Sochin Notes: Movements 15 – 18…

I would like to reiterate, these are just my thoughts. I am no expert, but I have been through this kata quite a bit this year.

The side snap kick, backfist strike, landing in elbow strike combinations are some of the more difficult techniques in Sochin kata. I had very real problems getting my body around for the motion, let alone finding power in the backfist strike and the elbow strike. The way I got around it was keeping awareness of two things: my chambering for both the kick and the backfist strike, and where my stance landed.

By connecting the “cup and saucer” hand motion that precedes the backfist strike to the chamber for the side snap kick, it helps to reinforce the center of the body as you spin to throw the techniques. Sensei Brewer recently provided advice to really think of the backfist strike as the attack, to reach with that fist and really think about hitting hard with it. That keeps the back straight, the shoulders upright, and the intent of the combination intact.

The landing and elbow strike essentially sets up technique sixteen (which is again, the same combination the opposite way). Sensei Quinn told me that it was important to step more straight down from the side snap kick chamber, to prevent overextending the body. If you overextend the body this causes your hips to be over-rotated, which makes the second side snap kick virtually impossible to throw withe the appropriate power. Stepping down in this fashion also allows for maximum “settling” into sochin-dachi which gives a good foundation for a strong elbow strike as well.

and I have been experimenting with various configurations of side snap kick and body rotation, and it appears that the proper execution of the side snap kick and backfist combination for techniques 15 and 16 really makes all the difference in executing the next series of techniques well. Throwing the backist hard and outward like Sensei Brewer recommends is great advice, it really helps to prevent the body from overrotating into a close backfist strike, which opens the hips too far and makes the second side snap kick more difficult.

Unfortunately, some of these principles are hard to illuminate in words. If this is unclear, I’ll show what feeble examples I can provide if needed. Just ask. 🙂

That’s all for installment three, more tomorrow.