武神館忍術

The first class of さんがつ (March) began with a change in venue. Since we were locked out of the どじょ (dojo) we moved to a こうえん (park) across the street from マークさんの　うち (Mark’s house). It was nice being outdoors again but I wasn’t quite sure how the weather was going to hold up. It was あたたかい (warm) during the day but it is still ふゆ (winter) so I was expecting it to be somewhat chilly. Because of the change in location we got started a little bit later than usual. We skipped the じゅなんたいそ (junantaiso) because of this.

We started off with some ぜんぽうと　こうほう　かいてん (zenpou and koho kaiten) on the wood chip covered playground. Then we made use of the playground equipment by doing かいてん (kaiten) underneath a bridge, leaping over a staircase handrail, and doing ひちょかいてん (hicho kaiten) between some metal bars. Then for fun we climbed all around the mini rock climbing wall.

With the child’s play out of the way we worked on the basic じょだんつき (jodan tsuki). Then we worked on throwing multiple punches while moving forward. After that we added a partner to evade the attacks. The evasion was just straight back with a focus on stepping in a deliberate and controlled manner (not leaping) and trying to stay just outside of the range of the attacks. We even had the puncher stop punching at any moment to see if the receiver could also stop moving and keep a good distance and good かまえ (kamae).

Next we worked on some primary distance and impact receiving exercises. First we looked at how to define and gauge the primary distance when facing off with an opponent. Then we worked on maintaining that distance no matter how the opponent moved. We were moving slowly, one step at a time and it was difficult. This requires a lot more practice. For impact and distance training we stood across from our opponent with their arms on our shoulders. At this range you can deliver a strong strike. We started off with light punches to the face, chest and stomach. The purpose here was to allow your body to conform and shape around the blow. You also want to be relaxed and to not try and anticipate the strike. After a couple of rounds of this we increased the force of the strike omitting the face as a target. I think next time we’ll include the face and perhaps tone down the force some. We concluded these exercises by increasing the distance just slightly so that you were just barely out of range of the strike. Again, we excluded the face as a target and worked on moving our body so that the attacks did not make contact or just barely did.

Next we spent quite a bit of time working on すいのかた (sui no kata). First we did a few rounds solo then we added a partner. When doing it with an opponent we changed the distance to be closer to the opponent and we changed the かまえ (kamae) to something more like じゅもんじのかまえ (jumonji no kamae). The おもてしゅとけんと　たいさばき (omote shuto ken and taisabaki) were like we usually do in that close range. At this range we also looked at some “freebies” that are available simply by assuming good かまえ (kamae). Three we looked at were a foot capture, a そっきけん (sokkiken) to the groin, and a そっきけん (sokkiken) to the inside of the thigh.

For the rest of the evening we bounced around on things. We started to look at moving from おにくだき (onikudaki) into むしゃどり (mushadori) from a punch but it was too much for the moment so we explored just おにくだき (onikudaki) from a punch for a bit. First, we did it where after the receive you struck the ribs then applied the lock. Second, we did it where the opponent throws a jab and you follow up with the lock. This one requires good timing and sometimes a distraction for the opponent. Finally, we did it with a strike to the underside of the arm rather than the ribs. We also revisited すいのかた (sui no kata) by doing it with a receiving step into しぜんのかまえ (shizen no kamae) and then moving straight in with the おもてしゅとけん (omote shuto ken). In a way this was more like the かた (kata). Next we did something real simple. The attacker would advance with multiple punches. When the timing was right we moved straight into いちもんじのかまえ (ichimonji no kamae) to the outside of one of the punches while also delivering a ふどけん (fudoken) to the throat. Then drop the opponent onto the ground while applying おもてぎゃく (omote gyaku). Finally, we did a little bit of free response against the same multiple attacks. Again, when the timing was right move into かまえ (kamae) to the outside but this time omit the initial punch. At this point counter freely.

Our session this time was just a little bit shorter than usual but a lot colder. By 10:00pm it was quite chilly, to me anyway, and my feet were very tender. It was a good time though and the park will serve as a good alternative for outdoors training.

がんばって！