Blocking Practice

Today was a pretty fun day. We took all of the focus mitts and threw them at each other to practice blocking. I must say that it actually was a pretty good drill.

After that I went to the practice room with one of the other guys and we practiced all of my defenses from no belt up until now. It was a good thing too because I was pretty rusty on many of them.

I hope we test soon, I am getting tired of doing Kata Di Ichi so much. Oh well.

Last time we drilled Kata Di Ichi and then a little bit of our defenses. It was a great class. That was tuesday.

That is pretty much it though.

Until next time...

-Steve

Defenses, Defenses, Defenses

Today we did Defenses. There was only 3 of us and Billy helped me figure out how to make my defenses and more crisp and clean. I think I got them, he told me that I pretty much had all of the stuff already and I just said that I need some help popping out the minor things.

The first thing I did was go through all of the defenses so he could see them. Then he told me that I have a tendency to stop at specific sections of the defenses so that I could make them smoother and faster.

I worked the most on Clutching Feathers, The Dance and Triggered Salute. It was a really good class today. But that is it for tonight.

Until next time...

-Steve

Techniques, Techniques, Techniques

Today(well, tuesday) I did nothing but techniques. My hands were literally RED in color from how many times I hit the bags. It was awesome.

We started out with our hand techniques. Ridge hand and uppercut for me. Back fist and hook punch for my partner. We did that for about ten minutes until we started on kicking techniques.

I had crescent kicks and my partner had side kicks and round kicks. We did that pretty much the entire class. It was a great workout.

Until next time...

-Steve

It was a good day

Today I went in and I just wasn't really feeling it. I don't know what it was but I lacked enthusiasm and any feeling of actually wanting to be there.

Anyway though, we went over pretty much everything that we all pretty much need to test. I think we will be testing soon which means it won't be long before I make it to Yellow Belt!

I learned to do Crescent Kicks better. For the test I need to know:

-Outside Crescent Kicks

-Inside Crescent Kicks

-Ridge Hands

-Uppercut Punch

-A few combinations of the above.

-The first 4 Mandarin stances

-Kata Di Ichi

-Clutching Feathers(On top of the head hair grab)

-Triggered Salute(Right handed push on my right side)

-The Dance(Against right punch step left)

-The Gift(Against a pulled handshake)

-Locking horns(Against front headlock)

I plan on reviewing all of my old stuff as well so that I don't forget any of it, not to mention I am a big fan of our first form because it is so much fun. That's pretty much it for now.

Until next time...

-Steve

Defenses

Today we worked on the defenses from no belt all the way up to the ones I need to know.

-Alternating Mace

-Deflecting Hammer

-Delayed Sword

-Opposing Sword

-Crushing Hammer

-The Grasp

-Mace of Aggression

-Attacking Mace

-Checking the Storm

-Sword and Hammer

-The Dance

-The Gift

-Locking Horns

-Triggered Salute

-Clutching Feathers

Those are all of them. First set is No Belt >> White Belt. Then White Belt >> Adv. White. Then finally Adv. White >> Yellow Belt.

I also should add that I love my Kung Fu shoes. They are super comfy :)

Anyway, that is enough for tonight. Until next time...

-Steve

Lax Class

Today I just did a little of everything and I got the paper that tells me all.

The Defenses are going good for me they are:

- Clutching Feathers

- Triggered Salute

- The Dance

- The Gift

- Locking Horns

They are a lot more complex than the earlier ones I have already learned but still not too bad and they are kind of fun.

Kata Di Ichi is really coming together for me it's not too hard just keeping the same level throughout is the tough spot and always remembering to keep my shoulders straight too.

The stances are easy as always.

I just gotta work the techniques next. Not too bad though.

That's it for tonight. Until next time...

-Steve

Little late, sorry...

Today I helped out one of the other Advanced Whites with his Kata Dai Ichi and then I learned all of the new technique stuff too.

I have another class tonight and will post about it when I come home. Hopefully I remember to, haha.

