Seiunchin Today

I've been practicing Seiunchin these past couple of weeks. The tips in my last post have really made the kata come together. Today, we did the kata again, but it was done individually, at our own pace. I was able to get through it, though once I had my feet in the wrong stance, and I had a few other mechanical problems. Still, what I did somewhat resembled the kata, and I was extremely happy and relieved that I had finally caught the kata. Practice is what it is all about.

More on Seuinchin

Worked on Seuinchin last night. After the three starting grab defenses, you can imagine the forward hand or wrist being grabbed from the top. Thus, you first hit the back of their hand with a backfist strike to your hand. Then, you grab their hand in a joint force, and push it into them, which could also be thought of as a two handed punch. Then, you do an empi (elbow strike) with the right elbow, while hitting your elbow with an open left hand. A Bunkai for this is forcing the opponents head into your elbow. Finally, the two handed block can also be seen as a two-handed trap and force of the opponents hand, where you force their arm, go forward 45 degrees to break the elbow, then pull back and do the second "lower block" to their head.

Session ended, ready for a new session to begin

Just finished another session. Next week we will start the final session for the year, which ends near December. I imagine that our youngest will probably choose Karate over wrestling. Our older son will be wrestling for the school, so will likely be able to do both. I know I want to walk the do, but I am not sure what the best do is for my children.

We worked on Seisan, and I am still quite slow at it. Sensei Hovey showed us the foot stomp portion, just before the kick, by demonstrating on another sensei. I must admit to letting out an audible gasp when he made hard contact on the other sensei's foot. He also showed a bunkai for that move in which you are pulled. You resist at first, then when pulled harder you come with the foot stomp, kick to the midsection, and then the block turns into a strike on the opponents now lowered head.

Practice Today

My youngest son has just started karate along with my older son and me. Today he learned to block a mawashi geri by hooking the leg. When I studied Goju Ryu we would practice mawashi geri by leaning into the kick, and taking it on the back shoulder blade. It seemed to me at the time the best counter was not to back away, but to move in. Today when we were working on it we would hook the leg with one hand. Another option is to block with the forearm, and step in with the opposite foot with a lunge punch.

I really question the value of blocking with the forearm. I think you are more likely to break your forearm than your shinbone.

In class we also talked about getting your leg back on the side kick. Our sensei held out his leg and said "what is this good for?" My older son came up with the line of the night when he said "doing the Hoki Poki." Another time sensei asked "what can your opponent do if they can't feel their legs?" Not being as quick as my son, it occurred to me later that they would try to bite your legs off.

Bunkai for seiunchin

On the slow, two handed blocks one interpretation is that you are blocking a powerful punch. However, it can also be a defense of a double-handed lapel grab, with the fist hand grabbing the opponents wrist. The two downward blocks then become elbow breaks.

Wrestling results

On Saturday, Chris had a wrestling meet in which he pinned both of his last two opponents in the first round. The first was his first opponent this year, and the last match was a rather close 6-5 affair. It was nice to see his hard work result in him persevering with his move, putting on a cradle, and getting the win. The second pin was over an opponent he had pinned a few weeks ago, but the wrestler had learned, and become much better on defense. Chris used a jab the way sensei taught - quick from the shoulder, straight forward, and distracting the eyes, then shooting in on the double leg when the opponent was distracted. He tried for another cradle, a rather rare move at this level, then slipped in a half neilson when the opponent defended against the cradle. When his opponent fought off the half neilson on the left side, Chris quickly put a half neilson on the right hand side, rolled him over, and got the pin.

After his matches were finished, Chris maintained proper discipline by doing push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups to get in some extra conditioning. He has also been working out on his own at home - something his sensei always tried to get him to do for karate.

Wrestling season ends in a month, and we will start karate back up after that. While Chris is in good shape, I am in need of a makeover.

Wrestling versus Karate

Both karate and wrestling can be used for self-defense. Both karate and wrestling can be disciplined. With my boys now in wrestling instead of karate, it has me wondering which is best. They both have their advantages.

