For the Atikokan Karate Club.
Yesterday we practiced Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan and Heian Yondan 5 times each, taking turns lining up infront of the mirrors. (Yes! Mirrors) Between each kata set we did a set of dynamic stretching, followed by static stretching on a ledge. Lots of stretching.
Squeeze-Release Drill.
We started off with the familiar kata so we could practice a muscle tension drill. In stead of thinking about what moves to do, we were working on focucing the muscle tension at the end of the movement so the body came to a complete freeze frame - as though our bodies had been paused on a video. Then, on the count, we *relaxed* into the next move of the kata. Between each move, I would say squeeeezzzzzeeeeee.... Release!!! The squeeze would be holding the correct muscle tension at the end of each kata move, creating drive in the direction of the technique. The Release!! must instantly start your body in the direction of the next kata move.
Correctly done, this drill requires the kata to be performed at a slower pace than normal, and the kata becomes something like Hangetsu in muscular exersion - making the drill a strengthening calesthenics routine that should cause shortness of breath after 2 or three times through a kata.
Strength for Flexibility
I'm recommending that each student drop by Home Hardware on Main st, and purchase Two 10 foot lengths of bungie chord for class. We will be including routines of strength-training aimed at increasing our flexibility. These routines are based on the book "scientifically stretching" - the same drills I've been doing at home for the past three weeks... with very satisfactory results.
Shotokan Karate Videos
Ove time, I'll be collecting videos of the shotokan karate training sessions and routines we do every class.
Next Karate Class in Atikokan
Karate Belts Awards!
Congratulations to the students who traveled to Winnepeg in November to attend the Smaby Seminars on Karate Pressure Points and test for their next belt!
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