We were delighted to host guest instructor Sensei (Big) Mike Barker, 3rd Dan, who hasn’t visited us for a few years. Here’s what we all looked like back in the day! In these classes, we worked on generating power using an analogy of how to play a musical instrument: if you don’t press down properly on a guitar string, the note sounds muffled. It’s similar for karateka who need to push their heel flat to the floor to get maximum power. We then worked on thrusting our hips forward with the power from the heel flat on the floor.
We then focused on using the block preparation hand as the block itself and the “blocking” hand as a strike. Instead of the first move — gedan barai or download block — of the first kata (Kihon Kata) being a block against a body punch (chudan) or front kick (mai geri), we used the preparation hand to intercept a punch to the chin (jodan) and then the block itself became a strike or even a set up for a throw. We did this with other blocks too.
Senshi Karate 