Last Class of the Year

Steve Sensei announced that, in accordance with tradition (who's or from where I have no idea), all the students above the rank of sixth kyu would have to teach or demonstrate one technique from the somewhere in 2010 for the class. The technique could come from a kyu test, a seminar, a camp, or just from class. It was a small turnout last night, as there were only seven people in attendance, including Steve Sensei.

When it came to be my turn I demonstrated ushiro katadori kokyunage, as seen below. I don't remember the day we learned this technique, but I used it on my third kyu test. I had to do three different techniques on a ushiro katadori attack, and this was one that I chose to do. For whatever reason, I've been really good at this technique from the start. I think perhaps it has to do with all the motion from start to finish. I don't do as well on techniques that start from a completely static position, as so many do when we practice. I remember the vocal reaction from my uke the first time I performed this technique on him while training for my test. It took him totally by surprise, and from the reaction, it was clear there was simply nothing he could have done to stop me from doing this to him. The difference, of course, is that unlike this video, our ushiro katador always has uke starting from in front of nage, and moving around to grab from behind. For that to work, uke must come at nage as though he was going to grab nage, but nage puts up a blocking arm that forces uke to move around to behind nage. That's where the motion in this technique comes in.

Overall, class was very good. The last 20 minutes or so was spent practicing randori with two attackers. We took turns being nage, doing about four throws each, then trading off and being uke for the other two students. Hmm, I have to do randori with two partners at the end of my second kyu test. Think Sensei was trying to get me ready for my test? It is not beyond the realm of possibility. Over time he has said many supportive things to me, and helped me work through many techniques that were very difficult for me. I know he's really pushing for me to do well, not just on test, but in all my practice.

There was also a moment when we stopped our randori practice and Sensei asked one student from each group (there were two groups of three going) to switch and move to the other group. I honestly didn't want to switch, but I made sure I was the first person in my group to jump up from seiza and move to the other group. I wanted to make sure Sensei knew I was paying attention and being attentive to his directions.

Between all the different techniques, the randori, and some bokken work (with my new bokken!), I was exhausted by the time we finished. It was a great way to finish off the year.

Here's to 2011, and all the wonderful practice yet to come.