Summary Dec 24th to Dec 30th

No training throughout the week until Friday Dec. 28th.

My left leg was still suffering, and truly acted weak, and frail thoughout karate.

I was able to do:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 4 times
Gekisai Dai once
Gekisai Sho once

But I suffered from pins and needles in my left leg by the end of Friday night.

Training for Monday Dec 18th to Monday Dec 25th

My leg injury stopped me from doing much training throughout the first half of the week. I was lucky to get up, and slowly do some moving in stance. I still attended classes, but had to do most of my efforts in fighting stance.

The second half of the week was taken up by Christmas celebrations. Even in the dojo, we were enjoying Christmas parties, and playing various games instead of training. C'est Noel.. "It's Christmas"

Summary of week Dec 10th to 17th

Bo training:

None was possible.

Trained 0 minutes Goal: 60 minutes

Kata training:

kihon sono ichi,ni,san
Shiho tsuki ichi,ni,san
taikyoku sono ichi 4 times, ni, san 6 times, and special
pinan sono ichi, ni, san, yon, go
sokugi taikyoku sono ichi, ni, san, yon
tsuki no kata
sanchin kata 7 times
gekisai dai 9 times
gekisai sho 6 times
yangtsu
footwork pattern 5 times

Total during week 56 Goal: 70

Sat. Dec 15th, and Sun. Dec. 16th

No training due to injury.

Friday, Dec 14th

Belt rank test today. All of my energies are going towards this event.

Thursday, Dec 13th

No training was possible on this day. I had sick children, and husband in the home. Classes were cancelled due to a Christmas concert.

Wed. Dec 12th

Sanchin 5 times
Taikyoku Sono San 6 times
Gekisai Dai twice

Tues, Dec 11

Gekisai Dai 6 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 3 times
Sanchin once
footwork pattern 5 times

Monday, Dec 10th

kihon sono ichi,ni,san
Shiho tsuki ichi,ni,san
taikyoku sono ichi, ni, san, and special
pinan sono ichi, ni, san, yon, go
sokugi taikyoku sono ichi, ni, san, yon
tsuki no kata
sanchin kata
gekisai dai
gekisai sho
yangtsu

summary of week Dec. 3rd to Dec 9th

90 minutes of Bo staff training..

Warm up

Basics: Strikes/ blocks

Moving basics

Combinations

Chion Bo kata 5 times

Trained 90 minutes Goal: 60 minutes

Kata:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 14 times
Taikyoku sono San once

Gekisai Dai 25 times
Gekisai Sho 18

Pinan Sono San 5 times

Total during week 63 Goal: 70

Friday, Dec. 6th

Gekisai Dai 6 times
Gekisai Sho 6 times
Taikyoku sono ichi 10 times

Thurs. Dec 6th

Limited time as I helped my children with their flyer route due to the cold weather, and also I attended my daughter's school Christmas performance. No karate training today.

Wednesday, Dec. 5th

90 minutes of Bo staff training.. OH YES! 90 minutes!!

I was able to do:

Warm up

Basics: Strikes/ blocks

Moving basics

Combinations

Chion Bo kata 5 times

Kata:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 4 times
Taikyoku sono San once
Gekisai Dai once

Tuesday Dec 4

Gekisai Sho 11 times
Gekisai Dai 6 times
Pinan Sono San 5 times

Monday Dec 3rd

Gekisai Dai 12 times
Gekisai Sho once

Sparring combinations

Jump rope 3 sets of 5 minutes

summary of Nov 26th to Dec 3rd

Bo training:

30 minutes Bo staff training:

warm up

idogeiko

Chion kata

Total 30 minutes training Goal 1 hour

Kata:
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 28 times
Taikyoku Sono San 3 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, San Tate
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, San Ura
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon
Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni
Juji 45, and 90 degrees
Tsuki No kata
Gekisai Dai 26 times
Gekisai Sho 12 times
Pinan sono San 2 times
Sanchin 6 times


Total during week 90 Goal: 70

Friday, Nov 30

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 6 times
Taikyoku Sono San 3 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, San Tate
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, San Ura
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon
Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni
Sanchin
Juji 45, and 90 degrees
Tsuki No kata
Gekisai Dai 16 times
Gekisai Sho 2 times

Thursday, Nov 29th

Gekisai Dai 6 times
Gekisai Sho 6 times

Belt test physical requirements.

Wednesday, Nov 28th

Karate practice was hard to get as I helped my sister with some cleaning this week.

I did manage to get a little bit of Taikyoku Sono Ichi 10 times,
and Gekisai Dai twice
Gekisai Sho twice.

Tuesday, Nov 27

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 12 times

Monday, Nov 26th

30 minutes Bo staff training:

warm up

idogeiko

Chion kata

Kata:

Gekisai Dai 2 times
Gekisai Sho 2 times
Pinan sono San 2 times
Sanchin 5 times

Summary of Nov 19th to Nov. 26th

Bo training:

Bo staff: did 30 minutes of basic practice... no warm up.. just went into blocks, strikes in sequence.

