SHOTOKAN KARATE
While I won't be able to test for rank anymore due to Sensei Hodge's changing of curriculum; I still want to learn.
So today I spent 1 hour watching all of the blue to blue stripe material. It looks a bit complicated but as I am no longer able to get rank; I will have plenty of time to learn.
October 16 2017- 30 minutes
watched the new material focusing on the advance 1 form to get the fundamental movements down.
October 24th- 1 hour
I watched advance 1 Kata; focusing on the footwork transition at the beginning. And to get the structure down a bit better.
october 31st- 2 hours
i worked solely on new kata in order to get the fundamentals down. Followed along with the video. Did the form around 5 times. Made some minor mistakes but i’m Confident that in a few months I’ll have this form down too.
November 7th- 1 hour
Practiced Advance 1 in order to get the transitions and stances down.
November 9th - 1 1/2 hours
Practiced Advance 1 form. I have the basics down pretty well.
November 21st 2 hours
Reviewed Chario Forms and Advance 1 form. I am slowly getting the transitions down.
December 5th- 1 hour
Practiced Advance 1 with cueing from a student in order to keep work out kinks.
December 6th 2 hours
With the holiday craziness in full swing my practices may become fewer. Today I did a mock test for my next rank but still have a ways to go before I'm ready for my next rank.
WooHoo!!!! I've put 11+ hours into learning this rank. I hope that I'll be able to have more consistent training days in the new year in order to truly prep for the next belt exam.
December 12th 2 hours
I think I'm getting closer to being ready for my next test. I'm a little rusty but I think I'll be able to focus on polishing everything pretty soon. Most likely after the holiday.
December 30th-31st: 1 hour
I filmed a sort of "Check In" video of Advance 1 for Sensei Jon to see where I'm at. I don't expect a reply but at the very least he can see where I'm at and if there's any super big issues in my performance of Advance 1. (*I practiced for an hour on the 30th and then filmed the video on the 31st in just under 3 minutes)
Updates: it seems I have all the parts down but need to focus on snapping my techniques, and smoother transitions between techniques. I will be focusing on those things when I practice the form from here on out.
January 3rd 1 hour
Today I practiced the technique portion of the my next rank. I'm feeling really good on my advance 1 kata. So now I just need to practice the techniques a bit more and learn the one steps and self defense.
15 hours trained so far! I'm going to start practicing the technique portion and visualizing the one-steps every day after my morning workout.
february 8th- 1 hour
practiced the techniques of thisrank and reviewed the form. Didn’t have space to practice the form but I watched it a few times to memorize the movement.
march15th-30 minutes
practiced the techniques of this rank. Focusing on foot work and transitions between stances for each technique.
march 25th- 25 minutes
practiced Heien Shodan focusing on precision/snap of each technique. I find that when I try to flow from one technique to the other I have trouble maintaining consistent speed; so I think i’ll Slow it down a bit and focus on precision of each technique as well as how they flow together.
I am about half way through the minimal time requirements. Going forward I will be practicing the entire test material in testing order at as many practices as I can so that everything flows together and is consistent in the film; this will not only mentally prepare me for the test but hopefully allow for a “constant” rolling film and less segmented and thus less “editing” before posting.
setting a goal of May 1st or sooner to film my next test!!!
April 14th- 2 hours
Watched and followed along with the entire green stripe curriculum.
The techniques have been memorized and transitions are getting smoother.
i visualized the one steps and self defense but will hopefully be able to have a friend stand in for the actual test.
the form is coming along. All the parts are memorized but footwork is still a bit rough.
April 15th- 2 hours
Watched and followed along with the entire green stripe curriculum like I did yesterday in order to prep for testing and for true knowledge. It's more important that I really memorize every part of these ranks so that when I get to red belt and my 1st degree black belt test; I have all the previous knowledge in my mind. I may forget or have to review some of the onesteps as theres a lot of those and they all seem to bleed together with the one steps I learned in tkd. That film will probably be one at a time; but I really want the forms to be polished and a part of a strong foundation in case I ever wish to teach Shotokan after 2nd or 3rd degree black belt. (or what ever the requirements for Sensei Jon are)
may 10th- 1 hour
today I filmed the techniques from front and side view as well as the form from front and back view in order to have something to watch to compare to the video of Sensei Hodge in order to improve my performance.
may 18th- 1 hour
today I filmed the form from front/ back view twice. First time as a smooth performance and second time counting out each step (1-20) to see where i’m At.
upon review; i’m Very happy with the performance and skill. Fluidity is a bit wonky because of the unevenness of my yard where I was filming.
I will be focusing solely on the one-steps and self defense for the next couple weeks until they are polished enough for testing.
i’ve alteady Hit past the minimum hours needed; but feel it’s be good to shoot for 25 hours of training so that all the parts can be fluid and truly understood (i’m At approximately 22 hours) before filming the sections of the test.
feeling really good about my understanding of the form, and techniques/one-steps/self defenses and nearly ready to film my test.
i just need to get a friend to stand in as an attacker for the one steps and self defense demonstration.
May 21st- 2 hours
i spent an hour doing a mock test going through each portion of the techniques and form . Then I spent the next hour actually filming the technique and form:Heien Shodan.
may 22nd- 2 hours
i filmed the one steps; self defenses; the techniques; and form from front and side view. I am just trying to edit it all together and e-mail a link to the test. (*tomorrow once I get everything posted i’ll Pay the test fee and e-mail Sensei Jon with a link to the playlist of the videos.)
