Youth/Adult Karate class report - Saturday Jan 12, 2013 - Sensei Kratz

Big classes to start out the new year with a ton of excellent assistants. Started the young ones, and I mean the big group of 7 to 8 year old white belts who can be a handful, with some cardio. During stretches we discussed, or I did, the proper behavior in the changing room and hygiene. Yes, hygiene. Toe nails, finger nails, runny noses and keeping your hands clean so that your partners will want to work with you without getting sick. Flu and colds are a concern overall as we know. Knees to bodyshield with big partner vs smaller, talked about proper pad holding with breathing and impact issues as time goes on. Also thrust kicks with distance drill. Katas and then some SD techniques. Ended with soon to be 7 year old Jacob performing his Niahanchi in front of a large group. He did amazing due to a heavy struggle with left and right side comparison. His mother and aunt discussed with me that this has been Jacob's first and longest commitment to anything and the fact that he wanted to stop training when he turned 7 years old. I had a short talk with Jacob about it and may have persuaded him into continuing. Amazing helpers with Colleen,Teryn, Scott M., Scott G, Jack F, Jack R, Thomas and Simon. 

Second class also well attended with Scott M working out the group for the first half hour. Then some boxing drills to the pads and ended with Katas. Peace-  Sensei Kratz

Youth Karate class notes - Sat. 10/20/12 - Sensei Kratz

Sat. Youth Karate 10/20/12 -  Had great assistance from Colleen,Thomas, Scott, Simon V. in the first class where we were able to have 8 upper ranks with 8 lower ranks for a free sparring intro. We had one, Jacob, being his very first time.

We discussed protective gear and using the correct intent, attitude and cooperation. Nice crew of white belts. Focused on stance work to start, distancing, not squaring up the body and hand position. And yes, the big one to start, not reaching out to grab a punch or kick. The absorb a blow idea is difficult in the beginning.

 

Second class ran through katas and worked on palm block to outside arm straight punch defense to single shoulder lock, out to reverse arm bar and then to mobility throw using the axe kick behind the head to throw the partner. Most enjoyed. Advanced techinque.                               ARNIS EVAL NOV 7TH                   SENSEI KRATZ

Youth Karate class notes - Saturday 7/7/12 - Sensei Kratz

Very warm and muggy day, about 85 up in the Dojo. Some of little ones were distracted by the heat. s First class we had nine young ones with me, Simon VB and Colleen assisting. Sifu ran the group through ten warmups, aerobic and coordination drills running around the outside of the room area. We then moved onto to the basic techniques in a circle working on awareness and proper left and right, front and back hands for the younger ones. Worked on Katas and ending with a few SD techniques.    2nd Class, total of ten including myself. Short ten exercises moving to focus pad work, jab-cross-front hand hook, to snap kicks,  to assisted partner stretching.  Ended with backwards throw and wrist lock, inside outside off of straight punch. We had some under 10 year olds in the group starting to get it. Please have students notify if and when they are away on vacation on not going to be in class.  We have some dates this summer where we may be very light on staff assisted classes due to summer schedules.  Sensei Kratz

Youth/Adult Karate class notes - Thursday 5.31.12 - Sensei Kratz

Big class, at least 15 students not including my assistants, {Thank Goodness} for Ron, Colleen and Mr. Miner. We started with some practice of "lining up", with the students lining up, then doing two laps around the room in a jog and quick as possible back into line. They loved it with some sliding into their spot. Not so good.

 

Had a quiz on all ten exercises from the white belts and one no belt, Zepher; who appropriately approached me handing me a white belt at the start of class, stating "You can give this to me at the end of class."  It had been a month of practice for him.

 

In between each of the exercises we had the senior student lead the group around the room in a jog, backwards jog, side stepping, high knees, crisscross etc...   it went over well. I think it helped with concentration on the exercises.

 

We spent sometime in a circle as a group with backfist, double backfist and thrust kick. We finished with some rolls on the mats with help from everyone. Very difficult to work on, some were getting the idea. Ended with adding the thrust kick to pads for fun.