Total 30 minutes training Goal 1 hour

Kata:
Pinan Sono Ni 5 times
Pinan Sono San 16 times
Tsuki No Kata 5 times
Gekisai Dai 15 times
Gekisai Sho 11 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 50 times
Taikyoku Sono San 5 times
Sokugi Taikyoku sono San 5 times



Total during week 112 Goal: 70

Oh it's getting hard to get any quality Bo practice into my week. There just isn't any room in my house to swing that thing. It's too cold to practice outside without parka, and mitts on.. but I might just end up training in the snow with boots on just to get the work out. It's driving me crazy.

Saturday, and Sunday 24 and 25th

So far, family needs, and belt rank test studies have taken over all karate preparation. I needed to go parent/teacher interviews, grocery shopping, Christmas shopping, help my children with their homework, clean house, make meals, escort my family members to and from various events, etc. I have found hardly any time to practice, or work on any of my karate.

I'm hoping to find time today to do some kata, and Bo training. Crosses fingers.

Friday, Nov 22nd

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 10 times
Taikyoku Sono San 4 times
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono San 4 times
Pinan Sono San 5 times
Gekisai Dai 3 times
Gekisai Sho 3 times

Thurs. Nov 22

Gekisai dai 5 times
gekisai Sho

Wednesday Nov 21st

Taikyoku Sono ichi 16 times
Taikyoku Sono San
Gekisai Dai
Gekisai Sho
Pinan Sono San 3 times

Tuesday, Nov 20th

Pinan Sono San 8 times
Gekisai Dai 6 times
Gekisai Sho 6 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 8 times
Sokugi Taikyoku sono San once

Monday, Nov 19th

Pinan Sono Ni 5 times

Tsuki No Kata 5 times

Worked on improving my kicks, stretching my hips, and building my endurance on skipping.

Bo staff: did 30 minutes of basic practice... no warm up.. just went into blocks, strikes in sequence.

Summary of week Mon Nov. 12th, to 19th

Bo training:

45 minutes Bo training:

Warm up

20 of each tsuki/ Uke sequence

20 Chion Bo kata

Total 45 minutes training Goal 1 hour

Kata:
Taikyoku sono Ichi 24 times
Taikyoku sono Ni, San 5 times
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon 2 times
Pinan sono Ichi 3 times, Ni, San 3 times
Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni, San Tate
Gekisai Dai 15 times
Gekisai Sho 10 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 8 times
Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San 3 times
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 3 times
Gekisai Sho 10 times
Tsuki no kata
Sanchin 11 times


Total during week 121 Goal: 70

Friday, Nov 16

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 10 times
Taikyoku Sono San 3 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 2 times
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono ichi, ni, san
Pinan Sono Ichi 3 times
Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Pinan Sono San 2 times
Sanchin 10 times

It's getting harder to get Bo training now that it has become colder outside. I'm going to have to switch to my shorter Jo staff to get in something of practice in my living room.

I'm lowering my weekly expectations to match the demands of my household especially during the upcoming month of December with all of the Christmas happenings such as school concerts, parties, etc. I'm going to attempt to do 60 minutes of Bo training per week, and 70 kata.

Thursday, Nov 15th

Gekisai Sho 10 times

Taikyoku sono Ichi, Ni, San
Pinan sono Ichi, Ni, San
Tsuki no kata
Sanchin

3 minutes of sustained speed rope jumping.

Wednesday, Nov 14th

Gekisai Dai 10 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 6 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 5 times
Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San 3 times
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 3 times

Tuesday, Nov 13th

45 minutes Bo training:

Warm up

20 of each tsuki/ Uke sequence

20 Chion Bo kata


Kata:

Taikyoku sono Ichi 8 times

Monday, Nov 12

Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon
Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni, San Tate

Also, to check out how well I've brought my conditioning up, I jumped rope for as long as I could achieving 6 minutes non stop. It felt like I could have squeezed out another couple of minutes without too much trouble to my system. This is double what I was able to do last year at this time.

Summary of week Nov 5th to Nov 12th

Bo training:

30 minutes Bo training:

warm up
Chion kata 5 times
tsuki sequence
stance sequence
uke sequence

Total 30 minutes training Goal 1.5 hours
Kata:

Kihon Sono Ichi 5 times
Shiho tsuki Ichi 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 8 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Tate 5 times
Pinan Sono Ichi 5 times
Pinan Sono Ni 5 times
Pinan sono san 17 times
Gekisai Dai 12 times
Gekisai Sho 12 times
Yangtsu 8 times
Tsuki No kata 8 times
Sanchin 5 times

Total during week 101 Goal: 150

Sat. Nov 10th and Sunday Nov. 11th

Celebrated my daughter's birthday.. no time for karate training.

Managed to do 5 Sanchin kata inbetween all of the other demands during the weekend on Sunday.

