try not not use any un-necessary arm movement.  Blocking arm elbow almost staying in the same place. Use hip rotation to create power. Each block was practiced to two counts.  Two important points were also:
1. Keep arms still just rotate hips square.
2. Execute block and rotate hips back to 45 degree position at the same time in one sharp movement.
(Repeat for each block and for both arms)

This was put into practice by pairing up with a partner and practicing the sanbon zuki and single arm blocking techniques.  The defender changed between Uchi-uke with Gyaku zuki counter.
Important points are correct use of hip rotation. Correct distancing for blocks to be effective. No extra un-necessary movement of blocking arm otherwise blocks become too slow and ineffective.

From Zenkutsu-dachi - Gedan barai:
Shift weight back into Kokutsu-dachi keeping feet in same position (turn rear foot toes out to side and open hips out) Block Shuto-uke. Then shift weight back into Zenkutsu-dachi with Nukite.
Repeat but replace Shuto-uke with Uchi-uke and replace nukite with Kazami zuki with Gyaku zuki.
This was practiced for both combinations on both sides. Also practice the combinations stepping forwards and also backwards. When stepping forwards in Kokutsu-dachi don't 'stomp' your front foot down but 'stab' it forwards smoothly. Weight shifting and hips open/square important points.

By pairing up with a partner this was put into practice: With both sides from Shizen-tai, the attacker steps back left Gedan-barai. then forward Oi zuki chudan. The defender steps back blocking with right Uchi-uke in Kokutsu-dachi then shift weight forward countering with Kamazi zuki and Gyaku zuki in Zenkutsu-dachi.  Attacker must keep correct distance, shifting back blocking the counters with any suitable effective blocks.  Repeat for both sides both person also change person.
Important point is body position not too close or too far away otherwise techniques become ineffective.

Pair up both sides freestyle kamae:
Practice attacker making two smooth slides forwards whilst defender slides back twice keeping correct distance. change attacker and repeat opposite direction.
Then whilst sliding forward attacker punches Kizamizuki and Gyakuzuki, defender slides back keeping correct distance.

Next kick rear leg mai-geri stepping forwards before repeating the above sliding attacks, again the defender shifting and staying the correct distance from the attacker to enable a possible counter attack.

Finally attacker kicks forward with any kick, defender counters back with any kick stepping forwards, attacker steps back, then attacks forward again as before with kizamizuki and Gyakuzuki, defender just shifts away at correct distance. Repeat for both sides, both person also change person. Important for attacker to kick and land firmly then step back into stance firmly and not to cheat by only kicking and landing weakly in a half stance before moving away from defenders counter kick.

Kata
Following this Sensei Ohta took everyone step by step through Kata Hangetsu emphasising correct breathing and many important points. Here are a few examples:

• After first kiai - right open hand is an inside block, then thumb comes out, hand rotates anti-clockwise as elbow pulls in to touch side of body (as a grab).
• First uchi-uke double punch combination - keep feet still, next two combinations add Yori-Ashi slide. After step across mai-geri age-uke the technique is a chudan attack and not a block.
• After Mika zuki geri the punch with kiai is a low chudan and not gedan.
• The last move sequence should be as follows: rear foot moves back slightly, hands come back to side of body, front foot pulls back into nekoashi-dachi at the same time as the hands push out to block (not afterwards).

Finally students were split into three groups to continue with kata practice, Sensei Glyn Morgan supervised the Hangetsu group whilst Sensei Ohta took the remainder of the students for Jion and Empi practice.

Time caught up with us at this point and all too soon the session was over. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative course. Thanks go to all involved.

A huge thank you also to Malcolm Compton for organizing the use of his dojo at the I.B.M. Winchester.

Alan Larcombe 3rd Dan
Wareham

Velocity Karate Club 1st Grading Success! Far Left: Velocity Karate Club Sensei George Taylor 5th Dan. Far Right: JKAE Sensei Yoshinobu Ohta 7th Dan. Back Row from left to right all achieving 9th Kyu: Peter Larkin, Mark Broad, John Stevenson, Doris Pybus, David Eldridge & Robert Brown. Front Row from left to right all double grading to achieve 8th Kyu: Kevin Allwood, David Chan & Paul Stevens.