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Post by tvr390se on Dec 3, 2015 10:18:03 GMT
Hi all, Well I'm pleased to say that I am still enjoying my shotokan having started in Feb this year and have a grading this saturday for my 7th Kyu. A question please, from gedan barai I have to do ageuke - gyakuzuki going backwards but for some reason (and as I type this I have forgotten !) I keep forgetting which arm I am blocking with first  Currently it does not come naturally to me  Also is there an easy way of remembering this come grading day ? I also have a job remembering which arm blocks first when I am doing Uchiuke - Gyakuzuki (It must be because I am 43 !!!). All help greatly received and appreciated Many Thanks Regards Ian |
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Post by Bob Davis on Dec 3, 2015 11:30:53 GMT
Hi Ian, Glad you are enjoying the ride. It's actually very simple (it always is simple to say, not always simple to do  ). Forward or backwards with either of these blocks in a block/gyaku combination the "blocking" hand is the same side as the front foot (so left foot forward - left hand blocks, right foot forward - right hand blocks). What seems to throw people is that at your stage they are used to blocking with the hand on the hip (which TBF is what they've been trained to do so far) so following a Gyaku Tsuki they want to block with the wrong hand, so another possible way of making the connection is to think that the hand sticking out in front of you IS your blocking hand. It come naturally after a bit of practice (like most things), easy once you can do it, confusing until you can. (BTW, you'll get no sympathy for being 43, many of us here are way older than that and still struggling on  ) Good luck with the grading, let us know how it goes. |
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Post by tvr390se on Dec 3, 2015 11:56:42 GMT
Hi Bob, as ever thank you for replying and If I could trouble you again then it would be very much appreciated please. I am now a bit confused as I'm not sure what leg and arm will be in front when I start Ageuki - Gyakuzuki ? It may be easier if I list the start of my grading in order (we have switched from JKA to WSKF). FROM ZENKUSU DACHI GEDAN BARAI 1 Forwards.... Chudan Oi-Zuki, 5 times 2 Mawate then forwards.... Chudan Gyaku-Zuki, 5 times 3 Backwards.... Jodan Ageuke - Gyakuzuki, 5 times (tbh not sure what foot and hand will be forward when I start ) 4 Forwards.... Chudan Sotouke - Gyakuzuki, 5 times 5 Backwards... Chudan Uchiuke - Gyakuzuki, 5 times. The rest of the grading I am fairly confident with it is just these first moves above. Thank you once again Bob Kind regards Ian |
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Post by Bob Davis on Dec 3, 2015 12:39:53 GMT
Hi Ian, Problem is that everyone is different so I can tell you what I think is most likely BUT can't guarantee it's correct, plus, depending on how you start will change things. I will try not to confuse the situation at this point (but may not succeed ) Either forward or backwards if you start by stepping into gedan barai/zenkutsu dachi (which your syllabus indicates) you will be left foot/hand forward. If you start your backward combinations from a Yoi position and then step back Gedan Barai before you start you will be left foot forward so when you next step your first block will be right hand - right foot forward. HOWEVER, if you just do your backward combination from the finishing position of a 5 step forward combination (not an uncommon thing to do) then you will already be right foot forward so your first step back will be left foot forward, left hand block. So the upshot is that if you always pull up to Yoi before you start the next combination then it's consistently left hand gedan barai and right hand for first block, if you don't pull up to Yoi between combinations then it will alternate between left and right depending on if you are moving backwards of forwards. |
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Post by tvr390se on Dec 3, 2015 14:14:37 GMT
HOWEVER, if you just do your backward combination from the finishing position of a 5 step forward combination (not an uncommon thing to do) then you will already be right foot forward so your first step back will be left foot forward, left hand block. Yes, this is exactly what I will be doing Briliant and understood Bob, many thanks. I will let you know how I get on Kind Regards Ian |
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