Friday, Nov 9th

In respect to the grief in my Sensei's family at the loss of one of their family members, and to allow the day open for prayers, I chose not to train in karate today.

Painting by Koorosh Angali

Thursday, Nov 8th

Pinan sono san 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Yangtsu 5 times

Wednesday, Nov 7

OH my Gosh! I had a WINDFALL of personal training time last night. First, I taught the children's class for my Sensei. He had important family matters. Then, lady luck smiled at me, and I was priviledged to having the dojo all to myself for two hours.

Kihon Sono Ichi 5 times
Shiho tsuki Ichi 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Tate 5 times ( all kata focusing on strong sharp basics straightening my back leg, and punching/blocking properly with speed/focus).

9 sparring combinations crossing the dojo the long way
Footwork sequence 5 times

Pinan Sono Ichi 5 times
Pinan Sono Ni 5 times
Pinan Sono San 5 times ( all kata focusing on endurance.. I did all 5 kata one after the other with no stopping.)

Vital points hand strikes 5 times
Vital points kicking 5 times
70 push ups
50 sit ups
1st, 2nd, and 3rd psycho-physical series

Tsuki No kata 5 times
Gekisai Dai 5 times ( all kata focusing on improving technical movement, and inserting corrections)

FANTASTIC! I may just be able to meet my goals this week.

Tues Nov 6th

Kata:

Taikyoku sono Ichi 3 times
Gekisai Dai 2 times
Gekisai Sho 2 times
Pinan sono San 2 times

I wish that I could have done more, but responsibilities as a mother of a distraught daughter who needed help with her homework took over most of my free time.

Monday, Nov. 5th

30 minutes Bo training:

warm up
Chion kata 5 times
tsuki sequence
stance sequence
uke sequence

Kata:

Pinan sono san 5 times
Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Yangtsu 3 times
Tsuki No kata 3 times

Summary of week Mon Oct 30th to Nov 5th

Bo training:

75 min Bo training
warm up twice
Chion Bo kata 5 times
Tsuki sequence
Uke Sequence
Stance Sequence


Total 75 minutes training Goal 1.5 hours

Kata training:
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 15 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi tate twice, ura once
Pinan Sono Ichi, ni, san, shi twice
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, ni, san, shi twice
Juji kata 90 degrees 8 times
Juji kata 45 degrees 5 times
Tsuki No kata 3 times
Sanchin kata 5 times
Gekisai Dai 18 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Tsuki No kata twice
Yangtsu

Empi


Total during week 92 Goal: 150

The weekend Sat and Sun

Saturday was dedicated to my 10 year old daughter's all day event preparing her for a religious milestone in her life. There was no time for karate as I invested into my children's life.

Sunday was dedicated towards teaching Sunday School in the morning, and being with my oldest daughter, and visiting for the rest of the day. We had not seen her for months, and it was a joy to be present with her, and to spend time getting to learn about the latest news in her life. I sacrificed any karate training time.

Friday, Nov 2nd

I had to be gentle on my hips, but I did get some kata training in today:

Gekisai Dai 8 times
Taikyoku sono ichi 10 times
Taikyoku sono ichi ura, and tate
Sokugi taikyoku sono ichi, ni, san
Juji kata 3 times
Pinan sono ichi, ni

Thursday, Nov. 1st

Thursday Nov 1st was an inservice day for my children. I had no time to do any karate training at all as I entertained, and took care of my kids. This was a good thing because my hip joints need healing. They are really complaining.

Oct 31st, Halloween

No Karate classes scheduled this day.

Instead, I walked around the neighbourhood with my children. I brought my Bo with me, and dressed up in a long brown gown.

I had one parent come up to me and say "Great Lord of the Rings costume!"

I had to smile.

Tuesday, Oct 30th

45 minutes Bo training:

Warm up

Tsuki sequence

Uke Sequence

Stance Sequence

Kata:

Taikyoku sono Ichi 5 times

Gekisai Dai 5 times

Monday, Oct 30

30 min Bo training
warm up
Chion Bo kata 5 times


Kata: Lots of Kata

Taikyoku Sono Ichi tate
Pinan Sono Ichi, ni, san, shi
Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, ni, san, shi
Juji kata 90 degrees 5 times
Juji kata 45 degrees 5 times
Sanchin kata 5 times
Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Tsuki No kata
Yangtsu

and for a spice of memory
Empi

Saturday, and Sunday Oct 28th, 29th

No karate happened this weekend. Various family needs superceded all chances of getting in even 15 minutes of "me" time. I didn't even have time to keep up the housework. My husband, and children are happy though, and for me that is what counts.

I had daydreams of catching a half hour of training here or there, but when reality hit, I put aside my hopes, and did what needed to be done.

