Karate The next level

8 kyu karate training

Now that i had passed my orange belt 9th kyu (kukyu) it was time to start getting serious about my training.Not only go training twice a week but to do some exercises at home as well.As i drank a lot and smoked i was not that fit ,even though i worked on a building site which was hard work.So every night after work i would go for a mile long run, and i would do twenty push ups and sit ups and light stretching before i set of for my run.This would loosen me up and make me more flexible.

I was now learning respect for karate and seeing the higher grades training new there was a lot to learn.On entering the karate training hall(a Dojo)which means, place of the way,all students including the sensai bowed as a sign of respect,this had to be done on exiting as well.When we all lined op to start our training we all bowed to our sensai and he would do likewise back.When we paired up against each other we would bow before and after our training session.Other rules are you must always keep nails short,as you could hurt somebody with them,do not wear any jewellery.always keep your uniform(Gi)nice and clean and in good condition.Always show respect for each other including things like no swearing,spitting or disrupting the class.

It was nearly three months of hard training and it was coming up for me to take my 8th kyu(hachikyu) red karate belt.Now that i had learned how to punch,kick and block,and to do one step sparing(kumite)i had learn another kata.For my orange belt i had to do a (Kihon)Kata,which was very basic punching and blocking an imaginary opponent.This karate grading consists of doing (Heian -Shodan) kata which is very similar to kihon but i had to be more controlled and do a different stance with a knife hand block(Shuto-uke),and i had to do a side thrusting kick(Yoko-kekomi)pluse a side rising kick(Yoko-keage).

Sensai Pete told the class that was going for their gradings,that not to worry as it wont help and the rational reason for this is to see how you cope under stress.Do not hold back,give it everything you have,and if you make a mistake just keep going,do not show a emotional response to it.We will be graded on the following criteria.Hands positioning and correct stance,techniques to be explosive,confident and vigorous.Eyes focused ahead and not on the floor,and at the end of each kihon sequence give a good Kiai.Hands and feet should finish at the same time,and do not block to late or to quick so as not to get hit.When sparring do not over reach or block to near your body,and you attack make sure you reach your partner but make sure you are focused enough not to hurt.

I can't remember how many of use went to the Karate Grading but when i arrived there was about a hundred karate students waiting for their grading.From novices to three students going for their black belts.I can assure you everyone was nervous.We all done a lot of stretching so that we had a lot of flexibility and not to pull any muscles or tendons. Our instructor was Sensai Eneoda,a very fair Japanese instructor who liked to see a lot of aggression.The novices went first and only one person failed,i understand that he had been only training a month,which was against the rules so he was not ready anyway.Then it was my time to be graded.First i had to do kihon,basic stances and techniques moving up and down the dojo demonstrating kicks,blocks and punches to an imaginary opponent.Next was Kumite,sparring with a partner,one step(kihon,ippon,and kumite).These are prearranged attacks and defences.This is to show you can attack and defend yourself at a basic level.Lastly was Kata,again this is prearranged movements but against an imaginary opponent.This proves that you can do a catalogue of fighting moves that have some practical application for self defence.I was a very happy karateka student,i had passed.Now to start training for my 7kyu yellow belt.