Wrestling is a more intense workout. Karate has a much greater spiritual and intellectual side. Wrestling is a sport. Karate is the do. With wrestling a lot of it really comes down to strength and endurance as moves become quite sloppy in the junior level as the match advances. Karate is about perfection.

I feel fortunate that my boys have been able to participate in quality programs in both disciplines. It is something I will think more about as I move forward.

Merry Christmas

If an old guy like Santa can do shiko dachi, so can you. ;)

Karate to Wrestling

We have moved, and alas are no longer training under Sensei Lichtenheld. There is a nearby karate "school" called "PowerKix."' Something in the name tells me it is likely not traditional, probably not karate, and something more akin to babysitting.

While I am currently only walking the path of employment, my two sons are now in a wrestling program. It has good discipline, good physical excercise, and good fighting skills for real-world fights. However, it lacks the spiritual path, the place of the path, and a true sensei. Alas, they are few and far between in this world. I hope everyone interested in true karate in the Tucson or Guadalajara areas will check out the local Rissiyokai school, and stick with it for at least 2 months.

Excerpts from my written journal

We will soon be moving away from Tucson, and thus from the most excellent training of Sensei Lichtenheld. As we have been packing things up, I came across my Journal from the time when Chris and I first went to Goju Ryu at the Lighthouse YMCA. Here are excerpts from a few entries when we started that may be interesting.

March 19, 2005, Saturday:

I woke up with a sore throat, and it was raining. We went to the YMCA where Chris and I did the Karate class. It was pretty rigorous and pretty intense. ...

March 26, 2005, Saturday:

Chris and I did Karate. It was a little easier than the first time. It seems to be a very exact style. ...

April 9, 2005, Saturday:

We went to Karate in the morning. The Sensei wants us to test for white belts in May. .... (While I wrote white, that just shows what a newbie I was.)

April 16, 2005, Saturday:

Went to Karate in the morning. Stayed after to work on skills and learn a kata. ...

June 4, 2005, Saturday:

It was the morning of the yellow-belt test. We purchased uniforms, but it was deemed better to wait until later so we would not trip on our uniforms. The test went well for pretty much everyone. Even the kid who couldn't tell directions did OK. Everyone was really happy afterward. ...

It was really fun to look back and read some of those entries. I've learned so much by studying karate for the past ~3.5 years. I am very fortunate.

My sensei has suggested we write down notes after class. I started this blog in part because of that. However, I think it is important to document our own personal journey on the Do. It is something that applies both to karate and to our life.

P. S. Another paper I found was a list of "Lifetime Goals." One of those was to earn a black belt. ;)

We are now Brown Belts!

Today, Chris and I received our BROWN BELTS. Achieving it was an amazing feeling. It really means something to get a brown belt in a tough, traditional style. I am very happy to have made it this far.

What a day!

Rissyokai geneology

I borrowed a book from my Sensei. It had a karate "geneology," for which I extended below.

From "Traditional Karatedo, Okinawa Goju Ryu, 1 Fundamental Techniques" by Morio Higaonna

1. Ryo Ryuko
2. Higaonna Kanryo (1853-1916)
3. Miyage Chojun (1888-1953)
4. Kina Seiko (1911- )
5. (Kawasaki-shi) Izumigawa Kanki
6. Harada Hyotaro (died 1998 at 71)
7. Susumu Umezawa
8. Eric Lichtenheld

Notes on Kata from Today

In Kobo Sandan:

• The secret is in the pull. Think of the body movement on the blocks as a wave. The pull is a vital part of that wave.
  
• On the double block portion, pause slightly for the "Kodak Moment." Speed it up only after you get the hands correct doing it slowly.

In Saifa:

• The double block at the end not only protects from a simultaneous punch and kick, but also turns the attacker upside-down.
• On the knee-then-kick, turn your head to the right, then the left

In Seiyunchin:

• There doesn't appear to be an obvious answer to slapping the hand on the elbow.
• On the "bend over" grab defense try to make front and rear hands straight lines, and extend them out as far as you can.

We have really, really got to practice to be ready for the Brown Belt exam. Wish us luck!

Link for today:

This is where the sensei trained in Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as their website and some pictures.

