Begin to learn Seisan bunkai

July 31st, 2007 at 22:56 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

This evening, after working on Kanshiwa bunkai with Fumiya, he taught me Seisan bunkai. For the first time I experienced the traditional Okinawan way of teaching, learning and practicing kata bunkai. Unlike what I had been taught or had experienced in Malaysia, Uechi-Ryu Zankai being the only traditional old style Uechi-Ryu left in the world, the requirement for performing was rather unique and strict.

No one gets hurt when practicing bunkai in Zankai dojo. Safety is the utmost priority but still retain the accuracy, power and speed while performing bunkai. Every technique must be demonstrated in regular and slow speed. The bunkai practice also cultivates mutual respect amog students.

From the techniques and skills that Sensei taught me, in addition to my prior knowledge of Uechi-Ryu techniques before I came to Okinawa, I understand that all Uechi-Ryu techniques are really effective and deadly. After practicing the bunkai, I have a better understanding and realization of what degree of damage can an Uechi-Ryu technique be delivered to your attacker.

Tags:

I feel lousy

July 30th, 2007 at 23:01 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

When I woke up in the morning, I could feel the lousiness in me. I had 4 times of diarrhea this morning. It could be my body lacking isotonic balance after the purges or it could be lack of sleep for waking up four times at to take a leak.

Nevertheless, like use, took a quick hot shower then gulped down some breakfast and ready for the morning training. My performance was really awful. I forgot some of the steps in all the kata I learned last week, Kanshabu (Kanshuu), Seichin and Seiunchin. This should not happen but it happened. Could it be the lazying around yesterday? Too much of pastries and beautiful sceneries?

Sensei was going to the commissary so I asked him to get me some glucose tablets. I took some in the evening and I could feel better. But still, I could not perform during the evening training. What was wrong with me?

After the evening training, I took a hot shower and had fried soba Sumako cook. It was delicious. Thanks! She and Sensei were talking about how Sensei and Matoki had been through the day and Sumako also said that she did not feel right in the day. Matoki was having diarrhea too. We were having some ind of food poisoning and we guessed the source could be the tempura. We could be wrong.

I sat and thought for a while, it was not only the diarrhea which degraded my performance. It was the new training which I had been going through for more than a week. I was transforming while I was learning, absorbing the knowledge and skills Sensei was putting on me. I was in the “unlearning” phase.

To confirm my theory, I tried to perform other kata which I learned from other styles and I could not believe it myself. I had forgotten most of the moves and I could feel my uke-waza was not the same as before. I was changing. I was  transition from linear into circular universe. I could feel the tension in my joints when I performed a linear techniques.

And most likely, I was in the forgetting curve where I forgot the movements which I learned last week. My learning curve was steep (quick) last week. Tomorrow, I would start to learn Seisan bunkai. I hoped I would get out of this forgetting curve soon.

Tags:

Okinawan Fishing Village

July 29th, 2007 at 15:42 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Environment, Karate, Okinawa, Photography, Scenery · Comment 

After the breakfast, we went to a fishing village in Yomitan-son. Sumako wanted to buy some tempura. The fishing village was very clean. Although it was hot and sunny, it was still rewarding to see the great scenery of a local fishing village. It was low tide in the day time at this time of the month. I could see the crystal clear sea water on the shallow sea bed after the low tide.

Tags:

Another great breakfast

July 29th, 2007 at 12:07 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Eating Out, Environment, General, Karate, Okinawa, Photography, Scenery · Comment 

Like last Sunday, Breyette Sensei and Sumako Sempai took me out for a great breakfast at Boulanger Patissier at a seaside. There was Renaissance Hotel nearby.

The patries were so tempting to look at and of course they were very delicious. I wanted to eat everyone of them but I got a small stomach. Here are some photos of the pastries they baked just to share with you.

They are mouth watering, ain’t they? The environment is cosy, soft classical music is playing, French atmosphere and of course the fresh pastries aroma right out from the oven!

After we had our breakfast/brunch, we went down stairs to browse the local market. Because of the typhoon Min-Yi the week before I arrived, the prices of vegetables and fruits became very expensive. I also saw some clay pots that were used to store Japanese wine. They were very expensive just for the pot itself.

The scenery outside was very attractive as well. Although it was hot and sunny, the breeze from the East China Sea was refreshing with the view of blue water.

The beautiful scenery by the blue sea reminded me of my late sister, Angie. She would love to be on Okinawa and she would jump into the sea. She loved the sea so much.

Tags:

Torii Beach

July 28th, 2007 at 23:58 · Filed Under Blogging, Environment, Karate, Okinawa, Photography · Comment 

The beach on Okinawa is very clean. Blue seas white sands. These are the sceneries on Torii Beach. The beach is managed by US Army’s MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation). It is off-limit for civilians and I have got a chance to go there because of the beach party.

The beautiful scenery and the party are really rewarding after a whole week of “severe” karate training. Many thanks to Sumako Sempai and Sensei for taking me to the party.


The city in the background is Naha.


I thought it was some kind of bunker but it was actually an ancient tomb.

Tags:

Beach Party at Torii Station

July 28th, 2007 at 23:46 · Filed Under At Play, Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Photography · 2 Comments 

We went to a beach party (Summer Bash) at the Torii Beach inside of US Army camp at Torii Station. I put on a red Hawaiian shirt which Sumako presented to me. There were many people when we arrived. The beach had got very beautiful scenery. The music was hot. The foods were tempting and ample. Kids were running around having big time fun.

The food was great! 100% American taste. They had roast pig, barbecue burger and hotdog, rice balls, beef spring rolls, egg rolls, pastries, cheese cake (my favorite!), snacks, beers, soft drinks and a lot more.