 

Zepher was awarded his white belt, and Tristen Trask was awarded a black tip for Seisan Kata (all movements) at 8 years old.

 

Sat. 06/2 =  added a new student to youth program, Matthew L. ,  10 years old.  Good classes working kata applications.  

Youth Karate class notes - Saturday 1.21.12 - Sensei Kratz

Mr. Kratz, Ms. Golrich, Mr. Citino, Mr. Perham, Mr. Miner and Simon V. all assisting with the first beginner class which was a great help. We completed the ten exercises then some stretching. We moved into basic kick and punch combos to pads including Backfist/Cross/Roundhouse kick, and Backfist/Sidekick in attempts at some sparring later in the class. The little ones, 6 year olds, still working hard on the combinations. Little Simon and Forest needed the most help. Moved into some sparring after discussing appropriate gear for the boys and girls. Sailor and Skyler also showed and I had Skyler assist also with some sparring. Colleen took Maddy and Sailor for sparring and bag work. The rest of the class simply worked on distancing during sparring, stance work and letting the young ones get comfortable with throwing techniques keeping the expectations limited. As usual, the reach out and grab, hand position and straight line only stancework was an issue which was discussed. Second class went well surrounding Chelsea and her promotion to 7TH Kyu Yellow Belt. We worked some bag work with hands only and did see all or most with improvement after discussion. Gloves were used which I believe helps some considering I skinned off a knuckle demonstrating. I had two point sparring rings running and discussed some difference and similarities between the two. We had Chelsea spar a number of students including some half her size little ones which she was able to make adjustments with.

CONGRATES to Chelsea and she was promoted to Yellow Belt at the end of class. Lets all keep an eye on her and make appropriate delicate adjustments when needed with her. If anyone has any questions, see me or Sifu. Note: (I will be out of country from Friday 01/27 until Sat. 02/4 gathering some vitamin D.) Also, we will all miss Teryn soon to be back at school. It has been amazing having him in the room and his Suansu (Black Belt Kata) is completed.

Youth Karate class notes - Saturday 1.14.12 - Sensei Kratz

Sat. Youth Class notes.  1st Class, approx. 10 students. 5 white belts which was great. Sifu, Mr. Kratz and Ms. Golrich. 

 Sailor attended her first youth class out of the Little Dragon program. Sifu worked heavy on Stance, Balance and Accuracy surrouding vertical punch and blocks. We also worked on Niahanchi Kata with focus on slow movements and horse stance. The traditional Uppercut was found to need a great deal of practice. It appears the work "upper" makes the young ones believe they need to be punching themselves in the chin. We later worked with the white belts the uppercut to focus pads with helped some.

 

Second class I ran a small white belt evaluation with Sofie and Chelsea (white belts) We completed the ten exercises, basic techniques includijng line work, SD techniques and at the end of class they both performed Niahanchi Kata in front of good size group.  All senior staff plan to complete their Evaluation during the second class with some ring sparring and their promotions. 

 

Sensei Kratz 

partner practice and adult karate class notes - Thursday 7/7/11 - Sensei Kratz

Four of us showed for some partner work 5:30 to 6:30, 84 degrees in the room- Ouch! --- Me, Thomas, Dale and Peter. Thomas successfully taught Dale the joint lock flow drill within the hour, Nice job Thomas! Peter and I did same.  Adult class was amazing with 9 total including myself. Green belts and above! We completed a short version of the ten exercises and then worked some jumping plyometric drills I had recently studied from the P90X series including jumping jack squats, jump squats, "burppees", push ups, sit ups, jogging. About 20 minutes with a lot of sweating. Wallace round house drill, water break. Completed a kata, then quickly into partner work with SD technique of choice as many reps as possible in two minutes. Back to a kata, then back to partner work with a SD tech using only flowing elbows as a counter. Back to a kata, partner work again using stomps and knees as a counter only, back to a kata. Back to partner work with trapping hands using left hand only. Back to a kata Chinto twice due to having two Green belts in the room. Back to partner work using right hand only trapping hands.  Ended with the joint lock flow drill for about 20 minutes emphasizing partner moving their stance to attempt to counter to help with flow. Good times overall.    Sensei Kratz