I passed my test!!!! Which is exciting and I'm quite happy with my progress and hope to reach brown belt by end of this year!!! Then do another review of all the material before starting the last 3 ranks and be truly prepared for 1st degree black belt. Love all that I'm learning!!!!
updates: it seems I won't be able to work towards my blue stripe as there's a new version of the program and to do it, I'd have to start over. I had hoped to reach black belt and a year ago Sensei Hodge mentioned working on the 2nd degree material and I had hoped to work towards that rank someday, if not higher. I have truly loved all that I've learned here and I was very excited to start working on advance 2-5 and Bassai; and it's sad to have to, like others I assume, start over at white belt as if I had no experience. just a little upsetting.
I haven't decided if I will start working toward yellow belt; again; but in the meantime I will switch to the krav maga curriculum and hope that i can progress in that program without upsets.
recording the sections of my GREEN-STRIPE belt and I'm most looking forward to having only one form per rank as I start the "Advance" ranks of shotokan.
The filming was done over the last 2 weeks; at the space at the Milwaukie East Side Athletic Club; My house, and My new dojo location of The Milwaukie Elks Lodge.
I'm hopeful that I will pass this rank and be moving on to the advance ranks. Before I do that though; I'm going to spend a few weeks reviewing ALL the PREVIOUS FORMS and submit a "Check In" video of the 6 forms I've learned so far.
Watched the new forms I need to know to get my green stripe belt. Had an adult student of mine watch them with me to help me with minor corrections and as a sort of sounding board to talk through any mistakes I was making in my basic understanding of the first form.
As of this morning, I'm a Green Belt in Shotokan Karate!!!
Below is the e-mail I RECIEVED:
I have completed my review of your yellow to green belt exam and I hereby promote you to 8th degree green belt. I will be emailing you the feedback as soon as I get it uploaded tonight. I will send out your certification today. I found several things that you will need to correct before the nest exam and I have described them in the feedback video.
-Sensei Jon
__________
So I have some things to polish before working on the next rank; that's fine! Going to start reviewing all the previous forms and polishing everything so that when it gets time for Black Belt I'll be ready!!!
(Last night I got my MASTER MASON initiation!!!)
Edited and got my video submitted for my next rank in shotokan!
Got confirmation e-mail that Sensei Jon has received my video and will be reviewing in today or tomorrow! Will see when the rank changes online and I receive the certificate in mail!
Started reviewing new curriculum for my green stripe belt!!
BOUGHT THE NEW KRAV MAGA DVDS AND RECIEVED THE "advance to black belt" digital version for free! Will be chronicling that training online and as much as possible on here.
Nearly done with my next belt video. I know the forms but still reviewing the one steps. I do know the self defenses but still haven't filmed them.
The technique and forms are filmed and pretty good. I look forward to the next belt!!!
Will probably take a break for a little while as I'm getting closer to black belt in Tae kwon do. But once that's completed I'm hitting these shotokan DVDs with a vengeance as well as the Krav Maga and Bo staff curriculums!!!
Very happy!!!
Still polishing everything!! Getting close to brown in Tae kwon do and moving school locations so that's stressful.
Going to probably have to take a break after next rank so I can focus on finishing the last few ranks for my 1st degree in Tae kwon do. Then I'm gonna jump back into shotokan and finish my black belt In that!!!!
As well as Krav Maga AND Bo staff!!! (Both through mhodgymma- same as the shotokan program)
I know both forms and the techniques for testing for my green belt. Filmed most of the test and just need the one steps and self defense.
Still need a bit of work on the one steps to really memorize them. The self defenses aren't super hard (but next belts one steps, forms, and self defenses ARE difficult).
Filming everything soon!!!
I've started filming the next belt rank exam. Just filmed the techniques and one steps so far. Having some issues finding time to film between teaching classes so it's been a bit chaotic.
I know everything except the last section of chario 1 (chario shodan) but will polish everything this week and film it for the test.
Still on track to be roughly half way to shotokan black belt by the time I get my black belt in Tae Kwon do.
I know the first (of 2) new forms, I know all the techniques and will be filming them soon!
Then it's just practicing the one steps and self defenses. I know the 3 one steps and I think I am good on the self defenses. (2 hand wrists grabs high and low)
All things are moving forward!! :)
Started working on the next belts curriculum. Haven't received certificate in mail yet but I did pass my test!!! (Found out due to e-mail)
I need to pay better attention to stances and so today I will be watching the next DVD (yellow belt) and going through each technique on both sides at least 5 times.
I also plan on working on the first form to get the basic visualization memorized as soon as possible.
I hope that by end of next month I will be able to start working on the next form and that by the end of June I will be able to test for my green belt.
Due to damage to all discs I was gifted the digital versions of the curriculum and spent today watching the yellow belt curriculum and mapping out notes to learn these techniques quickly and effectively.
Goal of next test by end of June/middle of July 2015!
I was able to get the rest of my first rank exam filmed today!!!
Big thanks to Larry Mclouad and Stefan Melin for assisting me in filming the one steps and self defenses!!!
Hopefully sometime tomorrow I will be editing the segments together and posting the finished version here (baring any missing pieces).
(* in MPMA news: a former karate student Chyanne Wirrkala came and tried out the self defense curriculum and hopefully she enjoyed it enough to come and join me and return to martial arts. Either way it was an amazing night and great to see her after a year!! :). Really amazed at how much she remembered!!!)
