9 Lower Body Moves

The beginners (white/yellow belt, Hachikyu) are taught 15 fundamental upper body moves (UBM) and 9 lower body moves (LBM) of Isshinryu Karate.

As Sensei Vern Brekke taught me; aim with the knee (load/chamber), deliver kick, return to chamber position, stance. Kick returns twice as fast as it is delivered.

Isshin-ryu kicks are primarily snapped back (twice as fast) after they hit a target, while thrust kicks dominate other styles.

Unless otherwise noted:
all kicks hands are open and holding the sides at the obi, palms down,
all kicks are proceeded by a backward step,
all kicks are from a defensive stance, seisan dashi,
all kata are repeated on the left side.

Lower Body Moves

1. Front Snap Kick
   
2. Crossover Kick (Stomp Kick)
   
3. Knee Kick (Groin Strike)
   
4. Side Kick
   
5. Beside Kick (Side Kick with Ball of Foot)
   
6. Drop Kick (Low Round House To Knee)
   
7. Front Thrust Kick (Heel Push Kick)
   
8. Forward Angle Kick
   
9. Front Kick-Back Kick (Knee Smash)
   

Jump Rope

When Grand Master Willie Adams was at the dojo he suggested a drill using a jump rope to improve your fighting abilities. I told Sharon about it and showed her the drill. (See "Skip Rope Drill".)

For Father's Day today Sharon gave me a Reebok speed jump rope with "T" handle.

I haven't done any solo rope skipping before so I went to the web for instruction.
Jump Into a Health Life is a site with a program to teach kids how to have fun with roles. Their skills page has what I need to get started.

The Jump Rope Institute is intended for adult athletes, PR for adult training. Redefine Jump Rope For The 21st Century. There is a good deal of information at this site, no need to look any further today. The following was grabbed from there:

Correct Jump Rope Technique

1. Hold handles with a firm grip, elbows close to sides.

2. Make small circles with wrists while turning the rope.

3. Keep torso relaxed, head erect and look straight ahead to keep balanced.

4. Jump only high enough to clear the rope, with light ankle knee motion.

5. During jumping, the rope should touch the surface lightly.

6. Never sacrifice good jumping form for speed!

Remember: the key to effective jumping is to be light on the balls of your feet.

I'd like to find some videos of proper technique (look on YouTube bro). Wikipedia has more info.

Ryuku Kempo Magic X

Basic movements that include the fundamentals. Alternating right then left, turning 90° then 180°. Face the four points of the compass. To turn move the lead foot into place before pivoting (moves body off the line of potential attack first, so you don’t turn into an attack).

Neko Dachi: Cat stance – 30% of weight on lead foot. When standing in the center of the compass the lead foot on the north line and the rear heal is on the south line.

Sanchin: Strong stance – archers stance, weight evenly distributed, rear leg straight. When standing in the center of the compass the lead foot is on the northwest line and the rear foot is on the southeast line.

Notes from a class with Fred Neumann, Camp Kodenkan North, Fort Jones, California, June 29, 1995.

Jo Drills

Fred Neumann - Camp Kodenkan North, July 1, 1995

Studies Zenkoku Ryukyu Kempo Karate Kobudo, the Rengo Kai Association.

Mr. Neumann has been studying martial arts for 42 years and has Dan ranks in numerous systems. During this time he has formally studied Judo, Karate, Aiki Jitsu, Aikido, Aiki sword, Iaido, Ken Jitsu and Kyudo. His most in-depth studies have been devoted to refining his knowledge and skill in Ryukyu Kempo karate, founded by Master Taika Oyata.

Jo drills for strengthening the hara, toughening increasing power for short punches. Need 2 people and 1 Jo or Bo.

1. Feet shoulder width. Jo on the hara held by the 2 people pushing lightly on the ends with the belly. Exhale during the push, inhale while receiving.
Person A pushes the Jo out making the abdomen hard, a 4 count, while person B receives the Jo/energy.
Then B pushes the Jo out making the abdomen hard as A receives.
Repeat.

2. Feet in seisan. Jo on the hara held by the 2 people pushing lightly on the ends with the belly. Walk forward until uki stops the motion with a hara push. Reverse the direction until the person going backwards stop with a hara push. Repeat.

3. Horse stance with Jo on the hara held by 2 people. Punch each other with only the hara (no hips or body thrusts).

UBM #15 Elbow Strike

Step back/elbow strike (Hije no ato tsuki)

Attacks: Bear hug from behind and punch from in front

Catch: cross arms if front of solar plexus, right hand under

Stance: Right foot back into T stance then cat stance (hip bump attacker)

Return: elbow strike

Target: ??? ribs ???