The kids and the adults had great times playing games.

And there were hotdog eating and “Fear Factors” competitions.

I had a stroll on the beach with Sensei and Sumako. The sunset background was over exposed otherwise this would be a great picture for them.

Tags:

Dantai no Kanshiwa

July 28th, 2007 at 23:08 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

Tin, Jeff, Senato, Shawn and I (of course) attended the afternoon training class. I really enjoyed doing dantai no Kanshiwa (group kata) with Tin and Jeff. We repeated a few times and refined some glitches and we had a good sweat.

While I practiced Seisan with Senato and Shawn, Sensei taught Tin and Jeff Seichin. I joined them practicing Seichin after a while.

After another fruitful day of training, I took my shower and put on a red Hawaii shirt ready to go to the beach party with Sensei. I was so excited to meet and see more people.

Tags:

Yoga

July 28th, 2007 at 12:30 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Training Journal, Yoga · 2 Comments 

I had my 2nd Yoga training in the morning today. It was really tiring and sweating because Sumako Sensei (Yoga) was putting up the practice particularly to supplement my karate training. She did a lot of exercise with heavy emphasis on toes. In Uechi-ryu, the front snap kick or Shomen Geri also can be called Sokusen which literally translated to pointed toe kick.

Compared to last week Yoga training which emphasized more on stretching, today lesson was really a hard one which required a lot of muscle power. It was good to build up muscle endurance and power. Today we did Sun, infant, dog and cat asana (posture).

I find Yoga compliment very well into karate training especially old style Uechi-ryu. I hope to share some Yoga training when I return.

Tags:

Kanshiwa Bunkai

July 27th, 2007 at 23:59 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

I learned Kanshiwa bunkai and practiced with Hidetoshi today. The way the bunkai is taught and practiced in Uechi-ryu is really different from my previous style.

Practicing bunkai does not only involve technical movements but involve discipline, control and respect to your partner.

This is just roughly an idea of the entire process. First, you and your partner will bow to the front before they bow to each other. After bowing to each other, you will face forward and bow to the front again while your partner remains in his position. Then you begin to show 3 sequences of movement in the kata then you get into position. Your partner will shout before he attacks. Then you will apply a block and a counter strike according to the technique in the kata. After applying the technique, you and your partner will square off. You and your partner remain eye contact through out the enitre process to make sure your partner is ok. Then you will get to the last movement where you left off in the kata and do it again before performing the following 3 sequences. Repeat again until finish performing the entire kata. Then you bow to the front and your partner take over your place and the entire process repeat again.

When all is done, both you and your partner bow to the front and bow to each other.

Tags:

Seisan

July 27th, 2007 at 23:45 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

Finally, I’ve knocked the entire Seisan kata into my head with the assistance of Hikaru during the morning workout. Being a fan of Seisan kata (knowing Shorin-ryu, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu version), it is not an easy task to remember all the movement of Uechi-ryu Seisan although there are some resemblence.

Seisan contains a lot of fighting techniques. Deadly and effective. I will write about Seisan kata and bunkai later once I have completely digested.

Tags:

My Little Sensei

July 27th, 2007 at 23:35 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

I worked with little Kazuto during the evening class yesterday. He is 7 years old and he is my Sensei! Kazuto is really amazing at his age and he is able to perform Seiunchin.

It will be really hard for some people to learn from a little kid and whose rank is lower. But I find it intriguing and especially amazing when look at these photos. It is fun to work with kids like him. As I wrote in a post earlier, Ego Challenge, it is also important to learn from people who has knowledge and yet far younger and lower rank.

Tags:

I want to achieve more

July 27th, 2007 at 13:19 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

After I’ve made a retrospection about my progress for the last 8 days of my training on Okinawa, I don’t feel satisfactory about my progress although Sensei has said I am progressing rapidly. I could have done better than what I’ve achieved now.

Simply because there were too many concerns in my mind. Now I take away some of the concerns and I am putting in more effort and focus into my study. I aim to do more and progress further.

I have been learning kata for the past 8 days. I will begin to refine my kata for the next couple of weeks and learn 分解 (bunkai or application) next week and followed by 連続組み手 (renzoku kumite).

Tags:

Working at the lounge

July 27th, 2007 at 12:13 · Filed Under General · Comment 

While I was not training, I worked at the lounge area. There has a great view of the ocean.


This is the lounge view from outside

Tags:

Anna the Queen

July 27th, 2007 at 12:05 · Filed Under Animals, Okinawa, Photography · Comment 

Anna is one of the 22 cats the Breyett family loves. She is the only cat allowed to be in the lounge. I made some photos of Anna while she was sleeping nearby the stairway.


Oh no! Run! She is going to eat me! No… She is just yawning…

Tags:

Training Progress

July 27th, 2007 at 11:45 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment 

I have been on Okinawa for my karate sabbatical training for a week and 2 days now. According to Sensei, I have made a rapid progress which they never expected. He had expected to be difficult to work on me as I am transition from one style to another.

Until today, I have learned 6 kata (Sanchin, Kanshiwa, Kanshabu or Kanshuu, Seichin, Seiunchin and Seisan) in one week! Unbelievable. Yes, I could not believe myself. Am I in the dreamland? I was expecting the Uechi-ryu kata to be difficult to learn and I never said it was easy either. I guess it is my interest in kata and the understanding of human skeletal structure and mechanical movement help in my studies of Uechi-ryu kata.

Sensei’s sense of humor and his unique teaching style is the major contributor of my rapid progress. And of course his patient. Doumo arigato gozaimashita.

Tags:

Next Page »