Summary of week Oct 22 to Oct 28th

Bo training:

65 minutes Bo training:

Warm up 2 times

Kihon Geiko Tsuki, and Uke Waza 20 each technique

Total 65 minutes training Goal 1.5 hours

Kata training:

Sanchin Kata 10 times
Kihon sono ichi once
Taikyoku sono ichi 37 times
Pinan sono ichi once
Pinan sono Ni 15 times
Pinan sono san 2 times
Sakugi Taikyoku sono san
Juji kata
Gekisai Dai 6 times
Gekisai Sho 6 times
Yangtsu 5 times
Pinan sono ichi, ni, san, yon Tate once each
Tsuki no kata 6 times

Total during week 96 Goal: 150

Friday, Oct 26

I trained today for 5 hours, but I did not have the chance to do any Bo training.

I did do some kata:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 15 times
Pinan Sono Ni 10 times

Thursday,Oct 25

Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Sanchin 5 times
Yangtsu 5 times
Pinan sono ichi, ni, san, yon Tate once each
Tsuki no kata 6 times

Bo Training 20 minutes

Warm up

Wednesday, Oct 24th

45 minutes Bo training:

Warm up

Kihon Geiko Tsuki, and Uke Waza 20 each technique


Kata:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 6 times
Sakugi Taikyoku sono san
Juji kata
Gekisai Dai
Gekisai Sho
Pinan Sono San

Tuesday, Oct 23rd

Pinan sono Ni 5 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 15 times ( working on basics, and turns)

Monday, Oct 22nd

Sanchin Kata 5 times
Kihon sono ichi once
Taikyoku sono ichi once
Pinan sono ichi once
Pinan sono san once

Summary of week Oct 15th to Oct 22

Bo Training:

Warm up 2 times

Chion Kata 11 times

Tsuki Sequence ( 20 reps each technique)
Uke Sequence ( 10 reps each)
Stance sequence once.

Total 1 hour 15 minutes training Goal 1.5 hours

Kata:

Kihon Sono Ichi 15 times, Ni 5 times, San 5 times each
Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi 4 times
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 5 times each
Taikyoku sono Ichi 19 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 3 times.
Pinan sono ni 3 times
Pinan sono san twice
Tsuki No kata once
Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Yangtsu 5 times
30 various Kata

Total during week 127 Goal: 150

Saturday, Oct 20th

Worked on improving stances 20 minutes
Conditioning exercises.

I'm SO sore from yesterday's training.. legs are stiff.. I must rest them some.

Friday, Oct. 19th

In addition to 4 hours of Kyokushin class:

30 minutes Bo training in the parking lot outside of the dojo
- warm up
- Chion kata 5 times

30 various Kata

Thursday, Oct. 18

Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Yangtsu 5 times
Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi 2 times
Taikyoku Sono Ichi Ura 3 times.

Tuesday, Oct 16th, and Wednesday Oct 17th

Tuesday, Oct 16th

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 12 times

Wednesday Oct 17th

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 2 times
Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi 2 times
Kihon Sono Ichi 10 times

Focusing on my basics, my front stance, kicking, and my turns.

Monday, October 15

Oh YES! I put in a good 45 minute Bo training moment!

Warm up

Chion Kata 6 times

Tsuki Sequence ( 20 reps each technique)
Uke Sequence ( 10 reps each)
Stance sequence once.

The only downside is that I had to keep my eyes open all around me as there was a group of little 4-6 year olds running around chasing each other. At one point they thought it would be fun to try to get as close to me as possible as I was swinging the Bo around. I knew that I could control the front half of the Bo, but I didn't have eyes at the back of my head, and I envisioned one of these little guys getting slammed by accident.

Kata: YES.. I did a GREAT practice session.

Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San 5 times each
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 5 times each
Taikyoku sono Ichi 5 times
Pinan sono ni 3 times
Pinan sono san twice
Tsuki No kata once

Summary of week Oct 8th to Oct 15th

Gekisai Dai 9 times
Gekisai Sho 10 times
Pinan sono San 3 times
Taikyoku Sono San 6 times
Pinan sono Ni 5 times
Tsuki no Kata 2 times

Amount of kata achieved this week approx 35 Goal: 150

No Bo training.. Goal: 1.5 hours



AARGH!!! I'm still training, it's just that I'm focusing on improving my self defense movements, sparring combinations, kicks, and conditioning.

Friday, Oct 12th

Only half an hour of kata.. sigh..

Gekisai Dai 4 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Pinan sono San 3 times
Taikyoku Sono San 6 times
Pinan sono Ni 5 times

No Bo training... (*hangs head*) I've been too busy cleaning up with housework, and doing laundry...2 weeks worth!

Thursday, Oct 11th

Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Tsuki No kata 2 times

Summary of week Oct 1st to Oct 7th

Due to the fact that I attended a Karate camp this week, I really was limited to how much kata practice I could do.

