Japanese Karate-Do

One of the katas that we're focusing on this month is Nijushiho. The name of the kata is 24 steps and incorporates various slow or calm movements combined with sudden explosive movements. Due to its unknown origin and the variations of soft and hard techniques used, it is believed to have come from "one of the Chinese "Dragon" styles". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijūshiho)

As stated on the website, The Shotokanway, "This kata teaches you to move and defend from many angles, and helps teach you co-ordination. Many use this kata as a tool to highlight the need for total concentration. If you take a student and force him to perform Heian Shodan in an angle that is different from the regular (for example, facing a corner of the room) they find it quite simple to finish the kata correctly in the accurate position. Nijushiho however does not use such basic and predictable angles, so to perform this kata accurately in a position that is irregular takes much concentration, since it is very easy to lose your co-ordination."(http://www.theshotokanway.com/nijushiho.html)

To get a little more information and view three demonstrations of the kata go to http://www.squidoo.com/nijushiho

As you learn and/or practice the Nijushiho kata, let us know what you think.

Front kick, step in, step back, roundhouse kick, step in and reverse punch. A very simple exercise or is it?

You start from a good front stance. You can feel it, the stance is solid, your breathing is good and you feel loose and ready. You kick and step in. You think to yourself, 'That went pretty good.' You step back and then it happens. Your balance is off, which causes you to tighten up in order to keep your balance and try to maintain good form.

You perform your roundhouse kick and you know it's slow and doesn't have any real power. Stepping down, you throw your reverse punch; again no power and no speed. Your punch is all upper body. Your shoulders are tight and you find that you're leaning forward.

The instructor interrupts the class and begins to explain why a majority of the students were having some of the same problems. Among the culprits is the lack of hip twists.

There's a lot of talk in the area of physical fitness these days about core development. Well, there's a lot to be said for core development, especially in the practice of karate or any of the other martial arts. Not only does core development provide strong abdominal muscles, which strengthen the back and relieve back pain, core development also helps to provide the power behind the techniques used in karate.

Good, strong core development allows a student to get more power out of their hip twists. And that is where the real power is - the hip twist. Without the use of the hips, the only power that is used in punches, kicks or blocks is coming from the arms or legs. However, by using hip twists several things happen. Hip twists allow the student to: 1). Maintain good balance & engages the entire body, 2). Makes it easier to coordinate breathing, 3). Provides momentum for your execution of your techniques.

Maintain Good Balance/Engage Entire Body: On good way to keep your balance during a technique is to make sure you practice twisting your hips. Twisting the hips, helps to keep the entire body as one solid unit. Without twisting your hips your body becomes disjointed, which makes your techniques less effective. Your power is not focused and the speed and power that would come from your entire body is gone. The power that is available is sent into several directions, that is, if you're able to keep your balance throughout the technique.

Easier To Coordinate Breathing: By incorporating a hip twist in your technique, your core is in a position to exhale at the end of the twist and provide power to your techniques. This goes along with the tension/relaxation element of your movement - inhale/exhale, yin/yang, the release of the spirit. The coordination of your breathing with your techniques allows you to conserve your energy and not get out of breath as easily.

Provides Momentum: The use of the hip twist gives your body momentum that continues through your arm or leg and explodes through your fist or foot. Without the hip twist, the body is at a state of rest and power can't come from the core, which is essential in karate. Just using your arms and legs will give you a limited amount of force. But, with the momentum of your entire body by using a hip twist, the force generated multiplies.

If you want to get more out of your karate techniques, develop your core and develop a sense of harmony with your body and your breathing, be sure to incorporate hip twists in your karate training.

It was a great class; full participation and great spirit. We were now moving to a new area of our training – kumite. But before we moved into full jiyyu ippon kumite we worked on some drills that helped us with understanding the importance of distance, reaction and timi  ng.

As we worked on the drills, I kept finding myself either too close or to far, too early or too late. Trying
not to get frustrated, I too a few deep breathes and tried to relax. That helped. Things were getting better, but I knew I still had a long way to go. But, the fact that things were getting better was encouraging and gave me something to work with in my individual practice.

Being able to move offensively, as well as defensively requires, among other things, distance, reaction and timing. Without the proper distance a person can't get full extension on their punches and kicks. This has the effect of reducing the power and range of the technique being used. Not keeping proper distance also keeps the person out of danger. Allowing someone into your space without initiating
your own attack is an invitation for your opponent to strike at will.

Practicing Jiyyu ippon kumite is enhanced by practicing basic kihon with a sense of urgency and an understanding of distance, reaction and timing. Both muscle memory and environmental awareness (knowing where you are within your surroundings and your comfortable fighting distance from your opponent/partner) are trained.

This video, featuring Kanazawa Sensei, demonstrates what can be accomplished when proper distance, reaction and timing is used from a defensive standpoint.

-Any student receiving a B grade will receive the color belt going with that B grade, but
the B grade will be reflected on the certificate.

-B grade students testing next quarter must work hard to achieve Full Kyu Grade.

-All the examiners were pleased with the June test results.