New locking sequence June 26, 2011

f
Scott applied the goals of education recently - He "independently" used "initiative" to search YouTube, then applied "critical thinking" to search out a productive, useful, fun, in the same system (small circle jujitsu/modern arnis) joint locking series. Then got together with Sensei Kratz and worked the new series. Scott then assisted Sensei in presenting the material to the Advanced Youth Karate-do class this past Saturday.......very impressive you guy's!!! All we need to do as a group is more of the same and the System will be ongoing for a long time to come;>)

Sifu

Youth Karate class notes Saturday 5.7,11 - Sensei Kratz

Morning class was small, six students with Colleen, Thomas, Lily and Teryn assisting. Energy was great. Worked on a combination of haymaker strike both sides with the pads using a high "L" block to  jab,cross, jab to a sweeping strike to head both sides with the "bob and weave" defend to jab,cross, jab again. "Bob and weave" was needing some help so we worked on it with the rope drill down the room. Then did some kata practice. Second class about the same with more work on the previous drill and kata practice. CONGRATES to John G, Scott M, Lily S and Teryn C. graduating this week from High School. Such a pleasure to have you all in the dojo.    Sensei Kratz

Youth Karate Rank Testing 2.19.11 - Sensei Kratz

Eval notes: started with 6 young ones ended with 4 due to sickness by this date. Four yellow belts were promoted to blue belt. All were eight years old, one just turned 9 recently (Gabe). They did really well with alot of attention and corrections given from Sifu (amazing energy and input given out by Sifu, made me tired!)  With a huge group of black belts, 6 total in the room. Wow! Thomas was intense running the group with the ten exercises. His presentation is really stepping up.  We need to discuss possibly holding off on moving Shawn to the next kata just yet depending on some review. Overall went really well with Lily's assist in the room.   Sparring still needs some work of course. Really hard at that age. Lets stop putting photos in with my eyes closed.   The ring sparring should be more explosive overall. Setting up, having a plan, thinking what technique is coming next should be discussed with classes. Its not free sparring, not the number of techniques thrown or for exercise.      PO KRATZ

Youth Karate class notes Saturday 2.5.11 - Sensei Kratz

0930 hours Karate Youth Class, All worked on Self Defense techniques, it is slowly coming along. I don't see the correct intent with the young ones which is difficult of course.  Needs more energy. Chokes and attacks are weak. Excellent help from Teryn, Scott and Tom. 1030 hours class with 8 total. John G. arrived and made the group complete! Warm up with the katas. Looked at Andrew and Scotts Wansu kata. Later worked on the shuffles. Bar stretches and then sparring.  Good times. No one got hurt. Stayed until 12:30 with Tom, Teryn and Scott working on trapping hands, joint locks and pushing. Much fun.  


Youth eval,  Sat. Feb 19th 9am   Be there !!!  Looks like 5 or 6 total. Did speak with Lukes father about question mark on the eval. He is still working on his left and right.  


PEACE Officer KRATZ

Youth Karate class notes Saturday 12.18.10 - Sensei Kratz

Happy Holidays,
  
Sat. 0930 youth class, Sifu ran class, with several of us assisting. Dicussion surrounding focus and concentration with the younger ones. Ended with group katas and then break down. We had a date set for Sat. Jan 22nd for a youth eval at this point.  If anyone has any input please let it be known. It looks now that the date may not work due to a few students not available for the weekend. We may have promote during class times individually.  Scheduling is very difficult.
  
1030 class, started with some staff work with the ten exercises, then a spear drill which needed some presentation work on my part.  Second half of class worked on five joint locks/throws/control techiques from the partner simply standing with their arms down at their sides.  Arm bar, bent wrist lock, backwards throw, center lock and single shoulder lock. Discussed initial attachment and grab.     


Hope all have a peaceful holiday season.     


Mr. Kratz