Ikkyu Promotion

I demonstrated Kusanku Kata for Kioshi Dave Joslin tonight. I believe this is the primary requirement for Ikkyu (3 red stripes on the brown belt).

I need to be mindful of the rear foot position after any spinning moves. Kusanku has fast and slow sections; the fast parts need to be faster.

Sharon video taped me doing the six Isshinryu kata. It went well so these will show me at my best to date. Next week is the hip surgery so I get to begin again.

Sensei Shawl reminded me that one should focus on the attackers with intent. Practice this during your kata training.

Nikyu Promotion

After demonstrating Chinto Kata Renshi Bennati promoted me to Nikyu, 2nd degree brown belt on July 7th, 2009.

I need to deepen my Zen Kutsu stances (Zen Kutsu Dachi). Also my right foot tends to turn out more then my left especially when the hip is hurting. This manifests in my seisan stance. I need to be mindful of the rear foot position in seisan stance, all katas.

When I got home I recorded myself doing the five katas. I did this a few months ago as well and plan on doing from time to time for my own edification. I see things that need to be cleaned up and can actually see improvements over time.

Sankyu Green Stripe

I tested for my Sankyu green stripe tonight by demonstrating Chinto Kata. Next I work on Seisan Kata with Chinto Kata for two months then test for Nikyu.

Sankyu Promotion

After demonstrating Wansu Kata and none stop sparring with Mr. Ripma (sp?) Kyoshi Dave Joslin promoted me to Sankyu, 3rd degree brown belt on January 13th, 2009.

Test for Purple Belt 3rd Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the third stripe on the purple belt last night. The balance of the Wansu Kata will be taught in the next two weeks for the December testing cycle. I will take a couple of extra days off work to get in additional training cycles.

Test for Purple Belt 2nd Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the second stripe on the purple belt tonight. I need to work on maintaining a vertical center line.

Turns out the "big drop" in the kata is more a goshi as opposed to a katsugi.

Test for Purple Belt 1st Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the first stripe on the purple belt tonight. We did the exam after Mr. Coke's sparring half of his exam for Sankyu. I felt better prepared with this kata than I have with any other.

Test for Yonkyu

Master Dave Joslin tested me on Naihanchi Kata tonight, for my purple belt. I am now a Yonkyu. Next step is Sankyu/brown.

As I learn finer and finer points about Isshinryu Karate they get applied back to the katas learned earlier and become new again.

1. Move foot
2. Catch
3. Step / set frame
   
4. Attack
5. Remain in Karate (zanshin)
   

Green Belt 2nd stripe

Kyoshi Dave Joslin tested me for the second/last stripe on the Green Belt tonight. Green Belt we learn Naihanchi Kata.

It took me several months to train myself to point the toes, plantar flexion, when I lift me knee for a kick. I had to unlearn what Prof. Tom Ryan showed me, lift the toes first for a faster lift. Tonight Kyoshi reminded me that in Naihanchi Kata we lift the toe and then scrap the foot on the ground as it is pulled in and away from Uki's sweep.

First Year in Karate

A year ago was my first promotion in Isshinryu Karate. Yesterday I took to camera to the dojo to record pictures of Mr. Oliver, our teacher, Ms. Bloom and myself.

Ms. Bloom and are climbing the ranks together. She is a shining example of someone following the principle taught at Joslin's East/West Karate.

I was just getting use to the physical conditioning (push-ups and sit-ups) when we go and get promoted out of the beginner class. There is a 50% increase in the number of conditioning exercises in the advanced classes. Ouh, ouh, ouh being it on!

Test for Gokyu

This week I tested for my next rank, Green Belt. Master Dave Joslin watched Ms. Bloom and I practicing the kata (we though we were practicing) and told Mr. Rypma to complete the paperwork for green.

As a green belt I now attend the intermediate classes with other green belts and the purple belts. The calisthenics are increased by 50% over the beginning classes.

West Coast Karate Classic 2008

I competed in the West Coast Karate Classic 2008 today, my first Karate competition. (Held in the gym of Placer High School just down the street.)

It started with all the adult blackbelts doing Kata (forms) which took about two hours to get organized and executed. Then they did all the kids.

I competed in the Intermediate 35+ male Forms and Intermediate 35+ male Sparring contests. Technically I should have been in the Beginners section but I didn't feel right competing with guys with less then one year experience.

