August 10, 2006

Got it!

I was elated after karate class last week because I had my waza (small series of moves) down. (I’m trying to explain myself a little better for non karate-ka’s.  It was pointed out to me that the terms "waza" and "bunkai" can be a bit confusing for the gi-less.)  It felt good to have one of the many things I need for brown belt testing committed to knowledge.  I am happy to announce the second. . . Kyan No Sai.  I know my weapons kata and I know it well.  There are lots of little intricacies that I’m missing I’m sure; but for now, the pattern is there and that’s the first step. 

During the intermediate class, we went through the sai kata several times, but that’s not what made it click.  Last week in class, we used the sai in a mock fight against an attacker with a bo.  We used the moves from the kata for this, and there is nothing like bunkai (application of the kata) to make you commit it to memory for good.  If someone is going to be swinging a big stick at you and all you have are sai to protect yourself, you’re going to learn how to use them pretty quickly. 

I have doubled my karate class load and I am enjoying it greatly.  When I did this before I had Lil C, I found that I learned kata’s much faster.  It only takes a week or two of doubling the time and you can already see a difference.  Kata’s start to sink in so much faster.  Even the way you do basics improves, or at least feels like it does.

Speaking of basics, Big I did her new waza last night for our instructor.  He took so much time with her, helping her with the pattern during class.  After class, he kept her and made her go through it again.  And after my advanced class, he pulled her back out on the floor and made her go through it one more time.  I’m going to hound her this week to make sure she has it down for good.  They say that the younger you are, the faster knowledge sinks in; but I’m not so sure that applies to karate.  Another first for Big I?  She actually spoke to our instructor. Until this point she has only nodded or placed her cheek on her shoulder while wishing she could disappear when being addressed.  This was a big step all on its own!

After the intermediate class, several other students who are currently 4th kyu’s as well came over and asked me how much of the material I knew for brown belt testing.  Testing is September 16th.  I told them that I knew my waza and the sai kata.  They asked me to go through the sai kata with them a few times.  Teaching the kata to someone else is really the best way to learn it once you know the basics of the pattern.  I am beginning to feel like brown belt testing in September will actually be a reality for me.  A few weeks ago I thought there was no way I would be ready.  I considered asking about waiting until December to test, but I don’t think that will be necessary now.
I would hope that if I tested and wasn’t ready, that my instructor would tell me so.  Sure, it would be disappointing, but it doesn’t feel good to be passed along when you haven’t earned it. 

Speaking of moving up the ranks, a few weeks ago our instructor pointed out that lining up goes by rank, but when there are several students of the same rank, the older person is first.  I respect others in the dojo for what they have done, and it’s nice to be respected back for the rank that I have earned.  It’s also nice to know that at least somewhere there’s a benefit for being older than others.  After all the teasing I get from my family about being a "Kramer" and taking karate class with kids, I should get some benefit right?

Cosmo

I have always had a respect for others in the dojo, especially my instructors.  Last night in the advanced class, I was the lowest rank once again.  There were two other black belts and our instructor.  We went through the new open hand kata’s that I need to know for testing: Pinan Sandan and Nai Hanchi Sandan.  After running through the kata’s a few times, we moved onto some basic sparring drills applying moves from the kata.  And this is where my poor, sad, arms come into the story. 

I was paired up with my instructor.  I started by throwing two punches at him: first with the right, then the left.  He used a move from the Pinan kata where he blocked my arm, grabbed with the other hand and back fisted my face.  My instructor is very good at sparring and these sparring drills.  Almost every time I came at him with my punches, he changed it up and did something different.  I did a lot of flinching. 

Then we switched places and I held my own.  I got tangled up in his arm a couple times but I got the hang of it by the end of the drill.  When my instructor went on and started explaining the next drill, he asked me to throw a right punch as he blocked, followed by a left punch that he blocked and then another back fist.  He was trying to show different ways that you could apply these moves and I thought he wanted me to throw two punches rapid fire.  So I did.  The first one he blocked successfully; the second landed right above his eye.  The horror!  I felt awful about it and began apologizing profusely.  He laughed and told me he’d rather have me making a little bit of contact then finishing my punch and being three inches away.  I told him he could punch me back if he wanted to get even.  Instead he just blocked my punches as usual, making me flinch along the way, and occasionally inflicting that tingly pain in my arms from his blocks.  Ouch.

After my turn was over, he said I did well.  He said he was throwing the punches at full speed and I was blocking correctly.  With these drills the object is to let your attacker’s punch get as close to making contact as possible.  You want them committed to the punch, and that’s when you take advantage of their balance and their commitment and throw them for a loop or two (sometimes literally). 

Although this advanced class is challenging, I am learning things in that class that I wouldn’t otherwise learn until I was a much higher rank.  Anyone can learn a kata, but learning how to apply that kata is where your true understanding and self-defense techniques come in.  I feel like I’m getting a jump start on learning the more advanced skills and that can only serve to make me a better martial artist.

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Posted by on August 10, 2006 in Tales from the dojo | 7 Comments

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