Class Notes - Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Youth Karate
Four students. We started with medicine ball ten exercises, then did outside/inside crescent kicks to pads. I had the upper ranks add on the side kick for a combination.

We did self defense for the second half of class, with some focus on aiming the spear.

Adult Karate
Two students with Ron assisting. Started off with the side to side drag step warm up series - the basics, then moving into the hooks and uppercuts.

We then did a couple kicks in a few ways. First the outside/inside crescent kick to pads, then the lotus kick just for aim to our partners. Then a similar thing with side kicks to pads, and angle kicks to our partners. The idea was to look at the different ways the techniques can be changed into different situations, such as sparring vs. self defense.

We went over our forms and self defense, with focus on trapping hands. And then worked on the mobility throw.

We ended with some shadow sparring. Good class with a good crew.

Adult Karate class notes - Monday 4.30.12 - Angus

Adult Karate Class Report 4-30-12
Angus Reid leading, Sensei Kratz & Thomas Perham assisting, five other
students attending

Felt like a low-energy day at first, but we had a very active class
and everyone seemed to finish invigorated and with high spirits and
energy.

Did the 10, 5-way kicks, and several lines of stretch/core kicks down the room.
Stretched the legs for kicking, focusing on the quad and straddle.
Using body shields and partners, we first warmed up the kicks doing
freestyle combos of front thrust / side / turning side / turning back
kicks, in any sequence that flowed, advancing on the pad-holder. Next
drill was the same techniques, but from a sparring position, moving
around the pad-holder and throwing the kicks as they would be in a
sparring match. The final drill was 'sparring without striking', a
favorite of mine where both people are maneuvering for advantage,
trying to get to the blind side or open up a line of attack on an
exposed area, but not actually making any attacks. To my mind, it
takes out the defensive/reactive aspect of being in a sparring match,
allowing you to see and think about what you're trying to do and where
you want to be, ideally.

From there we put on gear and had a half-dozen 3-minute matches,
finishing with a cool-down round.

We all worked on our rank forms for about 10 minutes, then stretched
together before the bow-out.

Chelsea had good energy and stayed engaged and focused throughout, so
good for her. Just have to work on her maturity level- she doesn't
understand that it's not okay to be talking constantly, even when
instructions are being given.

Thurs 3/8 & Sat 3/10 Lily

Thursday:
Colleen and I taught together.  A very small group, both Simons Jack were there.  I started with the 10, followed by a little shoulder stretching and splits.  I did some core work as well, stressing how core strength is important in martial arts.

I continued by having everyone partner up and work with elbows to the pads.  We did forward elbows, elbows dropping down and elbows coming up.  We did elbows to the back with the standing bags.  We followed this with a little practice with drop knees.  I talked about how these should really be used in extremely rare and dangerous situations because they can do such damage.  We finished with some circle self-defense.  This was Simon's (white belt, not sure of his last name) first time with circle self-defense and he didn't do too bad, except for using punches instead of palm heals.

Saturday:
Both classes were big.  I helped with the kids class, and taught a bit of the second.  Second class I started with the 10 and did some split stretches (forgot core, darn!).  Followed that with jogging around the room and the stance work and high knees.  I finished up with the techniques in a circle.  I came up with two combos; palm heal, elbow, knee and upward elbow, lotus kick and knee.  The first I liked better and flowed better.  Upward elbows are a bit tricky, but I wanted to try something a bit different.  It comes out of Wan-su kata.

I'll be back around May 20th.  I'll miss you guys, but thanks for a great week of practice before I head back to school.

Arnis and Karate class notes - Monday 6/27/11 - Jeff

The arnis class had a couple of beginner students in it, so much of the class was focused on the 12 angles of attack and block cehck counter.  We also worked on the first stick anyo as a group and ran through the rest of the anyos a little more quickly.
 
The karate class got a bit sticky, so after streching and strengthening drills we did a large amount of throws and ground work.  Very good energy and effort by all through both classes.  
 

