End of Summer 'Kihon Challenge Training'

 To wrap up the summer, here in Japan, I decided to really push myself. At 26 years old I lost an informal squat competition with Kagawa Masao Sensei who was 47. It was in the final quarter of 2002 after three months training in Japan (at that period, of my life, I was still always on visitor visas. So I could only stay for three months at a time). Anyway, to send me off Kagawa Sensei made the final session 50 minutes of squats 'to send me home with a memory.' Since then, I have regularly turned up the heat in my self-training, especially in regards to squats. Now I am nearly Kagawa Sensei's age back at that time, I'm 46, so I'm hoping to be able to outgun karateka in their 20s like he did with me. He showed me that we must push ourselves to the limit. A big thanks to Kagawa Sensei for his pressure and motivational pressure. Such experiences I will never forget. A great memory! OK, so I onto my SUMMER ' KIHON CHALLENGE TRAINING' regime. OSU!!

基本 (KIHON)

①         Migi chudan gyaku-zuki (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi): 1000x

②         Hidari chudan gyaku-zuki (Migi zenkutsu-dachi): 1000x

③         Migi chudan mae-geri keage (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi): 1000x

④         Hidari chudan mae-geri keage (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi): 1000x

⑤         Chudan choku-zuki (Kiba-dachi): 1000x

 In sum, “summer challenge”: 5000 precise kihonwaza and tachikata.

 

 

型 (KATA)

①         太極初段 (Taikyoku Shodan)

②         平安初段 (Heian Shodan)

③         鉄騎初段 (Tekki Shodan)

④         順路初段 (Junro Shodan)

⑤         常行一勢 (Joko Issei)

 Just twice each through the above five kata simply focusing on precise 基本技 (fundamental techniques), stances and transitions/footwork. Taken as a whole, in addition to the aforementioned focus on precision, “push… the stances and through the transitions—hard; and relax the waza—soft.”

 

 

組手 (KUMITE )

 

①         基本一本組手  (Kihon Ippon Kumite)

Attack with, and defend/counter against: migi and hidari jodan oi-zuki, chudan oi-zuki, chudan mae-geri keage, chudan yoko-geri kekomi and jodan mawashi-geri (or chudan mawashi-geri).

 

•             When attacking focus on basic form of tachikata and waza, unsoku and shingitai. One must aim to hit in the same manner as breaking boards. In defense concentrate on ‘sinking’ and koshi no kaiten retaining exact shisei, timing of forearm twist and ‘wrist impact’ with ukewaza, and countering spontaneously with the best waza at that moment in regards to maai and positioning of both oneself and that of the training partner.

 

 

②         自由一本組手  (Jiyu Ippon Kumite)

Attack with, and defend/counter against: migi and hidari jodan oi-zuki, chudan oi-zuki, chudan mae-geri keage, chudan yoko-geri kekomi, jodan mawashi-geri (or chudan mawashi-geri) and chudan ushiro-geri kekomi.

 

•             Focus on large scale and deep attacks with oi-waza, aim to ‘go through the opponent’ physically and with strong kihaku: maximum physical and psychological compression and expansion. Compress into the freestyle stance and jiyu na kamae, then expand to the maximum into a strong classical waza, then compress back into the freestyle position. When defending use large-scale unsoku to escape and fully compress, then expand to the limit when counterattacking. The waza, if not controlled must be one’s best shot to down the opponent. Like kihon ippon the counterattack must be spontaneous and optimal in that moment. After countering immediate compress back into the free style stance and kamae with zanshin. In sum, when both attacking and defending, the aim is to practice ‘ippon waza’ every time.

 In sum, repeat both Kihon Ippon Kumite and Jiyu ippon Kumite five times—attack, defense and counterattack—on both right and left sides.

 

To conclude, (a) complete thirty diamond push ups, 30 archer push ups. 30  jumping push up and 10 handstand push ups; 1000 crunches; and (c) 1000 three directional lunges (front right and left, right side then left side)

                                      © Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2022).