Hanshi conducted the class this evening at the Ueshiro Midtown at St. Bart's Church.

 

The following points were stressed:

 

1. Hold the pose for strength. When  you are performing kata and you have an arm extended in chest punch position, or any other position, and the instructor begins to speak – use this time to work the arm. Work the arm, shoulders, chest, legs and any other muscles while the instructor speaks. Also focus on the exact target. This will strengthen the arm and make it easier to hit the target when performing the technique during kata.

 

2. When performing kata within a group the most important thing to do is to stay together in the group. If you have a problem about when to begin the move, here is a technique which will help. While working with the group, be the last to begin to move – but be the first to finish the move..

 

3. If you are performing kata within a group and you make a mistake just fix it. Be confident of your kata. If someone else in the group makes an error – do not copy the same error – continue to perform the kata in the proper way.

 

4. Be aware of your surroundings during the kata. This is especially important when there is a large class in a small room. When making big turns use your peripheral vision like radar to “get a feeling” for the proximity of the person next to you or even behind you. If there is any question about the proximity of the person next to you execute the technique at half power. The awareness that you practice on the deck is the exact same awareness you would use when you walk down the street, ride a bike, or ride on the subway.

 

5. The second move in P1 has the head block arm dropping down to break and the chest block arm becoming the punching arm. When the head block arm drops during this technique - do not move the chest block arm out of the its chest block position. The punch is delivered from the chest block position. It travels only a very short distance. The power in the punch comes from the head block arm’s elbow being driven backward after the break.

 

6. In Naihanchi the feet are constantly adjusting so the heels may be placed in the correct “outward” position.

 

7. Toward the end of the class, before any “cool down” half speed katas and any stretching, be sure to challenge the body to move the fastest and hit the hardest. In the same way a marathon runner would run the last 200 yards at maximum speed to win the event.

 

Arigato,

Steve Lott