Yangtsu 5 times
Gekisai Dai 10 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Juji kata once
Sanchin kata once

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 15 times

Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni
Pinan Sono San 6 times

Amount of kata achieved this week approx 45 Goal: 150


Bo practice 30 minutes

warm up ( Lots of warm up as I felt the differences between various sized Bo, and various shaped Bo )
Chion kata 2 times

Total amount of time achieved this week: 30 minutes Goal: 1.5 hours


This is not because I neglected training... but more that my training was different due to the Karate camp.

The past weekend

I was busy at Hoyukan Fall Karate camp in Independence, Missouri for the past weekend.

Yes, I did a good hour and a half of kata, mostly Pinans, some Shotokan, and Tsuki No Kata about 5 times.

My husband caught me warming up with my Bo staff, and made a video of it.

On vacation Wed Oct 4

Last night I did a few kata..
Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni, San

and some Bo practice 30 minutes

warm up ( Lots of warm up as I felt the differences between various sized Bo, and various shaped Bo )
Chion kata 2 times

But then the rest of the night focused on other training such as self defense, and arm locks. Like I said, I have to balance all of the demands of my training.

What I did Wednesday, Oct 3rd

Gekisai Dai 5 times
Gekisai Sho 5 times
Pinan Sono San 5 times

What I did Tuesday, Oct 2nd

Taikyoku Sono Ichi 15 times

What I did yesterday, Mon, Oct 1st

Yangtsu 5 times
Gekisai Dai 5 times
Juji kata once
Sanchin kata once

Summary of the week, and month

I am going to have to lower my goals for Tournament training as I have a belt rank test coming up in a couple of months for my 3rd Kyu Brown stripe. I need to work on my rank requirements in addition to enhancing my kata. I only have "so" many hours to dedicate to training. My body only allows for a limited amount of extra training before it overtrains, and starts going downhill. What I can do to increase Kata time is to perform the kata without power, and just focus on proper technique, stance, and execution. This kind of slow and easy repetition allows my muscles to remember the feeling of each movement, and cements the neural pathways within me without taxing my body's energy too much.

I'm lowering my Bo training to 1 hour per week. 2 sessions of 30 minutes each
I'm lowering my Kata expectation goal to 70 per week. around 10 per day.

Today is a special day for me, so I'm going to focus on all of the various Self defense training that I need to know for my rank test.

Bo training:

Warm up sequence 2.5 set Total 6.5
Tsuki sequence ( 20 for each side) .5 Total 3.5
Uke sequence (20 for each side) .5 Total 2.5
Chion Bo kata 5 Total 21
Heian Yondan experiment 10 Total 11
Stance sequence 10 Total 10

Total amount of time achieved this week: 1.25 hours Goal: 1.5 hours
Total amount for the month: 3.75 hours

Kata training:

Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San 0 Total 1 set
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 0 Total 1
Taikyoku Sono Ichi 11 Total 13 Ni, San Total 3
" ( Ura )1 Total 3
" ( Tate ) 1 Total 2
Pinan Sono Ichi 1 Total 6
Pinan Sono Ni 1 Total 11
Pinan Sono San 6 Total 21
Pinan Sono Yon 6 Total 26
Pinan Sono Go 1 Total 6
Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi 5 Total 6
Juji Kata 0 Total 1
Tsuki No Kata 5 Total 16
Sanchin Kata 0 Total 3
Gekisai Dai 1 Total 12
Gekisai Sho 1 Total 12
Yangtsu 0 Total 5

Adapted Kihon sono Ichi, Ni San ( Sanchin dachi) 13

Amount of kata achieved this week approx 53 Goal: 150 Total Kata this month 163

Kata training for today

Managed to start some Bo training, but was interrupted. Only got the first 12 minutes of it done. I didn't get past the warm up.

Kata:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San ( in Omote, Ura, and Tate)

Sokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, and Yon

Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon, and Go

Gekisai Dai, Gekisai Sho

Got lots done today

Morning:

Did Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi 5 times

Evening:

Did Tsuki No Kata 5 times
Did Pinan Sono San 5 times
Did Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, and San in Sanchin Dachi.

NICE!! In addition to having some fun in the Taikwondo class, too.

Bo practice today

40 minutes:

Usual warm up

Chion kata 10 times
Yondan experiment 5 times

Then I worked on self defense sequences for about 20 minutes to improve them.

Today I did Bo practice

To warm up I performed 5 Kihon Sono Ichi in Sanchin stance.
Then, for about 45 minutes, I did Bo staff practice.

Warm up ( Usual)
10 of each Tsuki, and Block (same hand/ Exchanging hands) moving forwards and backwards in Front stance.

Also, Taikyoku Sono Ichi 10 times

Trying something new

First:

Tsuki No Kata 5 times
Pinan Sono San 5 times

Second:

I wanted to train my body to be more comfortable at turning, and hitting that Sanchin Stance. So I adapted the Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, and San kata, and did them in Sanchin. At first, it was very halted, awkward, and slow, but by the fifth time things were working more smoothly.

