A Dark Side Adventure

Public holiday – a lazy day. Fast lagoon walk, just an hour, very very hot today. Spring high tide - lots of fish and birds, enjoy the meditative aspect. Energising.

Intuflow this evening.

Holiday tomorrow, relax tonight. A little Sanchin and Intuflow to music tonight…can’t get much better…

Have trimmed the playlist down from 2000 odd to 750 on my own list, big mix all randomised.

Glass of wine. I deserve it!

Senior training with senseis and black belts. Still rather aware of body parts, legs especially,  after the last few days…

Just workshopped kata – Hangetsu and Sepai – with different seniors scrutinising, very good, very educational and slightly depressing really. . So very much to work on.

Then finished with light kumite. I’m using a lot of circular stuff, the defence is working but I’m still struggling to capitalise on it.

I wonder at what point are the three styles of karate I fnd myself doing going to start fighting with themselves full contact and at which point my brain will explode?!?

Very sore from the last couple of days, very democratic because its absolutely all over – abs, legs, arms, the lot. Think even my hair hurts. I supppose pain is evidence of effort.

Taught two classes tonight, smallish numbers, first time with the new format. Kids and whites first – basics, combinations, focus mitt work. Solid class.

Worked the seniors hard with progressive, functional partner work combinations, strength work and conditioning, a higher intensity class than usual. Working on coordination, memory, stamina, strong attacks, different weapons. Next week I’ll work on reinforcing the importance of guards because it was really obvious when theyre under stress the basic structure suffers badly. If they take a few hits it might sink in.

Threw in some  “fun” haha team excercises such as multiple squats in a linked circle and medecine ball situps -  and on top of the the last two days of these my body is singing to me quite loudly. Warmed down with stretches, specially the good twisting back ones.

Trained with the local Ashihara group tonight, my second class with Sensei Mark, and now that its over, I really enjoyed it.

Warmed up running around the dojo then five times up and down the hill outside. Man it was hot.

Then three combinations – strikes with round elbow, switch knees and skipping up round kicks. All separately then all together. Then progressed to partner work with pads. Finally partner work using the moves in a sabaki format with different applications and takedowns. Inbetween he throws in a big range of stretches and strength stuff so the class is always busy and changing. Very hard, very fast, very functional.

Very very good.

Lots of principles used although not really explained but thats okay.

I struggle with the basics – I am a white belt again, but that’s okay too.