Until then...

-Steve

A little of everything

Today I did pretty much everything in the curriculum regarding defenses, stances and katas/forms.

For about 20 minutes or so I worked on the defenses then for the remaining 20 or so I worked on Kata Dai Ichi. Billy said I was doing it good and everything looked really solid so I guess I am doing it pretty good.

Tuesday I should have my new Kung Fu shoes as well as a paper that tells me the things I need to know to advance to Yellow Belt. I want to get to work on the techniques I need to know now that I have most of the other stuff pretty much down.

I also need to remember the defenses from the first 2 belts I did, as I believe that not long from now our belt test will be cumulative.

Anyway that is all for now.

Until next time...

-Steve

Defenses

I learned all of the Defenses today. They are getting progressively more difficult and complex now as compared to before. They aren't too too tough though yet.

We worked a little bit on the form too, Kata Dai Ichi. I am doing pretty good with it I think. Billy said we have it down, and it's just the little things now to work on with it.

I should be getting my Kung Fu shoes by next week :D I can't wait!

For now though, I need to practice the defenses more, since I more or less suck at them.

I am loving it more and more every day that I do it :D

Until next time though...

-Steve

Forms, Forms, Forms

Today I did nothing but Forms. Kata Dai Ichi for 45 minutes.

Billy said I was doing awesome though so that is good. I feel pretty comfortable with it for having done it for only a few days.

I also learned the Mandarin Stances. But they are no different than the regular Chinese Stances aside from the fact that they have different names and our crossing stance has our arms/hands pointed way up in the air.

I purchased some Kung Fu shoes today as well, so that I can practice all of my stuff downstairs in the basement of the apartments without having to go down in bare feet. At 12.99 I can't complain.

That's it for today. Until next time...

-Steve

Adv. White Defenses

Today I learned all of the Adv. White Defenses. It was pretty normal day, I dunno... Not much else to add...

Until next time...

-Steve

Test!

Today I had my Advanced White Belt test and I did awesomely!

Woot! I am so happy I got to do it. It didn't take too too long which is good too. After the test I learned Kata Dai Ichi. One of the new forms. It is incredibly basic but kind of hard at the same time, it's weird but great none the less.

Sifu said that he was pleased with my hard work and that I am doing really well. So I am pretty happy about that. It's nice to hear it from him. I practice really hard and I try really hard to be the best I can be. It seems to be paying off.

I am pretty excited for the next step and I am going to order some kung fu shoes so I can practice at home in the basement better. That way I can keep up with it better as well and train easier when I can't go to class or when I am not there. But anyway...

Until next time...

-Steve

Day Before Test

Tomorrow is the belt testing day. But I won't be there.

Because of stupid snow, or the threat of stupid snow I have to close the store tomorrow so that Bea doesn't have to come down. This turn of events makes me mad for a number of reasons.

1) I have to work the night of my belt test, a test I will/would pass.

2) She took me off the ONE day I don't have a class. Thursday.

3) She put me on Friday night.

4) I have to work the night of my belt test. I know I already said that, I am THAT mad about it.

As for today in class I didn't do much but do drills on my own. Practicing the form fast and slow to make sure I have everything. Drilling kicks and strikes as well as the defenses. I should be more than ready to test.

Billy said he would be willing to test me Wednesday or Friday, so that is good. Hopefully I can do that, otherwise I have to wait until the 14th to test, which would suck.

Anyway, I am tired and whatnot. So without further adieu...

Until next time...

-Steve

Review Day

Today was pretty basic, I usually go in early so I get to watch the advanced kids class which is fun sometimes and on wednesdays if I go I watch the Aikido dudes throw each other around.

Anyway, today I got there and watched the other class until my class came up.

Today was a big review. The group of White Belts and I all worked on all the stuff we need for the test, as well as the defenses from White Belt as a refresher.

Testing next week! I can't wait, I am pretty excited about it, it's my next big step into the world of Kung Fu :D

Until next time...

