2006 Workout #94: The Month of Sochin continues (or, It can have a laxative effect)…

Tonight was a night for getting back on the wagon. I got to the dojo around 5:50, so I got an early jump into the kata mix for the evening. Lately I’ve been fighting a stabbing pain in my upper right shoulder when I do the opening move (and anything subsequently that requires me to hold my arm out from my body), so I wanted to get past that tonight. I think I worked it out quite well… I had 8 Sochin in before showed up, and after joined in and upped the pace to a fever pitch I was at 19 before I knew it.

Not to be further deterred the intrepid band of , , and me decided to take the first class as a sacrifice to Fudo Myo-o himself. I think by the time it was all said and done, no one was under 20 Sochin. I ended up with a grand total of 40 Sochin for the night, and the three of us did five light speed and tension kata in a row. That feat is not something to be regularly repeated in a workout, but we were proud to have done it once.

The second class consisted of learning the details of the kata Unsu. As a kid, I loved watching and Sensei Jennings perform this kata. I always enjoy opportunities to go through it, if nothing else because I get to enjoy the heady rush of pretending I am them for a few minutes. I actually got the jump to operate a few times, (for the unindoctrinated, Unsu contains one of the most difficult, crowd pleasing, and impressive jumps in Shotokan kata) and after 40 Sochin I am very happy to say that. I did notice a few things watching myself in cat stance. For reasons unknown, my body forms angles that remind me of what my dog looks like when he’s about to take a crap. I’ve gotta fix my stance or my hips or something, because That Ain’t Right.

We rounded out the night with some 3-5 time attack, and I am taking the opportunity to be a little inventive and try some new stuff. What worked: kneeling punch. I got and with it, but they both made me pay for it in their own way. I threw it somewhat cheaply on … I stuck it in there in between his first and second attacks, because I feared getting trampled after he got rollin’. I got a nice knuckle-bump on my left jawbone for my troubles, so I guess everything balanced out in the end. I got cleanly, but she executed a foot sweep (a great idea) and tangled up my front leg so I couldn’t really get up effectively.

What didn’t work: jumping backfist. I throw it and for some reason spring up and out like a wounded gazelle or a retarded ballet dancer. I only got it to work once properly (on Rush-san, maybe?). I need to get the fundamentals of that down before I go off trying it again. I’m extremely glad I didn’t go with my gut and try that in front of Sensei Brewer last week. That would’ve been hilarious and my brain stem would’ve been pounded into a fine paste.

Anyway, phenominally good workout tonight. Lots of kata, some fun sparring to cap the night off, and we got a test of endurance that will tell only by our creaking legs and stomachs tomorrow.

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Sochin Counter
Accomplished / Goal == Percent Complete
1320 / 2000 == 66.00%
Average Kata per Workout: 15.17
Estimated Workouts Remaining: 45
Workouts that gained more than 1%: 29
Workouts that gained more then 5%: 1