Summary of the week's extra training

Bo training:

Warm up sequence 4 set
Tsuki sequence ( 20 for each side) 3
Uke sequence (20 for each side) 2
Chion Bo kata 16
Heian Yondan experiment 1
Stance sequence 10

Total amount of time achieved this week: 2 1/2 hours Goal: 1 1/2 hours

Kata training:

Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San 1 set
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San 1
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San 2
" ( Ura ) 2
" ( Tate ) 1
Pinan Sono Ichi 5
Pinan Sono Ni 10
Pinan Sono San 15
Pinan Sono Yon 5
Pinan Sono Go 5
Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Yon 1
Juji Kata 1
Tsuki No Kata 11
Sanchin Kata 3
Gekisai Dai 11
Gekisai Sho 11
Yangtsu 5

Amount of kata achieved this week approx 110 Goal: 300
I can see that my goal is FAR too high for me. I barely was able to achieve what I did. I have to lower the weekly goal for kata. I will aim for 5 of each kata which translates to 150. ( I didn't add the Shotokan kata that I performed during the week. Those are just for my entertainment.)

Video of Gekisai Dai ,and Gekisai Sho( In progress)

I gave my daughter the camera, told her to sit down on the ground ( In order to minimize any movement on the video), point, and shoot. I just wanted to capture my kata in some form so that I could see myself performing. I did the kata "cold" with no preparation or warm up so that any mistakes would be loud, and stand out. If I could redo the video, I'd want it to be a closer shot so that I could see more detailing of my hands, and feet.



For some strange reason, the sound is slightly delayed in the video.. wierd.



I truly feel the lack of flexibility in my hips when I do this kata. Those side kicks are supposed to be head level.. sigh.. I struggle for a middle height kick ( with much discomfort in the hips), most of the time I get a groin height kick.

Now, Npw... Let's see what I can improve on this kata instead of focusing on my limitations.

Over heated...

Sigh.. too much.. I did too much again. Let's see.. ALL that I did was:

Arrived an hour early for Kyokushin class. I brought my Bo with me on the bus again. This time the bus was far more crowded. I had to go stand at the back of the bus. Two gentlemen sitting on the farthest back seat ( the one that stretches across the width of the back instantly moved over) The older gentleman said teasingly to the person next to him "We'd better make room for her! We don't want her to use that thing on us!" I must have blushed a few colors as I sat down saying "Oh.. I'm nothing to worry about, tame as a kitten." But the man's comment had quite an effect on the crowded bus as so many people turned to look at what he was talking about, and suddenly noticed that I was carrying a Martial arts Bo, then they did a double take looking at me with shock in their eyes. Note to self: Rush hour travelling with a Bo staff on a bus.. be prepared to get noticed.

Spent my early hour in the back parking lot of the Dojo practicing with the staff:

Did usual warm up
Focused on basics by doing each tsuki motion 20 times in front stance, and worked on the position of my hands during the strike.

The children arrived early for class, and were getting pretty antsy. So I put away my staff, and encouraged the kids to jog some laps around the building until Sensei arrived.

Trained in the first children's class, trained in the second children's class, trained for an hour and half Adult's class.. and THEN the Kata portion started.

I performed:

Taikyoku Sono Ichi (Omote, Ura, Tate)
Taikyoku Sono San

4 of the kicking kata Sakugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San, and Yon.

I was heading into the 5th hour of training. Then all of my muscles started shaking, I felt the weakness, and darkness gathering at the base of my brain. Sweat was filling my eyes. My glasses were fogging. I was overheating. My mind screamed "NO! NOT NOW! NO! NO! This is when we train in Kata. I can keep going.. I know that I shouldn't but I can! I promised my husband that I wouldn't keep going when I overheat. I have to stop.. NO! NO! NOT NOW!" I forced myself to go down into seiza, now my eyes were filled with tears instead of sweat. I ended up laying down on the ground with my feet in the air to try to recuperate. I had to cool down. I had to allow my body to let the heat escape. All of the various coverings on my body, the shin pads, the protection, the T shirt, and Gi material did not allow for much heat exchange. I could feel my head, hands and feet just burning with extra circulation as my body channeled the heat to where it was possible to cool things down. It took 12 LONG minutes.

Then I was able to move again. I was normal again. I was "Me" finally.

I rejoined class and did:

Pinan Sono San ( 5 times)
Pinan Sono Yon ( 5 times)
Pinan Sono Go ( 5 times)
Sanchin (3 times)
Gekisai Dai (5 times), Gekisai Sho (5 times), Yangstu (4 times)
Tsuki No kata ( 3 times)

At the end, I snuck in Bassai Dai ( Just once..)

I need to feel the different power lines of Pinan Sono Yon, and Go. Right now I'm far too Shotokan centered. Must work on understanding Kyokushin "accent".

I'm a little sore today from all of the extra training during the week. Not WICKED sore.. but sore enough that I can feel that I truly applied myself.

