2025-07-21

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

Tonight’s adult class was sparsely attended, so we spent most of our time going over Heian Nidan and Heian Sandan, the two katas that those who attended are responsible for knowing on their next tests. Specifically what we worked on was predictable if you’re familiar with (or familiar with teaching) those katas.

• In Heian Nidan we worked on the sequence from move #15 (the counter-hip-rotated reverse inside block with the right hand) to #21 (the augmented right-side inside block). The counter hip rotation and the reverse blocks are new at this level, so it takes lots of practice to get them right, especially when you string them together.
• In Heian Sandan there were two points of focus:
  • The sequence beginning with #8 (the right-side spear-hand thrust), through the counter-clockwise spin, and into move #10 (the left-side horizontal hammer-fist strike in kiba dachi).
  • The last two moves, particularly the second-to-last move, and really particularly, the need to keep your hands still until your feet settle into kiba-dachi. If you move your hands early, you will mess this up.