2022-11-17

Subbing for ISKF Tempe at the Tempe Family YMCA.

Last night we walked through the first four Heian katas before beginning a “deep dive” into Heian Godan. Since it was new to everyone present, I taught it “Simon style” where we start with the first move, then two moves, then three, and so on. We used that method to build up to the first kiai. Then we learned the next section, from the first kiai to the jump, the same way. Then we did the same for the final few moves. That last bit is easily the most difficult for students (and instructors, since no two dojos seem to do it the same way), but by the end of the night everyone could get to the first kiai from memory.

The jump, itself, took a bit of extra time, so we broke it down as follows: I taught the hand moves in two counts (which is really quite easy since it’s just chambering and then a gedan ryoken juji-uke), then I taught the footwork (without a jump) just stepping into place in two counts. Then I put the two together, so that the hands and feet were both progressing with two counts. Finally we added a jump. Voila!