I do feel frustrated at the fact that I overheated. It's SUCH a pain! It's not that I do not have the energy to continue training, it's that my body is suffering from over heating. Once I cool down, I can train just as hard again. What a frustrating place to be.. to know that you have all the energy within you to do what needs to be done, but to have to wait until your body cools down and allows you to use it. I remember feeling the same way when I owned this old car that would overheat. You would have to pull to the side of the highway, and watch that thing sit there, and "cool" down before you could continue your trip. ARGH! Most of the time it wouldn't act up.. but give it the right conditions, and boom.. There wasn't much we could do to help the car. We just had to wait until it set itself right again. I was able to go out and buy myself a better car, but I can't do that with my body. This is what I have to work with, and it is hereditary in my family that we overheat, and faint. I've seen my brothers, sisters, and parents struggling with this problem. I believe it is linked with the thyroid gland. I have had thyroid problems in the past. Underactivity. I'm going to research which foods that I can eat which will stimulate, and help my thyroid to become stronger so that I do not overheat so much.

Reminiscing with Shotokan kata

Yesterday, Thursday, Sept 20., I had a few minutes before my daughter's Taekwondo class to do some kata. I found myself pining for the old familiar Shotokan kata.

I gave myself permission to touch the past again, and I performed Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, and Jion. It felt good. Shotokan kata is so different in it's performance from Kyokushin. There is such a different smoothness to Shotokan. I'm not saying that Kyokushin kata isn't smooth.. it's different. Doing these kata was like singing a song.. my body remembered the words, phrases, intonations, silences, everything. In those moments when my mind hesitated because I haven't sang the song for over 5 months, my body almost shouted with "I remember!!! It feels like THIS!!! Follow me! Trust me!" Just like getting on a bike in the spring, my body adjusted, and flowed with the demands of that kata.. and I loved every second of it.

I felt slightly guilty in doing these Shotokan kata, as I am now fully training for Kyokushin competition. I should have been focusing on my Kyokushin syllabus.. no? So... I stopped doing Shotokan kata, and turned to Sanchin kata again. I did that one until I was satisfied.

1 more hour of Bo training

Managed to get to Kyokushin class an hour early. I carried my Bo on the crowded bus. I was surprised that the bo didn't get much attention.

Usual warm up

- Stance sequence work 10 times
- Moving Basics 20 of each strike, and block going forwards, and backwards in front stance.
- Chion Kata 6 times

I had enough time to take a 10 minute rest before class started.

Gentle kata today

My right hip is aching, and complaining. It is not too happy with the roundhouse kicks that I did yesterday. My housework is demanding, and needs to be done.. and so I chose to do short, small, and gentle kata moments interspersed during the day.

I would do some housework, and then spontaneously break into some medium speed kata focusing more on technique than power.

I did:

5 Yangstu
5 Gekisai Dai
5 Gekisai Sho


Man, the questions that popped into my brain as I slowed down the kata.

Yangstu:

The three punches.. is it Chudan, Jodan, Gedan in that order? Or is it Gedan, Chudan, Jodan? What is the rhythm of this kata? Now that I have a grasp of the movements.. how does it flow? When is it fast? When does it slow down? I bet you that the answers to these questions lie in the Organization in which I belong to.. I'm going to have to write them down, and attack my Sensei with them at my next chance.

Gekisai Dai:

Am I supposed to keep my foot close to the ground during the turning kick after the kiai point? Does the sole of my foot turn upwards here to symbolize a sweep? The Knifehand strike.. is that to the neck? It makes sense if it's to the neck. But when I see it executed it seems to be sent to shoulder height. More questions for my Sensei.

Gekisai Sho:

It seems that this kata has alot of "looking to the angles" when performed. I'm having troubles with the "set", or "guard" arm that proceeds the execution of the technique. I can't seem to understand where I will be defending myself especially since I'm sending my eyes to look at the oncoming angles instead of directly in front of me. I bet you that my words aren't too clear as to what I mean. The following video contains the basic movements of the kata, but he doesn't do the set arm the same way as I do so it is not helping my confusion. I'm hoping to gather some ideas from watching his performance as to how I can apply myself to my kata.

What a kind Taekwondo Master!

I brought my daughter to her Taekwondo class, and the Master allowed me to work on my Kyokushin kata in the other half of the gym during the class during warm up. I was able to do:

5 full speed kata of each...

a) Pinan Sono Ni
b) Pinan Sono San
c) Tsuki No Kata

I got a good 15 - 20 minutes of kata practice.

I found that I open my hands too many times on the Tsuki No kata side stance sequence.. Must work on that.

I joined in with the class on basics.

Bo training

Today, with the beautiful weather as inspiration, I suggested to the kids that they may want to go play at the local community center on their playstructure. I gathered up my larger heavier Maple Bo Staff, and escorted them. As they were having fun, I did a really good 1 hour workout on the grass by the structure. There were no loud comments from passing vehicles because the play structure, and field is located far from busy traffic. It was SUCH a lovely day.. I've got to put a picture here of how beautiful the sky was... o.k.. there.