-Steve

Good Day

We all split up and got to pretty much do our own thing today. It was cool because I went over everything I felt I needed to on my own and really worked everything I could remember.

I went back to the first belt and stuff and then worked on my stuff from now. Then I worked kicking drills and some balance drills. I really just did everything. From day one until now. It was pretty cool.

I did my form really slow, then I would do it normal speed, then I would do it as fast as possible. I did the stances nice and deep and slowly. I have pretty much everything down, not perfect, but definitely ready to test in 2 weeks.

At the end of class when in the closing line Billy told me that I have basically been ready for a while now and that I will definitely be ready to test when it comes time. I can't wait, I am REALLY excited to be moving forward in this! It's so cool to think about it!

Anyways though, until next time...

-Steve

Regular Day

Well, today was easy to say the least. But I learned that I will be testing in a couple weeks :D

It's going to be the week of February 3rd I believe he said but enough of that.

We spent the class going over the curriculum all the way from defenses up to combinations. So it was a pretty uneventful day.

The warm up was the hardest part probably, hah.

It looks like we will be having a couple of new people to the class too, which is cool. We'll see what happens though.

Until next time!

-Steve

Balance Drills and Some Forms Work

Today we did a lot of balance drills for our balance while kicking. I still am incredibly bad at balancing on my left foot, but it has gotten noticeably better.

After that my instructor put a stick across out legs to make sure our horse stances were flat and low. Then we went to kicking drills and ran over our stances and form. That was pretty much the entire class though.

Sorry for posting about 4 days late. It slipped my mind to post. Oh well.

Until next time.

-Steve

Getting things ready to test

Today we went through all of the White Belt to Advanced White Belt Defenses as well as the 8 Stances and the Basic Movement Form. 

I am doing pretty well I think, but I am far from perfection on these movements.

Not much else to say, Until next time...

-Steve

Kicking and Balance Drills

Today I worked a lot on balance and my kicks.

I worked Lead leg round and side kicks as well as rear leg round and side kicks. I have a lot of balance issues with both of those kicks, but I got progressively better as I practiced them, I have some drills to work on to help me as well with those.

My round kicks I kept wanting to pull up my toes, but I am supposed to keep my foot flat so I worked that as well. I think I finally got it though. Then I went to working with a bag, kicking it and such. Billy seemed pretty pleased with them at the end of the day and wanted me to start kicking higher. So I got higher(or as high as I could). He also gave me a couple of drills to get my kicks to be higher so I will be working those too.

At the end of the class he was telling us about our next test dates. He said that I am basically ready to test, but I personally don't feel ready yet. Not with my kicks anyway, I need some more work with them. We'll see. If they think I am ready then I am all for it, plus it's not like it's next week or anything.

During the next few weeks I am going to be working really hard on my balance and keeping my feet flat when I do the round kicks. I should be all set in time to test. Until next time!

-Steve

Good Class

Today was pretty good work out. I chatted with Darin a little and then once class started I was referred to as "Speed Demon" because I can run really fast. 

Then we did an exercise and when the instructor called our number we had to the other side of the mat and then back and then go back to exercising again. It was a good warm up, but I have a serious problem over doing myself when I run so that made me almost throw up.

After our warm up we proceeded to work on our defenses which are as follows:

-The Grasp

- Choke Hold with the choker on the left.

-Attacking Mace

- 2 Handed shirt grab

-Mace of Aggression

- Step right, punch right

-Sword and Hammer

- Right/Left Shoulder grab

-Checking the Storm

- Overhead Attack with a weapon

They are pretty easy, but today I had a hard time remembering them. Mostly because the holidays have left me unpracticed and almost forgetting most of the stuff I needed to remember. Luckily I remember the form though because I have done it probably a million and one times. He said that we all know the defenses, it's just a matter of clearing out the little things. That is it for tonight, I hope you all had a great holiday and may your New Year be filled with everything you wanted and some surprises. Good night all.

-Steve