2024-11-13

Teaching my regular classes at the Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA.

In the adult class, I announced the results of the small make-up exam we held on Monday and both candidates passed: One to 6th kyu and one to junior 7th kyu. Both students are doing very well mechanically, but we need to find a way to crank their spirit up a notch. Following that announcement I ran the class through the full set of block/counter kihon drills, spending extra time on age-uke/gyaku-zuki because … it’s hard. All of the other “basic” blocks have a “halfway” position that we practice as part of a two-step drill when students first learn them, but not rising block. We probably should teach it with an explicit halfway position, but we don’t. As a result, it’s harder for students to switch their hands in anticipation of a block following a reverse punch.