Now.. on with what I had achieved today.

Warm up ( I don't know the technical terms for the movements yet.):

Each sequence 20 times with each hand:

Twirl once
Twirl twice
Figure 8 in front
Over the shoulder outside.
Over the shoulder across.
Figure X in front.

Main effort: Again each sequence 20 times with each hand:

Tsuki waza: Done in Front stance ( Zenkutsu Dachi) both sides

Oroshi uchi
Age Uchi
Soto/Uchi Uchi Jodan
Soto/Uchi Uchi Chudan
Soto/Uchi Uchi Gedan ( In Gyaku Zenkutsu Dachi) Both sides
Poking with a swinging action upwards
Poking with a swinging action other shoulder
Poking with a Pool cue action upwards
Poking with a Pool cue action other shoulder
Poking with a Pool cue action downwards


Uke waza: Done in Front stance ( Zenkutsu Dachi)

Soto Uke
Uchi Uke
Jodan Uke both hands
Gedan Uke both hands
Turning X block inside
Turning X block outside

Chion Bo kata:

3 times slower speed, 3 times medium speed, 4 times full speed.

Heian Yondan experiment- 2 times

Warm down:

Each sequence 20 times with each hand:

Twirl once
Twirl twice
Figure 8 in front
Over the shoulder outside.
Over the shoulder across.
Figure X in front.
Twirl overhead holding end of staff both directions.
Double handed full bo downwards attacks.
Holding staff in both hands, raise above head, and lower in front.

My arms and shoulders are gently humming from the effort.. it's nice.

I feel good about most of my performance, but I've noticed that I'm weaker when it comes to the blocks. I need to get that solidity that I see in my Sensei's movements, and I think that will only come from building up the muscle strength to manipulate the Bo like that. This will come the more that I train.. I will be patient.

And so it starts...

Today, I escorted my daughter to Japanese language lessons. I noticed that the gym was dark, and empty so I followed my theory of "it doesn't hurt to ask", and approached one of the main people there. They gave me permission to use the gym, and train in kata.

I chose to perform every one of my kata as if I was competing with full power, concentration, and speed. Each move existing of it's own, and needing all of my effort. I didn't stop long between kata, but kept the demand up almost flowing into the next one.

Warm up:

Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San Ura
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San Tate

This took me 15 minutes to accomplish.

Main Body of work:

Pinan Sono Ichi 5 repetitions
Pinan Sono Ni 5 repetitions
Pinan Sono San 5 repetitions.

I was exhausted.. just emptied of all energy after this effort. 30 Kata one after the other with full effort totally depleted me of everything I had. I stood there on the last 3 kata of Pinan Sono San repeating to myself "Surely I can do one more.. just one more.. come on..I've got it in me.. I WANT to do the last ones.. I can do the last ones.. One more, and then I can rest.. "

Sure.. I knew that I could lower the output of my energy, and speed, and perform the kata in a more relaxed way, but that is not what I wanted. I remembered the saying of "You train like you want to fight.." I totally applied myself to the end of what I had within me, and wondered why it is that I can train for hours under my Sensei's guidance without feeling so tired, and now I'm at the end of my rope within 40 minutes of training. I think that it was the constancy of it. I just kept going, and going. There no moments to catch my breath, and listen to instruction. I just did my kata one after the other.

I only lasted 40 minutes.. Sheesh.. that's it. Part of me was disappointed.. there was so many other things that I wanted to practice.

Next time that I have a chance I'm going to work on my higher kata.

Planning stage

I know that some days will be more difficult to achieve extra training as my schedule is packed as a Mom, so I will attempt to just meet the perceived "expectations" below as best as I can:

a) I would like to focus on those Kata that will be most useful in a tournament setting, such as:

- Pinan Sono Ichi
- Pinan Sono Ni
- Pinan Sono San

( Also done in Ura, and in Tate, and for practice Ura-Tate)

- Tsuki No Kata
- Sanchin Kata
- Gekisai Dai
- Gekisai Sho
- Yangstu

b) I would like to achieve close to 30 repetitions of each Kata ( adding up to 240 additional kata) per week.

c) I would like to focus on certain parts of the kata that need adjusting, or fixing to improve performance.

d) I would like to achieve 3 sessions of Bo staff training per week of at least 30 minutes each. I would like to learn a couple of Bo staff kata ( as best as I can on my own ) to compliment, and enhance my training. I have been doing the Chion Bo staff kata faithfully for 2 years now, and although there are many lessons that I still can learn from it, I find that I desire to reach out for other expressions of movement.

Keeping track.

I know that I need to train far more often on Kata, and Bo staff than what I am achieving right now. This Blog is going to be an ongoing journal of what I'm working on, how much I did, and when I did it to help me balance my training, and improve my efforts.

Winter makes Bo staff training, and Kata training difficult to achieve since my house does not have a good open space, but I will find creative solutions for that problem.