And Yoko Geri Keage

And Yoko Geri Keage. Notice the difference in technique from Kekomi regarding the 'set-up' position and the feeling of kimae (focus) immediately after the execution of the technique.

Yoko Geri Kekomi

Much of our time over the last few weeks has been focused on Yoko Geri (side kick). In this video, our World Technical Director, Sensei Kagawa, provides a masterful example of Yoko Geri Kekomi.

Enjoy!

Whilst JKS York does not condone this kind of mentality regarding competition, and thankfully Shotokan Karate competitions are not like this, we do recognise the effective power of the kicking techniques. You will recognise almost all of these techniques within Shotokan Karate and our Kyokushin kai brothers (a different karate style to Shotokan) are willing to demonstrate their effectiveness at full force.

(SOUND TRACK NOT APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS!)

Today's class

The class today centered around kihon kumite, looking specifically at gohon (5 step) kumite. The above video of two senior JKS insructors perfectly demonstrates the main teaching points from today.

Please note that the strong stances are more or less maintained throughout the movements and that the attack is carried out quickly, but there is a small delay before executing the next attack. This creates distinct, individual movements that are sharp and crisp.

Osu - keep training hard!

Notes on today's class

This video perfectly demonstrates the main teaching points of this evening's class. Note how his front knee remains stable, with very little movement, and how his back knee points forward as much as possible.

The hips remain level and his back heel remains rooted to the floor.

An additional point that was not discussed during our training session tonight was the need to squeeze the 'groin area' when the hips are in the shoman (front) position and there is the feeling of the tail bone being tucked under the body. This ensures the generation of power in a forward motion as opposed to simply rotating around a stationary point.

An easy motion to practise outside of the dojo as very little space is required.

Osu - and keep training hard!

Simon

Great training session last night at JKS York Karate Club. Everyone is looking ahead to the grading on the 28th October 2012. Keep training hard and the grading will be easy.

Some members at the club have asked for a video of Heian shodan and so here is Simon performing the kata slowly. This video will also be published on yorkkarate.net in the near future.

Welcome to the official JKS York Karate Club blog - full of news, stories, videos and information about the club and JKS Karate as a whole. Enjoy!