2009 Workout #6: Kangeiko…

This week marks Sensei Yaguchi’s annual week of “kangeiko” or dead of winter training.  Apparently, this is like Homecoming for his dojo, as they pack in a boatload of people for 6 am – 7 am daily workouts.  Unfortunately, I live too far away to get there, train, and get back during rush hour but I am trying to pick up as many evening workouts as work will allow.

Tonight, I had the good fortune to meet Oded Friedman, the chairman of Shotokan-Ryu Israel who came in just for this event.  He is a 6th dan and a pleasure to train with and talk to.  He led this interesting warmup where the whole class did a light jog around the dojo in different snaking patterns, pushing off the walls and doing arm stretches as we jogged.  After that, Sensei Yaguchi took over and we did a variety of different combinations.  Let’s see if I can remember them…

1. Step back, X-block to the face.
2. Slide back, downward block.
3. Step forward, inward block to the face (a bit different than I was used to!)
4. Using reverse hip rotation, outward block (just like Heian Nidan)
5. Using body vibration, jab then reverse punch

And, once again, that was ONE.  Here’s the other we did:

1. Step back into back stance, pressing strike (with the back of the hand) to the face.
2. Stepping forward into front stance, rising elbow strike.
3. Slide back, downfist strike with the arm that just did the elbow strike.
4. Pull the front leg back, then step back with that leg behind you at a 45 degree angle into front stance and perform a “tiger hand” grasping block, starting high with the grab and pull it down in front of you near the same position as a hook punch.
5. With the front leg, perform a roundhouse kick to the stomach, then reverse punch.
6. Step back at a 45 degree angle again (should be facing the front of the room) and do a rising block reverse punch.

And yes, ladies and gents, that’s ONE.

We then moved on to do Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, and Tekki Sandan.  He took special care to crank our stances down into ridiculously low and torqued position, which is his desired norm.  Then to close the class, he had us do all three katas back to back… it seems to me I’ve had to do that with a certain other Sensei of mine over the years… I wonder who it could be?

So that was tonight’s class!  More tomorrow!