Latest training regime marks the seventh anniversary of this site

Here is my latest karate-do self-practice routine, which I have been following since early last week. I guess it is not particularly outstanding in any way, just merely about `getting stuck in’ and attempting to capitalise on self-analysis. Bolstering this, of course, is the phenomenal tuition of Nakamura Masamitsu Shihan, whose technical advice is absolutely invaluable. Before I outline my latest self-training regime, it is probably also worth mentioning that today marks the seventh anniversary of this blog! Osu, André.

KIHON: This month, in my kihon training (besides seiken choku-zuki, gyaku-zuki, mae-geri, and shuto yokomawashi uchi) I am focusing on ido-kihon; namely the JKA (Japan Karate Association) syllabus techniques. Normally, I tend to be more diverse and simplistic in my self-practice of kihon; nonetheless, I periodically still go through the `examination kihon’. That being said, I do not believe in merely doing laps up and down the dojo. Every practice, I focus on a core theme i.e. – kokyu (breathing), a specific aspect of my unsoku (leg movements/footwork) and so on. Anyway, here is my `flexible’ base plan…

 

Ido kihon: (1) Either `Chudan jun-zuki’, `Sanbon ren-zuki or ‘Kizami-zuki kara sanbon ren-zuki’; (2) Either ‘Jodan age-uke kara chudan soto-uke kara chudan gyaku-zuki’ or `Ippo sagatte Jodan age-uke kara mawashi-geri, yoko-uraken soshite chudan jun-zuki; (3) `Chudan soto-uke kara yori-ashi yoko enpi (kiba-dachi), yoko uraken soshite chudan gyaku-zuki’; (4) Chudan uchi-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara kizamiz-zuki soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (5) Ippo sagatte gedan barai kara chudan jun-zuki soshite chudan jun-zuki; (6) Either ‘Chudan shuto-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara nukite’ or ‘Chudan shuto-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara kizami mae-geri soshite nukite; (7) Either ‘Mae-geri kara chudan jun-zuki’, ‘Ren-geri’ or Mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (8) `Yoko-keage ashi o kaete yoko-kekomi (kiba-dachi); and (9) Either Mawashi-geri kara gyaku-zuki’ or mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi, mawashi-geri soshite chudan gyaku-zuki’.

 ·         Repetitions: At present I am doing quite low repetitions compared to normal Each ido-kihon waza I merely perform 10 times slowly, then 10 times with maximum effort. If unsatisfied, I simply do another set (another 10 slow, then with everything I’ve got). In sum, my kihon training at present is all about quality rather than quantity, and really working on `precision coupled with explosiveness’ in a systematic way.

KUMITE: At present, Nakamura Shihan has us going through all of the forms of standard Nihon Karate Kyokai kumite (Gohon kumite, Kihon ippon kumite, Jiyu ippon kumite and Jiyu kumite) but occasionally he gives us a variation; for example, jiyu ippon kumite—then immediately after the counterattack—a quick moment of jiyu kumite. In my self-training, besides reviewing what we are doing in the group practices, I am working a lot on my deai-waza; furthermore, reviewing the oyo (applications) of Gojushiho Dai kata.

 

KATA: Quite simply my kata practice is divided into three sections: shitei, sentei and tokui-gata, as follows…

 (A) Shitei-gata: Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan and Tekki Shodan; (B) Sentei-gata: Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi and Jion; and (C) Tokui-gata: GOJUSHIHO DAI.

 

·         Repetitions: Unlike kihon I am tending to do kata `until failure’ i.e. – until I can no longer continue. Of course, this depends on my daily condition and the environment each day. To wrap up the kata portion of my training, I always end with a treat i.e. – “blast out a kata not from my regime” (either another jiyu-gata or a `non-syllabus’ kata). For me, this final kata really strips me of all my energy, and ends the session with a bang.

 

OSU,

アンドレ　バーテル

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken. Japan (2014).