Adult Karate class notes - Monday 5.23.11 - Jeff

Pleanty of energy in the room.  We started off with the 10 excersises and did some leg strengthening drills.  We ran through the forms at performance speeds as a warm up and moved on to some kicking drills.  We ended the night with free and ring sparring.  

Adult Karate class notes - Thursday 12.23.10 - Ron

Ten souls attending. Ron led class with Norm and Colleen assisting
We started with warm up shadow boxing, everyone broke a light sweat before we moved to stretching and conditioning. Josh was there and we went over some basic techniques and stance review including introducing him to side kick and roundhouse kicks. Norman gave him attention and instruction on much of this. I think Josh had a good time. Requests were to continue to go over some form detail, so Colleen lead a group slowly through the advanced forms and Norm volunteered to lead a group through the first two. Each took a group of five and then switched. There were friendly discussions on detail. There was time for some bag work focusing on self defense techniques rather than sparring techniques, and some free style self defense after that. What a pleasure to be involved here this evening. There was some high level of intensity with no injuries.


Ron 

Adult Karate class notes - Monday 12.20.10 - Ron

Monday December 20 Karate.
Great group with Seinsei Kratz, and Mr. Reid attending. Warmed up with shadow boxing, then to the ten exercises. Continued with stretching, then sit-ups and pushups. Went through all the forms, lead well by Colleen, Thomas, Scott, Angus, myself, and Jason. The form leaders hit a real solid, unhurried tempo and stuck to it. Class followed well,and was clearly thinking about detail and good body mechanics. Went through, short cane, Low family staff, Broad Sword, and Tai Chi staff drills on right and left sides with everyone who had forms. Several folks got one on one instruction on form detail and sequence. Short break to gear up, and we had about twenty five minutes for free sparring. I talked just briefly about how I see the guard as a strong self defense position, when we are past the point of descalating the situation. The guard is dynamic, with moving the elbows and hands, trying to ward off the first attack without taking too much damage. Jason agreed and added that protecting the head in the first unexpected assault would be most important. Five minutes for some calming standing meditation and the night was over.

Thursday 12.2.10 class notes - Sensei Kratz

Little dragons, assisted with end of class, partner work which worked out well, pad holding and snap kicks


 4:30 Youth class with Peter leading 10 exercises. Jogging around room taking into account some of the sick students with a cough. Important to always keep on eye on the younger ones for things as such. Attempted a three person SD drill from front and rear attack off of Crash of the Eagle. Almost pulled it from the show but it worked out in the end with most. Attention discussed, some still working on right and left side , front and rear side and which is which. Thrust kicks to pads with partners, ended with Kata and Skyler completing all the movements adding a black tip to her yellow belt. Everyone can keep an eye on who is at a point where they think the student is ready for that and let Sifu or I know. It is difficult at times to keep up with those little things which are not little for the younger folk and important for most surrounding acknowledgement. 


Staff class workout was excellent, I worked with Peter on Tai Chi staff. It was great to work with him after a long period of not seeing him due to scheduling. He picked up the form quickly. Up and coming star.


6:30 Adult Karate class with the A group in the room. Lowest rank was purple belt which allowed for all and any material to be presented. Continued with three person SD drill, hook kicks and old school ridge hands to pads. Ended with Kata. 


(Sensei) Mr. Kratz 

Adult Karate class notes - Thursday 11.13.10 - Dennis

We started class with the ten exercises, then stretching, and then Kata.

 

Since I've been working on the Kata corrections you gave me, I thought it would be good if we tried some of the strikes against the pads.  We did the Nihanchi plus the Seiuchin variants of the oriental back-fist and also the sternum strike from Seiuchin.  After that, we did some harmony sparring drills followed by some sparring.

Dennis

Adult Karate Class Notes Thursday 9.16.10 Sifu

Med size class of 8-10, Black Belts Ron, Dennis, Angus, Marcia, Jesse present and assisting
Dennis led the 10 - I did a reading from "When things fall apart" by Pema Chodron, talked about the opportunities to practice available in the present moment - I led through a 18 minute Standing Meditation with Centering the Breath Qigong at the end - we worked the Katas through Kusanku with corrections and key points as we went.