More Detail on Seiyunchin

Overview

1. A set of three shiko daches, with grab defenses.
2. Bend down and lift opponents leg while stepping back with front foot into something like Renoji dachi (The letter L stance). Right hand will be in a fist, left hand in a prayer.
3. Punch with right, and step forward with both feet.
4. Use left hand to strip right arm while stepping back.
5. Right elbow up, left hand to right elbow.
6. Two handed block to the right, feet in check stance with right foot NE.
7. Shiko with gedan, toward NE and back.
8. Left foot slides into "check stance," left foot NE
9. Two handed block and shiko combo towards the NW.
10. Archer stance with the front of the body facing west. Need to keep low on the transition to archer stance. Left arm covers head, right arm covers body. Pull left arm across face while flipping hand over.
11. Archer stance with the front of the body facing East, so the back arm is right. Keep the right elbow in tight while pulling it back. Left hand covers along lower level.
12. Foot sweep with right foot, followed by two uraken with right hand.
13. Left arm down, with the fist covering the knot. Right elbow down, but right hand up.
14. Turn, and tighten body while blocking up with left, and down with right.
15. Uppercut-Shiko combo to the SW: left hand covers head, palm out. Step into zenkutsu dachi with right leg forward. Short uppercut (make sure not to scoop it) as you drop into shiko. Uraken forward, then shiko backwards with defensive uraken.
16. Facing N, double grab sequence of stepping back and stripping off arm.
    
17. Same sequence as 13-16, but with the shikos to the SE, and hands reversed.
18. Strip hand and uraken.
19. Grab defense with hands ending in Mt. Fuji position.
20. End and bow.
    
    

Other Notes

• Turn and pop, then cover your head as you step into zenkutsu. Lock in zenkutsu, pausing briefly. Then, shiko and uppercut while dropping the hand covering the head to the solar plexus. After another brief pause, do uraken forward then back.
• Breathing on the first three shikos:
1. Breath in while up.
2. Breath out while going down.
3. The palms are up on all but the last hand movement.
4. Pause between grabbing the hands and jabbing the ribs.
• The two-handed blocks require moving the hips.
• On all shiko movements, and transitions from one shiko to another, keep low.

Here are a couple of good references for terminology:
http://www.lyon-karate.com/karate_terms_glossary.php
http://www.cope.co.za/karate/terms.htm

Here is a good reference on stances with pictures.
http://www.geocities.com/sadenoo2/stances.html

Stretching Exercises

1. Fist - Make fist slowly, then rapidly.
2. Fingers - In a "prayer" formation, but with fingers out. Up, middle, then down.
3. Toes - Rock back an forth, with the big toe up, then the big toe down and the other four up.
4. Ankles - Roll each ankle both directions.
5. Squat - Feet shoulder width apart, hands on top of knees.
6. Back and Ankles - Ankles touching, keeping feet in the same place for both stretches, bend at the waist keeping the back straight, then bend at the knees.
7. Inner thigh - On knee at a right angle, other leg straight, with feet on floor. Then, one leg straight with foot up, and the other squatted, with heel on the floor.
8. Hamstring - Feet shoulder width apart and legs straight, try to touch your elbows to the floor.
9. Back - Hands in small of back, bend backwards at waist, and use octopus mouth.
10. Shoulders - Move arms in circles (both ways), then touch your shoulders to your ears.
11. Neck - Move your head in circles, keeping eyes open. Then, four count moving head down, then headbutting backwards.
12. Wrists - Submission locks, then grasping hands together and shaking.
13. Jumping - Keep the same beat.

Kata: Seiyunchin

This is a classic black-belt kata, used to defend against grabs.

1. Set of three shigo dache stances with various hand movements. Motion is north-east, north-west, north-east.
2. Big block with both hands facing the front, than shiko dache north-east and back.
3. Same as 2, but with the shiko north-west.
4. Two archers stances while stepping backwards. On first archers stance body is open to the west, on the second the east.
5. Foot sweep, two oraken punches going forward.
6. Rotate from N to SW and double block (left up, right down).
   
7. Step into shiko dache, protecting the head with back (left) hand, oraken, lower level defense/hit.
8. Back foot steps back (S), arms come up through the bear hug and leverage off the body.
9. Front foot back (S), bear hug defense with arms.
   
