This section helps you to meet the karateka who practice at DoShiKai.
|
Get DoShiKai Apparel !
 |
 Display this page
for better printing | Special Open Seminar Review
by Frank Paolino
The Special Open Seminar was a success. With approximately 32 attendees, Sensei Nago Matsuyama spent time reviewing the fine points of four blocks: Down block (gedan-barai), rising block (age-uke), outside arm block (soto uke) and inside arm block (uchi uke).
Sensei Matsuyama had the entire class, composed mostly of black belts, many of whom had more than 20 years of experience practicing karate, perform each block 10 or 20 times. He then demonstrated how "not" to do the block. Most of the attendees had a puzzled look as this is how they had done it for many years. He proceeded to show some subtleties of the block and why it is important to be done this way.
For example, with age uke, he demonstrated the similarities to the "unbendable arm" (orenaite) in rising block, where it is much stronger by twisting the wrist a little more than most of us do at the end of the block. This small difference makes the block a lot stronger.
Because this was a seminar, Sensei Matsuyama stopped and explained the fine points of each block, and then the entire class did 20-40 repetitions, trying to assimilate his suggestions into each person's own performance of the techniques.
Newton's Third Law
We then progressed onto gyaku-zuki, and we worked on transferring power from the floor to our leg, and then to our hip, and finally to our arm. We were shown how it is important to have a good focus and form so that the power from the reaction to the punch from our opponent's body does not push the power back into our body, therefore weakening the strike.
I was thinking about Newton's third law of motion: every action (force) has an equal and opposite reaction. This was always true, even before Newton wrote it down on paper. I have since been thinking about all my strikes and kicks, and how my body is positioned at the point of contact to make sure the "reaction" is forced back towards my opponent, not into my shoulder or arm, where the power is lost.
Anyone who had ever kicked a heavy bag from an unbalanced position knows this problem. Most end up on their rear end, and the harder they kick the bag the more quickly they are thrust onto the ground.
Datsu-Ryoku
The other fine point we covered is called Datsu-ryoku, which means something like "as little power as necessary". Sensei Matsuyama said that too much power too soon in a punch is wasted power. It tires you out, and does not make the punch stronger. "It feels good when you do it, like you are punching very hard", but it actually distracts from the kime (focus).
Tai-Sabaki
After the review of blocking and striking (uke and gyaku-zuki), we proceeded to use tai-sabaki (body shifting) in the performance of down block and counter punch. So, instead of stepping forward with a down block, we immediately stepped our right leg back and shifted towards our left side and performed a down block. Once most of us were feeling good about our performance, Sensei Matsuyama pointed out that we cannot sit on our back leg, but we must have a forward posture towards our opponent. He demonstrated the difference, and everyone could see this difference. He explained it as: "there are two arrows pointing from our body towards our opponent: a physical arrow and a mental arrow. The mental arrow is ALWAYS pointing towards our opponent, even if the physical arrow is moving left or right." We were shown to hold the technique for a second, and not to move back from the opponent (mentally) too quickly.
So when I was moving in any direction, I was trying to be more conscious of my mental arrow, making sure it was moving forward. In even 20 repetitions, I could see that I was always moving forward an extra 1/2 step in each technique just by concentrating on the mental arrow. I am sure that at some point, I will no longer have to concentrate on it and it will be automatic, but for now it is a great training aid.
We also practiced uchi-sabaki (inside shifting) and soto-sabaki (outside shifting), and were shown when each is appropriate. Downblock does not work well with outside shifting, as it pulls the opponent's technique towards your body. In the same way, inside block does not work with outside shifting either. Outside arm block works best with outside shifting (soto-sabaki). The same is true for forearm block.
We then worked with a partner, first slowly and then full speed, trying to incorporate these new techniques into kihon-kumite. There was some conversation among the class, and I think it was discussions on how to utilize the fine points of these techniques in kihon-kumite.
Oi-zuki
Sensei Matsuyama had us finish the class with oi-zuki. We again did a few without instruction. He pointed out that "stepping punch" is a bad translation, as you do not want to step. He had us step forward and drop our back knee to the ground. This lowered our body. He showed us not to step down but to move forward. Asked about a better translation, he mentioned "driving through punch" to give the idea of the form the punch should take. After 20 repetitions, we were all starting to get a better feeling for oi-zuki.
After the Seminar
Most of the attendees made a short trip to Hana Mizuki in Concord, MA after the class for sushi, tempura along with sake and beer. Sensei John Almeida, who has known Sensei Matsuyama for 30 years, was entertaining, as always, as he shared stories about training and of course a few jokes.
I remember inviting John Almeida to come to UMass Amherst in 1981 (or so), where I was a graduate student and teaching a class of college students for gym credit, to teach a class and then go out for dinner. I recall that everyone enjoyed his class and also enjoyed dinner afterwards with him.
Much of the rest of the conversation covered who was training and where, along with invitations to visit the different dojos.
No one was in a hurry, and the meal lasted about two hours, about as long as the seminar.
Click here to see photos from this event
Special Open Seminar Agenda
Come to this open seminar, and see how we are training and pursuing Karate. This seminar, unlike a regular workout, will give you a little taste of training at Doshi-Kai.
Kihon Uke
- Explains the fine points in Kihon Uke that are often ignored or not realized and make Kihon Uke ineffective, especially in Jiyu Kumite.
- Practice Kihon-Uke in Shizen-Tai.
Gyaku-Zuki
- Explains how to utilize and harmonize each part of the body (legs, hips, shoulders & arms) and execute Gyaku-Zuki as effective as possible.
- Explains Datsu-Ryoku (No power or Removing power) that allows you to execute Kime (Focus). Practice Gyaku-Zuki in Zenkutsu-Dachi.
Tai-Sabaki
- In the Doshi-Kai Training System, we utilize the Tai-Sabaki (body-shifting) with the fast, strong and straight forward Shotokan techniques and make them strong yet smooth and effective.
- Explains the principals (Uchi-Sabaki & Soto-Sabaki) in Kihon Tai-Sabaki with Kihon Uke.
- Practice Kihon Uke with Kihon Tai-Sabaki in Zenkutsu-Dachi followed up with Gyaku-Zuki, and the combinations (Gyaku-zuki, Kihon Uke with Kihon Tai-Sabaki Gyaku-Zuki).
Sen, Go-no-Sen and Sen-Sen-no-Sen
- Explains Sen, Go-no-Sen in Kihon Kumite.
- Practicing Kihon Kumite while understanding them will help improve Jiyu-Kumite.
- Practice Kihon Sanbon Kumite in the traditional manner.
|
Saturday December 3
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Doshi-Kai Karate Dojo
New Exchange Place
138 Main Street (Route 27)
Top Floor
Acton, MA 01720
Directions to DoShiKai
Ask a question here: frank@doshikai.net
Frank Paolino
Tel. (978) 635-9332
|
|