2023-11-13
Teaching my regular classes at the Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA.
Tonight’s adult class had record attendance. It was great to have so many people, but with a rank disparity running from yondan to white belt, it can be hard to keep everyone challenged. That’s where it helps to have a firm grasp on what everyone needs to work on at each grade, so you can give everyone similar but challengingly grade-appropriate exercises to perform. For example I have students do the following at the same time, depending on grade:
| Grade | Technique(s) | Learning focus |
|---|---|---|
| 10-8 kyu | Stepping forward rising block | The path of the rising block, itself. |
| 7-4 kyu | Stepping forward rising block, then reverse punch in place. |
The smooth transition from the previous count’s reverse punch into the current count’s rising block, and the generation of power (through hip rotation) for the reverse punch. |
| 3 kyu - 2 dan | Stepping forward rising block, then front-leg front kick, then reverse punch in place. |
Avoiding the tendency to rock the hip backward on the front-leg front kick. |
| 3 dan & up | Stepping back rising block, stepping forward roundhouse kick, land with backfist strike, then step forward lunge punch. |
The path of the roundhouse kick, landing with proper width afterwards, and the timing of the backfist strike on landing. |
This is my “matrix” of rising block drills, but I have a number of these matrices in my back pocket, just to keep things interesting for students of all levels. I’m curious how others reading this handle this issue.
