No Training on April 27

Just a quick reminder that there is no training on Monday, April 27 for the Yoyogi Ryushinkan Renshukai, as the venue used for the evening sessions, Shinjuku Sports Center,is closed the fourth Monday of every month.

Moreover, as Japan is entering the so-called Golden Week holiday period, some of the training times will changed over the coming two weeks.  For more information, please contact yoyogiryushinkan@gmail.com

Terminology - Striking Areas

Some of the fundamental and most frequently used parts of the anatomy in Goju-ryu strikes and kicks are depicted left and listed below. There are not always convenient or useful English translations readily available, so it is helpful to understand and remember these Japanese terms:

Japanese	English (Description)	Notes
ken yubi oya yubi hito sashi yubi naka yubi ippon nippon seiken tettsui uraken shuto haito shotei nukite hiji koken kakuto sokuto hiza	Fist Finger Thumb Index finger Middle finger One Two Fore-fist Fist hammer Back fist Knife hand Ridge hand Palm heel Finger thrust Elbow Bent wrist Heel Outer edge of foot Knee	The striking part is the knuckles of the index and middle finger, known as the daikento The bottom of the fist is used; application in saifa Used in the uraken uchi snap technique Strike with the fleshy area beneath the little finger and closest to the wrist Bend and tuck the thumb under the palm and strike with the base of the index finger Bend and press the thumb against the palm and bend the fingers slightly Keep the fingers firmly together and straight but level, bending the middle finger as necessary The strike with the elbow (hiji uchi) is also called empi Bend the hand down as far as possible and touch the thumb to the middle and/or fourth finger The striking area for ushiro geri Used in sokuto geri and kansetsu geri The striking area for ushiro geri Used in sokuto geri and kansetsu geri hiza ate is a strike with the knee

Chiishi Exercise 1

This chiishi exercise is good for practicing the technique of shiboru, or "wringing," whilst also making sure one maintains a sound and correct posture when dropping deep into the shikodachi stance.  

Start by gripping the chiishi in both hands, with the thumbs facing forward.  Bring the chiishi up and over, and then turn it out towards the front. As the chiishi is extended forwards and outwards, keep the elbows tucked in.  Left and right hand positions are switched after alternating thrusts.

This exercise also helps in practicing the final nage, or throw, found at the end of the kata Sepai.

Working on the Hips

Here is a way to improve use of the hips, or "koshi" in Japanese. Start in a shikodachi stance with an oizuki punch, and then execute a gyakuzuki punch in the zenkutsudachi stance.  The front foot essentially remains in the same position, but the back foot, leg and hips are used to "kick off" from the floor as you perform the gyakuzuki thrust. Height should remain even throughout and the head kept as still as possible. The focus should be on getting the maximum power by turning the hips, first into zenkutsudachi and then back firmly into shikodachi. Repeat again and again, with hard punches delivered, preferably, on the makiwara each time.

Training Update / Running Style

Aragaki Kancho supervised last Friday's evening training, which was a great honor for us. However, there is no practice session scheduled for this Monday evening at the Shinjuku Sports Center as the facility is closed the third Monday of every month. (There is, however, a free session on Sunday.)

 

Instead, and in addition to karate practice,  we must find other ways to train and get fit. Yours truly runs and attends a gym, and I am coincidentally featured in Japan's Running Style magazine #5, which came out on March 21.

Training Update

Members of the Gojuryu Karatedo Yoyogi Ryushinkan Dojo are continuing to meet and train together regularly in March, as the earnest spirit and desire to improve remains. There are various schedules, reaching into April and May, with one centered on practicing in the daytime at Shinjuku Cosmic Sports Center, another more varied schedule at differing locations, and evening sessions on Mondays and Fridays for supervised training (and occasional weekends for free training) at the Budojo (Martial Arts Hall) at Shinjuku Sports Center.  

At the Budojo, one can see practitioners of many different martial arts, including kendo, iadao, jujitsu and so on, and so that in itself is an educational (and very Japanese) experience. For more information, please contact yoyogiryushinkan@gmail.com

Terminology - Stances

Stances - the placing of the feet, angling of the legs and knees, and the ratio of body weight load between either leg, are literally the foundation for all movement and techniques in karate. Thus it is extremely important to thoroughly know and practice the main stances that are employed in Gojuryu, as well as, preferably, memorize their Japanese terminology, as given below. 

Ultimately, the stances become incorporated into a natural flow of motion, rather than discrete techniques - the so-called  "no stance" of Musashi. 

Additionally, more information can be found here and also at wiki:

Japanese	Rough translation & explanation

-dachi (tachi) heisoku dachi musubi dachi heiko dachi hachiji dachi sanchin dachi shiko dachi kiba dachi zenkutsu dachi     han zenkutsu dachi kokutsu dachi han kokutsu dachi renoji dachi neko ashi dachi    sesan dachi

Stance “Closed foot stance” (feet together – parallel and touching) “Joined stance” (heels touching, feet open at a right-angle) “Parallel stance” (feet parallel, shoulder-width apart) “Kanji for “8” i.e. 八 stance” (feet shoulder-width apart, feet open almost at a right-angle, toes pointing outwards - not found in any kata) “Three battle stance” (Feet shoulder-width apart, the toes of one foot and the heel of the other meeting at an imaginary line passing under the body - see image above right - toes angled inwards, the upper legs, abdomen and lower back tensed; when the feet are parallel, it is called heiko sanchin dachi) “Straddle stance” (feet double shoulder-width apart, toes pointing outwards, knees bent to almost a right angle) “Horse-riding stance” (Upright shiko dachi with the toes and knees turned inwards) “Front foot stance” (feet shoulder-width apart, front leg forward; front knee bent so as to obscure the front foot, rear leg completely extended; 70% of weight on the front foot) “Half front foot stance” “Rear foot stance” (Reversed zenkutsu dachi – found in the kata Seipai) “Half-rear foot stance” (found in the kata Sepai and Kururunfa – this nomenclature is primarily used on mainland Japan; in Okinawa, the "stance" is the natural consequence of turning the hips and feet 45 degrees in sanchindachi and has no specific name) “Japanese letter レ stance” (back foot facing forward, front foot a foot-and-a-half step to the front and point outwards at 45 degrees) “Cat foot stance”　(Renoji dachi with 90% of the body's weight placed on rear foot and the rear knee bent) “Stance from the kata Sesan” (modified Shiko dachi facing sideways)