2005 Workout #98: May God strike down any event that requires me to be up at 5 am!

I had to be up at Raleigh’s house at 5 am this morning. We had a big meal at Denny’s and arrived as scheduled forty five minutes early to the dojo for Instructor Training.

taught the first session, it was variations on his Fifth Degree test thesis. It went over very well and he did a great job. I thought it was quite validating that everyone was piggybacking on his ideas for the rest of the day… he’ll probably never say so but that has to feel a little good.

Sensei Harter taught the second class, focusing on hip action and how to incorporate this into the lower levels of training. He also made it a point to do drills that would allow us to use our hips better in our own training. I got a lot out of this session because it falls in line with my assignment to generate more power and think from my hips more (be quiet, ).

The final session was taught by Sensei Taylor, who gave us a litany of different things to consider. His delivery was a little tough to follow some of the time, but the stuff he was putting out there was good: be aware of other styles and know that Shotokan has methods for dealing with them.

All three Senseis put something out there that I could take home with me. I consider that enough to write the whole thing off as a success, but I have to say that I got a little something extra out of this one.

After the seminar was over, I asked Sensei Hassell for some advice on what kata to do next, as I’ve been working on Empi for over 9 years now. He asked me what katas I’ve been exposed to lately, and I told him that we’d been working on Jitte, Hangetsu, Gankaku, and Gojyushiho Sho. I said that I liked Gojyushiho Sho quite a bit. He thought for a few seconds, and then asked if I knew Sochin.

Sochin is a very rooted, strong kata. Its one that Sensei Brewer has special shine to, and is known for cultivating power and good stance. I said that I had done it a few times, and he told me to show him the first few moves and he would show me why he thought it was a good next kata for me. He pointed his index finger into my stomach and told me to do the first three movements and keep my stomach tight.

I did, and lost my tension the first time. He said “Ah! You lost the connection there! That’s what I want you to focus on fixing.” I did it again and got it right. He said that this was the biggest thing he wanted me to work on that he could see during my test. He said that I have very good technique and power. He said that he wants me to work on impact power, which is generated from a tight solid center. He says that Sochin will cultivate this feeling.

I’ve known that Sochin can do this, but since it’s generally regarded as a “big guy” kata I never thought of it as a contender for my body type. It makes perfect sense, and as I was telling Mike-san in the changing room that it really is somewhat crazy genius that I work on it. It will fix my center problems, I will generate more power, which will help me get ready for my Sandan sparring.

Sometimes if you ask the right question it will pay off. Time to take the check to the bank.

It was a great day, but boy am I tired. I’m going to leave it here and unwind for awhile before bed. Fun day, good company, good training.