Block: left close hand over head block

Set: left arm horizontal hand closed, guarding solar plexus

Teaching: cross, T, cat, elbow, block, set

UBM #14 Palm Heal Block Two Punches

Palm heel deflection/ 2 roundhouse punches (O-uchi)

Attack: sucker punch to body

Catch: right open hand at obi palm forward and fingers down

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: open hand punch block (turns uki side ways)

Return: two hook punches, strike with normal two knuckles

Target: sternum then kidney

UBM #13 Double Knife Hand

Low knife hand strike/knife hand strike (Shuto uchi)

Attack: low punch to pelvic bone

Catch: open right hand palm down at shoulder

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: open hand low block (optional wrist grab or katate tori)

Return: chop palm up

Target: side of neck (outside attack)

UBM #12 Mid Block Five Punches

Middle block/5 straight punches (Chudan uke/go den joku tsuki)

Attack: middle punch

Catch: closed right hand on top of left hand

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: middle block

Return: five rapid straight punches

Target: solar plexus

UBM #11 Low Block Five Punches

Low block/5 straight punches (Gedan barai/go den joku tsuki)

Attack: kick to pelvic bone

Catch: closed right hand at shoulder

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: down block

Return: five rapid straight punches

Target: solar plexus

UBM #10 Upper Block Back Fist Reverse Punch

Upper block/back fist/straight punch (Ura uchi/seiken gyak tsuki)

Attack: Sucker punch to the temple

Catch: closed hand in from of pelvic bone, palm in

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: upper block overing right half of face

Return: back fist followed by straight punch

Target: bridge of nose followed by solar plexus

UBM #9 Upper Block Reverse Punch

Upper block/Straight punch (Jodan uke/seiken gyak tsuki)

Attack: straight punch to head

Catch: right open hand on top of left palm up

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: turn palm down then hand over head block (two bone)

Return: straight punch

Target: solar plexus

UBM #8 Upper Open Block Uppercut

Open hand upper block/upper cut (Jodan tegata uke/jodan gyak tsuke)

Attack: club attack to head

Catch: open right hand palm up on top of left hand

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: open hand over head block (two bones)

Return: uppercut punch to throat

Target: chin

UBM #7 Open Hand Block Throat Strike

Open hand block/fingertip strike (Tegata barai/nukite)

Attack: hook punch

Catch: shuto right hand protecting groin, blade toward uki

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: open hand wax-on block, strike single bone

Return: vertical spear hand

Target: throat, near side of trachea (solar plexus sometimes shown for safety)

UBM #6 Mid Block Reverse Punch

Middle block/straight punch (Chudan uke/seiken gyak tsuki)

Attack: middle punch

Catch: closed right hand stacked on top of left at side

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: middle block, two bone

Return: straight punch

Target: solar plexus

UBM #5 Low Block Reverse Punch

Low block/straight punch (Gedan barai/seiken gyak tsuki)

Attack: kick to pelvic bone

Catch: closed right hand at shoulder

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: down block, two bones

Return: straight punch

Target: solar plexus

UBM #4 Reverse Uppercut

Reverse upper cut (Jodan gyak tsuki)

Attack: none

Catch: none

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: none

Return: reverse uppercut

Target: chin

UBM #3 Reverse Punch

Reverse punch (Seiken gyak tsuki)

Attack: none

Catch: none

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: none

Return: reverse straight punch

Target: solar plexus

UBM #2 Uppercut

Upper cut (Jodan oi tsuki)

Attack: none

Catch: none

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: none

Return: uppercut

Target: chin

UBM #1 Straight Punch

Straight punch (Seiken oi tsuki)

Attack: none

Catch: none

Stance: right touch step into seisan

Block: none

Return: straight punch

Target: solar plexus

Hachikyu Promotion

Sharon went down to the dojo to watch the promotion ceremony. I was promoted to the rank of Hachi-Kyu, eight level beginner, June 13, 2007. The exam was two days ago. Seven more levels before Shodan test!

The other adult Hachikyu, Ms. Bloom, and I demonstrated a few of the 15 Upper Body Techniques of Isshinryu Karate. During the demonstration I learned that Number 13 is a counter to a sucker punch, I didn't realize that this sucker punch was to the temple.

I intend to write up the 15 Upper Body Moves again; add the specific attack, detail the blocking, and naturally the Japanese names with translations.

The next step is yellow belt.

Test for Hachikyu

Master Ron Joslin tested me for Hachikyu (white belt with horizontal yellow line) during the first part of tonight's class. He asked me to do selected kata from the upper body katas. Below is what I learned during the exam.

#15 - the cat stance is a hip bump into the attacker. The elbow strike is done with a fist palm up.

#10 - Shuto jodan uke then, instead of moving the fist into position, simply point the elbow at the attacker, strike the bridge of the nose with the two knuckles. Master Joslin didn't like the scrape down the nose thing I was doing.

Promotion ceremony will be next Wednesday, June 13th at 6:00 PM.

Goals

1) Test for Danzan Ryu Yodan.

2) Reduce body fat to 28%.

3) Attend Karate class twice a week.

4) Study Karate kata on my own.

Student Creed

I intend to develop myself in a positive manner and to avoid anything that could reduce my mental growth and my physical health.

I intend to develop self-discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others.

I intend to use what I learn in class constructively and defensively to help myself and my fellow man and never be abusive or offensive.