10. Rotate SE with another up-down mid-level double block.
11. Same shiko and bearhug defense as 7-9.
12. Mt. fuji bear hug defense.
13. Step forward into a bow.

Kata: Kobo Yondan

This kata uses a unique stance I will call "twisted foot stance." It is rather like a ballerina stance. The feet are pointed in opposite directions, but with the heel of each foot basically lined up with the toes of the other foot. It requires good flexibility.

Also of note with this kata is the start has a double block instead of a lapel grab, and then a double punch.

Motion, with front of the room being "north":
north, west, east, north, north-east and back, north-west and back. bow.

The twisted foot stance occurs in the "west" and "east." Also, each has a kick under a lower level defense, which is an unusual move.

Class on January 12

Beginners:

1. Stretching
2. Basic punches - one arm first, then both.
   
3. Basic Blocks - all three levels.
4. Exercises - Bear crawl, crab crawl

Yellow Belt:

1. Sanchin stepping - remember to bend knees on turns.
2. kobo shodan
3. Tan gan ho

Green Belt:

1. Punching out of Zenkutzu dachi.
2. Zenkutzu stepping with midlevel punch and jab.
3. Combinations: Zenkutzu with yakazuki and kesamazuki.
4. Situps, pushups, stretching.

Last Practice of the Year

Dojo Note:

• The class is not meeting for the rest of December. Class will resume the first Saturday of January

Beginners Section:

1. Basic Warmup.
2. Sanchin dache (Three Level Stance): The first level is the feet gripping the floor. The second is the tightening of the legs and glutes. The third level is the tightening of lats and straightening of posture.
3. Sanchin dache stepping and turning: Practiced with both arms forward, using the tightening of the lats to pull them in. When turning, the foot sliding parallel to the body should have it's entire outer edge on the floor to insure stability. Flex the knees to keep the body low and stable.
4. Kobo shodan: Basic kata to get the yellow belt, uses Sanchin dache.
   

Green Belts:

1. Worked on basic katas: Kobo nidan, Kobo sandan, Saifa, Ichsae Shodan

Advanced Belts:

1. Kobo shodan: The first kata, practiced multiple times, both individual and group.
2. Kata for Christmas - Seiyunchin: Practiced it both with and without shiko dache.
3. Kata for Christmas - Kobo Yondan: I think of it as the "twisted Neko" kata. Also, instead of opening with a lapel grab, it has a two-handed kick block.

Merry Christmas!

Website of the week:
Video of Seiyunchin, though Rissyoukai has subtle differences.
http://www.spokanekarate.com/kata/index.php

Day in the Dojo

Beginners section:

1. Standard stretching plus some extra work on hamstrings and back.
2. Sanchin Dachi (Three Level Stance): Stepping, then with turning, then midlevel defense, and upper-level defense.
3. Notes: Turning with upper level defense using sanchin dachi is like the upper level defense in kobo nidan.

Yellow Belt section:

1. Shiko dachi stretching. With partners holding belt and hands, and individually by putting chin on sholder.
   
2. Kobo Nidan (Second kata). Most important part is the shiko dachi. Next most important is the turning upper-level defense.
3. Notes: When in shiko dachi, slap your knees to remind yourself to get them out. I need to get my knees 4-5 inches back, straighten my back, and get lower.
   

Green Belt Section:

1. Clarification on pronunciation: "Kah-my-tay" instead of "kuh-my-tay" for "ready."
2. Kick stretching - kicking your own hand out of zenkutzu, lifting your legs to the side and back.
   
3. Ushiro geri (Back kick): Start in zenkutzu dachi, right foot forward. Spin half way around, into a nekodachi with all the weight on the left foot, but with the right foot next to the left, instead of in front. Then, kick backwards with right foot while spinning, and end up back in zenkutzu dachi.
4. Nidan Geri (Double kick): mae giri with one foot, jump and upper level kick with the other foot.
   
5. Breathing: rhythm

Helpful Website:
Here is a website with a comprehensive list of Japanese terminology used in karate translated into English.
Monte Sano Shotokan