Congratulations!

Training today was not really that tough. It is just basic, yet it really give us a good workout.
After stretching (which is something we haven't been doing for quite sometime), we did the basic movement.
1. Shift left leg leftward and forward while turning the body left, block and punch.
2. Shift right leg rightward and forward while turning the body right, block and punch.
3. Shift right leg rightward and backward while turning the body left, block and punch.
4. Shift left leg leftward and backward while turning the body right, block and punch.
5. Shift left leg forward, block and punch.
6. Shift right leg forward, block and punch.
7. Shift right leg backward, body remain forward, block and punch.
8. Shift left leg backward, body remain forward, block and punch.
9. Shift right leg backward and rightward(while facing back), turn body back, block and punch.
10. Shift left leg backward and leftward (while facing back), turn body back, block and punch.
11. Shift left leg forward and leftward (while facing back), turn body back, block and punch.
12. Shift right leg forward and rightward (while facing back), turn body back, block and punch.

Hmm... i wonder how many people will understand my description here. But these are the basic movements that one should be familiar with, especially if one wants to be a kata player.

Then came the training that I dreaded, kick twice 前蹴り(maegeri) in the air. The pointer is to always keep the foot close to the body. One, it helps to balance; two, it will be relatively easier to kick when the leg is nearer to the body. Personally, i felt that I still haven't develop the muscle for kicking . I guess that is the main reason i can't kick fast and sharp.
To make things more complicated, kick 前蹴り(maegeri) forward, 横蹴り(yokogeri) to the side, and 回蹴り(mawashigeri) forward again, without putting the leg down.
I have no problem balancing, but i have problem in extending my leg out. Most of us when we train, we kick with the speed and force that was generated while kicking off the ground. Generating speed and power in the air is difficult, but once able to do that, it will be wonderful.

Several 'new' punches: 1. 振り突き(furitsuki)　or 振り拳(furiken). 2. 裏拳突き(urakentsuki) 3. 小...(ah!!! i forgot!)
Urakentsuki is especially useful for new distance. Both of these punches, need to be done with proper hip turning. Else, the punch will be light and ineffective. They are not normally used in Kumite, but can be used in real fighting.
Furitsuki can be done with ko-something(i forgot the name), where we use the 'second' knuckle to 'scratch' the eyes. If missed, just reverse it and throw another urakenuchi.

Ah.... that is all for basic today...

Oh, why congratulation? Congratulation to Kevin for making into Mauritius national team~
See him fighting with Ziwee senpai today. It is quite obvious the speed of his movement increased a lot. Several interesting thing about his bouncing is that he bounce with a 'broken' rhythm. For a counter fighter who need to catch the timing to charge in, this is very irritating. Especially when I got trap into his timing, i will be bouncing at an unnatural rhythm (to me) and not able to move.
But what is more important is the sharpness and speed of the technique. Kevin mentioned that some of the other fighter will just stand still. You can dance and jump around like monkey or rabbit, they just stay put. Once you enter his zone of attack, he will launch off with such high speed and accuracy that you will regret of stepping into his zone. (that sounds scary...)

Today's 一言：Don't eat chilly before training...