Kicking The Bucket

No, not that "kicking the bucket"...don't be so morbid!

I tried something I've been meaning to test for the last couple of years. I took an old bucket and a bungie cord down to the tennis courts last night and attached the cord and bucket to the fence in one of the corners creating a triangle with the bucket hanging freely.  What I wanted was a way of working kicks with something that provided movement and feed back, but without weight like a heavy bag.  The bungie cord stretched about five feet so the bucket would slide considerably depending on the area struck and the type of kick. I found it a great way to work on footwork, timing and distance - focusing solely on kicking and body shifting.

By using the fence I was able to adjust the height as well: for my front snap, side snap and roundhouse kicks I kept the bucket at my lower abdominal level. For working my side thrust kick I raised it to my chest level. Next time I'll place it knee level for practicing more self defense style kicks.

Another side benefit of using an empty bucket (all plastic) is it helps build reaction timing as well.  When struck directly the bucket swings around 360 degrees, which means it will strike you back when stepping in after the kick. It's a great reminder to keep your hands up ready to block or deflect an incoming attack!

Well, that's all for now...

All You Need Is?

Well, love of course, but in this case, I'm writing about what largely defines how you perform your kata.

The answer is "Imagination". Not fanciful mental structuring of techniques which subdues your enemy and earns you style points, but a realistic interpretation of each techniques' intent: it's attack and defense strengths and weaknesses.  For me each kata is a series of interchangeable techniques which can be combined in a myriad of ways. The original performance of the entire kata should always follow the ark of training under your predominant style, but I firmly believe each person must stamp each kata learned with his or her own personal interpretation, which is what solidifies their understanding of its intent in real world situations.

Like stated in many sports, vivid intentioned imagination of successful and interpretive (in the case of artistic sports) techniques, is what separates the champions from everyone else.  But again, the techniques in karate and other martial endeavors, must have a legitimate, feasible purpose which quickly ends a self defense situation. Good kata is when these types of techniques are applied in a powerful and well balanced manner displaying the kata's intent in an artistic way.

For me, distance is the first thing I think of when analyzing a technique.  Does it make more sense when applied in close, mid distance, or longer distance?  What is each limbs purpose? Work through different potential applications mentally and arrive at two or three that seem reasonable for applying under stressful situations.  Keep in mind each limb is most certainly actively engaged in completing a successful application of attack.  Pushing, pulling; twisting, dropping; tripping, throwing; striking, kicking  - all are alternatives when working out the applications of the kata.  Some seem obvious, a punch is a punch, isn't it?  Think! Consider! And learn so much more...

Well, that's all for now...

Heavy Bag Training Options

Along with kata training, heavy bag work is my other main training method for karate. I have two heavy bags: a hanging bag which can be filled with water and a standing heavy bag which can be height adjusted and has a "spring like" action.

Currently I use the hanging heavy bag for timing and distance work, since I don't fill it with water during cold weather training - it hangs outside from a balcony over the driveway. In warmer weather I'll partially fill it so it has some weight, but will still move freely when struck - this better allows me to approximate striking a living, moving target. The challenge when striking the empty bag is if it is struck too hard it swings wildly making follow up strikes impossible. My goal then is making light contact strikes which move the bag enough where I have to adjust my angle and/or distance for follow up strikes.  This works particularly well with hand and elbow techniques, but less so with kicking techniques, since I don't like pulling my kicks too much, but it's doable. Typically I'll work a few different set of combinations each time I use the bag - boxing style combos, traditional karate combos and self-defense combos.

• Boxing combos typically are 1-2, 1-2-3 or 1-2-3-4 techniques starting from either hand using boxing style stances from both sides mixing different types of punches.
• Traditional karate combos are what is often practiced in the dojo as kihon, but moving into the bag rather than stepping back - rising forearm strike followed by a reverse punch for example.
• Self Defense combos are practiced with either hands at sides or up in a defensive "fence" position attacking more with open handed techniques. I may be facing the bag, half facing it, or with it at my back. The assumption is the attack is imminent so I must preempt the opponent's attack.

My heavy standing bag is what I use for hard striking and kicking. The model I have has a flexible rubber section built into the stand so it moves when struck, which helps build reflexes, timing and to a degree distance. I don't use heavy bag gloves, instead I use leather work gloves that you would buy at a home improvement store. I believe these give me a more realistic feel, while still protecting my hands from abrasions. My goal is a one to two inch penetration for my strikes - enough to know I've made solid and correct contact without moving the bag too much allowing for follow up techniques. If I'm just working my traditional Shotokan punches from a set stance then I'll shoot for an up to four inch penetration - I don't want to feel like I'm pushing the bag so I don't try to punch through it.

Kicking either bag is done wearing different types of foot gear: sneakers of different types, light style hiking shoes, sandals (Tevas) and even old leather loafers.  The goal is to know how different foot gear affects pivoting and shock absorption when making contact.

Well, that's all for now...

One Beer Karate

Over the last year or so my philosophy pertaining to karate is to have a "one beer" mind. This is my personal Zen state, if that makes sense.

Occasionally when training in the garage I'll open a good craft beer and sip it through my hour or so work out. The slight alcohol induced relaxed feeling is what I'm referring to - it's a state of gentle relaxation with a slightly elevated level of self awareness. Certainly not enough to effect my performance, but it is felt and often causes me to pause and ponder a kata sequence for its logical real world application(s).

Another effect an occasional, casual consumption of a quality beer has during exercise (again not slamming it down, but a sip or two periodically over the course of an hour or so) is to relax the body. This is similar to the effects of performing techniques to exhaustion where the muscles reach such a relaxed state the technique becomes almost effortless. While I'm not advocating switching from repetition of techniques to drinking beer to improve one's karate, I am saying it has its place in my ongoing pursuit of learning Shotokan karate as I understand it.

Hope this makes sense. That's all for now...