Ok, so I'm coming out and admitting I have a shoe fetish. Of sorts.
No, it's not what your thinking. I swear! Instead my "fetish" relates to how my shoes perform when executing karate techniques. Since I train using footwear, as I recycle my shoes whether Velcro strapped sandals, leather loafers, sneakers of all varieties, or hiking boots, they are used in turn during karate training. Loafers while kicking heavy bag, or performing the Tekki kata on my driveway, or using my hiking boots doing kihon or kata on the gravel and hard packed dirt trails in the area. Regardless of the shoe type, I need to know how they feel when using karate techniques while wearing them.
For some, it's all about the Bass, but for me it's all about the tread: is it too slippery, or to "grabby"? How will it affect pivoting techniques? How well built is the shoe to withstand blows and deliver them as well? Shoes are vital tools in the success of many physical pursuits, and with karate this is especially true. I firmly believe knowing a pair of shoes performance capabilities is vital as part of full karate training.
Along with varied terrain, using various types of shoes, at least periodically, is a necessary part of a completely balance regimen of karate training. Compare a somewhat loose pair of leather loafers, to a firmly affixed pair of Teva hiking sandals on a loose dirt and gravel path; which would you prefer wearing in an altercation with a drunk hiker?
Well, that's all for now.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Something Different for January and February
This month marks the fifth year of resuming self training in Shotokan karate.
Somewhere on a January day five years ago I decided to attempt Tekki Shodan. Of course it was a failure, but I realized I could relearn all my old kata via Youtube. The process worked very well, and since that day I've added thirteen more kata to my self training regimen. It's been good and I will continue in this vain.
Yet, for January and February I've decided to take a break. The only kata I'm planning on training are the three Tekki kata. The balance of the training is light dumbbell weight training, coupled with balance training and heavy bag training. I firmly believe that if you are not hitting something somehow nearly every training session then you are wasting your time.
So far I've been spending the first ten minutes or so warming up with light dynamic stretching. Next is the weight training. I mix the following exercises on different days. One hundred reps of squats into presses, into bicep crunches... repeat. I also do four different upper body exercises while balancing one one leg, then the other: equal sets for both sides of course. Another favorite is lunges into combination shoulder height dumbbell lifts - one to the front and one to the side. Other exercises as well, including core training via planks, etc.
After completing the above which can take thirty minutes or so, I will work the heavy bag(s): upper body only, combinations ... ambidextrous. Next is focusing one one kick: the front snap is of course the go to kick in Shotokan and it is for me too. Finally I'll mix and match: kicks and strikes, strikes and kicks into control and limb destruction and evacuation techniques. Once I can reliably train outdoors in March I'll pick up my kata training using some creative formula of repetitions over the course of weeks.
Well that's all for now.
Somewhere on a January day five years ago I decided to attempt Tekki Shodan. Of course it was a failure, but I realized I could relearn all my old kata via Youtube. The process worked very well, and since that day I've added thirteen more kata to my self training regimen. It's been good and I will continue in this vain.
Yet, for January and February I've decided to take a break. The only kata I'm planning on training are the three Tekki kata. The balance of the training is light dumbbell weight training, coupled with balance training and heavy bag training. I firmly believe that if you are not hitting something somehow nearly every training session then you are wasting your time.
So far I've been spending the first ten minutes or so warming up with light dynamic stretching. Next is the weight training. I mix the following exercises on different days. One hundred reps of squats into presses, into bicep crunches... repeat. I also do four different upper body exercises while balancing one one leg, then the other: equal sets for both sides of course. Another favorite is lunges into combination shoulder height dumbbell lifts - one to the front and one to the side. Other exercises as well, including core training via planks, etc.
After completing the above which can take thirty minutes or so, I will work the heavy bag(s): upper body only, combinations ... ambidextrous. Next is focusing one one kick: the front snap is of course the go to kick in Shotokan and it is for me too. Finally I'll mix and match: kicks and strikes, strikes and kicks into control and limb destruction and evacuation techniques. Once I can reliably train outdoors in March I'll pick up my kata training using some creative formula of repetitions over the course of weeks.
Well that's all for now.
Tried Taking Karate Classes...
I recently completed training in the fall session of a new ISKF based Shotokan Karate Club in the area.
The classes were taught with enthusiasm and good structure and were enjoyable in as much as was learned. What the few weeks of twice a week training did was reinforce though why I enjoy self training instead. I simply admit I'm not into the Japanese way and uniforms worn; not interested in wearing a Gi and being barefoot. It just doesn't feel natural. I much prefer comfortable street clothes and footwear for training: much more realistic. I think with a few more years of self training I will start my own personal, western style of Shotokan based karate. We'll see where that goes.
I prefer loose scenarios instead of rigid ones. Movement into action; whether offensive or defensive. It's your decision and reaction to what is happening. Be in the moment, but in a open minded state, so reaction is instantaneous and natural.
I also prefer close in, body contact and control into limb destruction: coupled with strikes and kicks it is very basic yet effective. It's hard to mount an attack if your shoulder has been dislocated, or an elbow hyper-extended. Consider, together with the previous, is redundant striking to soft targets on the head and upper torso. Good stuff.
Well, that's all for now.
The classes were taught with enthusiasm and good structure and were enjoyable in as much as was learned. What the few weeks of twice a week training did was reinforce though why I enjoy self training instead. I simply admit I'm not into the Japanese way and uniforms worn; not interested in wearing a Gi and being barefoot. It just doesn't feel natural. I much prefer comfortable street clothes and footwear for training: much more realistic. I think with a few more years of self training I will start my own personal, western style of Shotokan based karate. We'll see where that goes.
I prefer loose scenarios instead of rigid ones. Movement into action; whether offensive or defensive. It's your decision and reaction to what is happening. Be in the moment, but in a open minded state, so reaction is instantaneous and natural.
I also prefer close in, body contact and control into limb destruction: coupled with strikes and kicks it is very basic yet effective. It's hard to mount an attack if your shoulder has been dislocated, or an elbow hyper-extended. Consider, together with the previous, is redundant striking to soft targets on the head and upper torso. Good stuff.
Well, that's all for now.
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