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.

Hit Pill really works

A week ago I pulled a muscle during the Saturday morning Karate class. Initially it felt like a cramp, the gastroc was balling up and I couldn't put any weight on the foot. It was a strain of the left medial insertion of the gastrocnemius.

Used a cold pack right away and watched the rest of class. When I got home I took a Hit Pill. I have had this pill around for a dozen years and this is the first time that I have had the occasion to use it (save the time last August when I got the same injury to the lateral gastroc insertion but forgot about the Hit Pill until days later).

Hit Pills are used for major injuries to muscle and sinew. Also called trauma pills they are a Traditions Chinese Medicine (TCM) that we use in the practice of Seifukujutsu. It promotes the flow of Qi and prevent the stagnation of blood. Use the first 24 hours after an injury. One must remove the protective wax coating before ingesting.

I could feel the effects of the Hit Pill:

• reduced swelling
• walking a day earlier
• little stagnation of Qi or blood
• reduced pain

I was walking normally four days later and using the muscle gingerly a week later. I think the healing is a couple of days ahead of the last time because I uses the Hit Pill. I now carry one in my gi bag along with the dit dar jau and hot sauce.

Three Ts of Sparring

Mr. Hill talked about the three "T"s of sparring on Tuesday.

• Timing
• Technique
• Trickery

Not necessarily in that order.

Effortlessly

Found a ten minute video on YouTube today of Fong Ha. Looks like he my be intending to post lessons for all of us who can't make it to Berkeley to train.

Check it out.

"Uncle Willie's" pushups

Last night while leading the conditioning exercises Mr. Rypma said that during the Uncle Willie's exercise one should contract the abdominal. If one were strong enough and performing this on ice the body would jack knife.

This exercise is performed by prone, the forearms on the mat and lifting the body up off the ground so that it is parallel to the floor, weight on the forearms and balls of the feet. It is named for Grand Master Willie Adams.

I use to think that this was an "easy" exercise and an opportunity to rest. Not any more, it's bleeding hard work to pull the elbows to the toes. Can you say isometric? How about dynamic tension?

Orange Belt, Third Stripe

Last week Koyshi Dave Joslin tested and awarded my 3rd green stripe on my orange belt.

The day before he pointed out that the quick down blocks on the arms of the Y need to knock a kick so that they go behind you. Strike with the two knuckles.

After class I asked him about Seiuchin Kata, does he have the kanji? First thought was to look in the book I am reading but it does not have any kanji :(. He will look for it. Yes, it does mean "empty mind", that is the concept/principle/strategy taught with Seiuchin Kata. Munen Muso.

Orange Belt, Second Stripe

Sensei Ashbee tested me for my second stripe on my Orange belt today.

I have been working on dynamic tension and he commented on how well I am starting to use it.

Last week Sensei Ashbee helped me with my Ishinryu fist, getting the finger all the way in to hide the nails. Today he pointed out that the thumb that is on top of the first index joint is actually a bit medial. Feels like instead of smashing the joint you are braced into it.

Now when I practice my kata I will focus on getting the fist position correct before pouring on the dynamic tension.