Another great workout tonight! It started out with basic combinations, and right before we began Sensei Tarrant said “we had a request for Unsu, so that’s what we’ll train toward tonight.” That was my request! Woot!
The basic drills were designed to get the body moving in a back and forth fashion similar to the middle part of Unsu. We started with punches, jab with the front hand then stepping back into front stance with another jab. After this, reverse punch as you move forward and then ending with another reverse punch. Then we did essentially the same drill with front leg front kicks in place of the jabs and rear leg front kicks in place of the reverse punches. By the end of these (and a variation with a side snap kick and round kick as you moved backward) my legs were screaming and feeling like lead, and we hadn’t even started Unsu yet!
After that, we warmed up for kata with other kata! Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Godan, Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Bassai Dai, Empi, Jion, Jitte, Hangetsu, and Gankaku. And we hadn’t even started Unsu yet!
At long last, it was time for Unsu. Sensei Tarrant talked us through the kata slowly, taking special care to note areas where he has seen a lot of people cheat over the years. The fudo-dachi open hand block and punch combinations, for example, must be done completely with strong hip action. People incorrectly focus on speed during the ridgehand strike, kick, turn/block, and punch combination and short the turn. Also, people rush the dropping punch combination and don’t do a full and sharp turn.
After many iterations, I have to say my inner ten-year-old was very happy to start to learn this kata in earnest. We only got through the kata up to the dropping punch combination, but Sensei Tarrant told us we’d continue next week. I can’t wait!
More soon!
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