First we did the Forms where I performed Seisan Kata. There was a tie for third place so Dan and I had to perform our katas a second time. Dan placed third, I was forth.

As soon as all the guys demonstrate their forms the awards were handed out and the Sparing competition started on the same mat. In this event I also placed forth. I don't understand how that happened as I did win either of my two rounds.

The sparing rules are to pause the fight as soon as one of the competitors scores a point. The match is paused before a counter can be launched. Many of the people who "know how it is done" drop their guard and turn their back on the opponent as soon as they touch them or they are touched. This one guy actually jumps up and vaults in head first with his fist extended to score a point; it looks silly and leaves him off balance and open to all kinds of counter punches and kicks (that are not allowed under the rules.)

Orange Belt, Fourth Stripe

I tested for the fourth stripe tonight. It was a little hesitant a couple of times in spots that haven't been a problem. The reason, my mind was distracted by the pulled calf muscle and not wanting to reinjure it (will this move stress the calf?).

One should not talk to or make comments to the judge during the kata demonstration.

Test for Rokukyu

Tonight I tested for my next rank, Orange Belt. Master Ron Joslin did the exam before class.

Turns out that what I though was a Chinese hidden foot move is actually stepping down the line a shoulder width forward and transferring all the weight onto the lead foot and twisting toward the lead leg such that the rear leg touches the other and becomes unweighted with heal up ready for a kick.

The promotion ceremony is next Wednesday at 6:00 PM.

Yellow Belt, Fourth Stripe

Tested the my fourth stripe tonight, demonstrating Seisan Kata to Master Ron Joslin.

Seisan Kata develops the Isshinryu Karate fundamental stance, seisan. After the exam I took a minute to work on my stance, working on keeping the feet parallel. Mr. Oliver came over and once again told me that my feet need to be farther apart, shoulder width.

Aha, "shoulder width" in Isshinryu means the inside of the feet are shoulder width apart. Mr. Oliver always showed the spacing correctly but the words mean something different to me (Wu Chi stance is what I do when "shoulder width" is specified.) To confirm that I finally got it I said it was like standing outside the [train track] rails where I was standing on the rails before.

This wider stance is not comfortable for me, makes my hips hurt a bit. Feels like my feet are stuck in snow. It is such an effort to pick them up from this stable stance.

MYB Week 2

Weight 230
BMI 29
BP 128 / 91

After the gourmet food at Prof. Hudson's Intensive I continued on the MYB program with the metabolic jump start program Monday - Friday.

Off the caffeine :)
Chocolate only when I can savor it. mmmmmh
Stomach is smaller, what I use to eat without getting full now feels like way to much.

MYB Week 1

Weight 231
BMI 30 %
BP 128 / 77

After 7 days of the express program. Dropped most of the weight (6.5 pound) the first day while drinking quite a bit and peeing even more.

No caffeine, no chocolate, strict adherence to the program.

MYB Week 0

Weight 241 pounds
BMI 30 %
BP high 143 / 92

Mind Your Body Program

Two weeks ago I started the Mind Your Body (MYB) program offered at the Karate dojo. It is working for me so I have decided to continue the program.

The way I am thinking of the program is as follows:

• Consume fewer calories
  
• Shrink size of the stomach
• Good nutrition
• Herbs to regulate body chemistry
• Protein carbohydrate balance to stabilize blood sugar
• Proper exercise in shorter bursts (20 minutes as opposed to 90 minutes)
• Positive thinking and meditation
• Body mind intention/integration
• "Eat well" 5 days a week, no worries 2 days a week
• Eliminate unconscious consumption of sweets
  

Test for Shichikyu

Master Dave Joslin tested me for Shichikyu (yellow belt) after Thursday tonight's class. He asked me and Ms. Bloom to do selected kata from the lower body moves.

When doing these examinations the candidate should wait for the instructor to announce the art then signal to begin by counting out the repetitions in Japanese. The candidate echos the count as they demonstrate, alternating right then left side when applicable. In the lower body moves, kicks, one shifts from a right guard to a left guard to demonstrate the left leg kicks; "eesa" is shouted when the feet are switched.

Promotion ceremony will be next Wednesday, July 11th at 6:00 PM.