New Terminology and what does it mean....

I have some time now to compose my thoughts on tonight's class. With anything new, there's going to be some difficulties in learning the new concepts, ideas and terms, tonight was no exception. First of all the positives; the drive to karate was relaxing, a bit stressful because of the commute during rush hour traffic but no biggy, just keep your eye on the road and watch out for careless drivers. I love feeling the freedom of having the windows open, the music blaring and just me and my car. I don't have to worry about anyone's thirst, or the DVD player coming unhinged from its resting spot, nor having to care that anyone is too cold or the wind is too much, nor the music too loud. Just me. I've missed that alone time. Hmmm... another positive; I would have to say doing something that I love and knowing that in the long run is going to make me into a better more well rounded person. Not only physically, but spiritually and mentally as well. Now for the downside.... the terminology.

In Isshinryu we had things less difficult. You do your basics, kicks and punches. Kicks being 8 different ones, and basics, blocks and punches... then as you advance, kata. Well in Shuri Ryu, you have Ippon, Kihon, and some other terms I don't know how to type because I don't know what they are... I know how to do them, but the terminology is so alien to me. Tonight Tom, a brown belt, was running the class, Sensei was away. So Tom asks me to go through Ippon with him. I looked at him like he just grew another head. I meekly answered, "What is Ippon?" In Isshinryu it would be a combination of basics and kicks... right foot back, upper block, front snap kick with either a knife strike, punch, punch, step back and down block. Sounds pretty easy huh? NOT!!!!! There's timing issues and technique issues and guard hand blocks also in this sequence. I know I can do it, but please tell me what I'm doing rather than saying, do Ippon. GRRRRRRRR. The terminology s all greek to me. I know how to do the stuff, its just the terms are so foreign to me. Kihon on the other hand, would be more of a shorter technical sequence. Only trouble is, some of it is soooooooooo similar to Isshinryu type katas. Kihon Number 1 for instance, is a step out into cat stance, a set with your hands at your opposite side, fist over fist, then step into front stance, and at the same time, executing a mid block (Shuri Te style - knuckles facing you) with a guard hand almost in a fighting stance, back fist gab with the blocking hand, cross punch, scissor guard hand and low block. I just can't get the damn flow!!! Its a simple enough technique, but for some reason, I want to break out into an isshinryu kata called Chinto. I know there's going to be days like this...but I felt like a bubbly idiot tonight.

We went through Ippon, Kihon, and the practice kata (the term I can't remember because I have too much info going through my head). Then I spent the remainder of the class, doing the guard hand technique and executing blocks... upper, mid and low, just to try to get the flow. Tom says not to worry about the flow yet. I know I shouldn't but it's my previous martial arts experience telling me to do it better, knowing I can do it better. I know I'm tearing myself another one, but I just can't help it. I suppose that's the perfectionist in me.

In some ways, I wish I didn't have the previous martial arts experience because its hindering my progress now. My muscle memories of previous techniques are interfering with my new simple ones. When a series of blocks and strikes are introduced to me Shuri Ryu style, it triggers something from Isshinryu katas. I anticipate the next moves but they are wrong because its not Isshinryu I'm studying, it's Shuri Te. I'm just frustrated.

I have decided that I'm going to purchase the reference book, I think that will help me with remembering the terms, and getting my head out of the Isshinryu mode and into the Shuri Te frame of mind. It is a bit pricey, but I think in the long run with my studies, it will aid me in remembering stuff. Rob had once told me when I was cramming information into my head for the telecommunications industry, "You can't remember everything, just remember where to find the answers". The book will help me find the answers and point me in the right direction should I stumble in my pursuit for perfection.

I hope that I can look back on this night's blog and shake my head and laugh. Rob said this would be a good tool for motivation. For the good nights and the bad nights.

Little Samurai In The Making...

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Like all martial arts there is a weapons piece, Sensei Joe teaches his a bit different than the standard martial arts class, there's a different class all together, strictly for weapons training. And like other styles of martial arts, normally you need to be a certain belt rank before you're even allowed to touch a weapon, in Shuri Te, he allows white belts to join, which is a bonus for me because it gives me more time to perfect things.

Yesterday was the first day of my weapons training class. I wasn't sure what to expect. Years ago I practiced a form with the sai (three pronged sword) and at that time I thought I was fairly good. Sensei Joe started this weapons class with some basic bo drills (a 5' long bamboo stick, which when you used properly is a very deadly weapon), we did the blocking drills, repeatedly... over and over, and then the punch drill. Sounds easy enough, right? WRONG!!!! For the most part, the blocking drill was simple. But to execute a one punch sequence with the bo, it's actually NINE different techniques. All flowing together to make a beautiful artful piece of flurry movements. I must say, I really enjoyed this. Not only did I feel my muscle memories getting use to the feel of the bo but I also had one helluva workout. We did the punch sequence over and over and over again to get the flow going. Then Sensei thought I was ready to incorporate all of it into the practice kata/form. Even though I was very, VERY rusty. I felt empowered.

After about an hour of constant whirling of the bo, Sensei knew I had enough of the bo, so he switched it up with the sai, my old friends. After !0 years of being away from them, I must say I was EXTREMELY rusty. Sensei had refreshed me in some easier techniques because he saw I was struggling with making the movements flow naturally. We did some basic handling of the sai, then he said, "These are just an extension of your body, don't fight them, let them continue your body's natural movement". He reminded me when you practice karate, you aren't stiff and tense, you have loose movements before you strike. "Take off your white knuckled grip and just let your body's momentum do what its going tto do with your weapon". After releasing some of the control of the sai, I found I was feeling the tension leave and my technique started to actually look artful.

Using the sai and bo isn't going to be easy. I have muscle memories of both of these weapons from 10 years ago, back when I had a completely different body than the one I have now. Sensei realized that we needed to do some "conditioning" exercises, just letting the weapon fall across your body, letting it hit with a bit of force, but teaching your body where things were, he told me to stand in front stance, and let the weapon fall slightly as I performed a technique and letting it fall where it fell. I got a few small bruises but not much. This teaches me where my body is while still concentrating on my technique.

Sensei Joe has immense patience. He said, not only do I have a new student, I have one that has previous experience in a similar art form, a student that soaks things up like a sponge. He's having a hard time distinguishing how far to take me in my lessons. Every student has a learning curve, as he says, but with me, it seems that learning curve isn't where it should be.

It's nice to have a Sensei who encourages you so much. I am so happy I found a place after 10 years of searching.