2026-04-20

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

After basics last night, we broke out the yoga blocks and worked on improving the mechanics of reverse punch. I have students pair up, with one student holding a yoga block against their chest as a striking target for the other partner. Yoga blocks are soft enough to prevent injury, but firm enough to give good feedback on things like striking surface, wrist alignment, etc.

Once students were paired up, we spent most of our time learning to engage the rear leg to drive the rear hip forward. This is generally the most difficult part for students to “get” because you have to practice it slowly and mechanically to “get it.” Start in front stance with the hips square, then rotate the rear hip back staying on the same plane by bending the rear knee to accommodate the turn. Then, to fire the hip forward again, simply drive the rear leg straight while concentrating on directing the hip forward, not up. What results is a punch driven not from the arm, shoulders, or torso, but by the hip and leg muscles, yielding a much more powerful punch.

This same lesson continues into kata, particularly when students pivot more than 90°. In these “long” pivots, students tend to straighten their knees, stand up, and sort-of “pirouette” until they step out into the next stance. However, once their legs are straight, they’ve got nothing left to push with, and they have to wait for gravity to pull them into place. By keeping the legs compressed, they’ve got a sort-of coiled spring of potential energy ready to push them in any direction they choose, and as fast as their muscles will allow.