Post by Ryuji on Aug 12, 2006 20:04:24 GMT -5
Master Ryuji steps on mat, then bows to the altar in the corner. He then turns to face his class, which is lined up, by rank, on the far edge of the mat. He smiles.
“For future reference,” he says, so quietly his students can hardly hear him, “always say ‘yame’ when your instructor enters the mat”
“Now, let’s begin,” he says, turning to survey the room. The room is medium-sized, with a cream foam-style mat covering most of it. The front and back walls hold only mirrors, and of the other two, one is solid concrete, and the other has two large windows that look out into the room beyond, and two door-less doorways. The room holds pads of many different sizes (to punch and kick), two chest-and-head mannequins (both named ‘Steve’), and there is a black punching bag suspended in the corner. A rack on one wall holds bos, long wooden sticks used as weapons. Also, in the corner is an altar, holding several figurines and bottles of ceremonial drink.
Mr. Ryuji points the students into evenly spaced lines facing one mirror.
“Now, we can start.”
Today, we’re going to learn a basic punch and kick.
Front kick (mae geri):
“Fudo!” Screams Sensei once the class is lined up. (you’ll remember fudo-dachi from our last lesson) The class jumps to what they believe is fudo. Mr. Ryuji goes around correcting stances. Satisfied, he tells the class “right leg UP!” Master Ryuji’s leg aligns with his obi, at his waist, thigh parallel to the ground and calf tucked in, demonstrating. “And OUT!” His leg extends straight, still parallel the ground, his toes flat. His arms are on his hips.
“Ichi!” He counts, as he watches the class and corrects them. At ichi, the class raises their legs, calves tucked. At “ni,” their leg extends. Finally, Sensei says “Full motion, all the way through! Ichi!” Their legs fly out then snap back. “Ni!” Again!
After ten counts, Mr. Ryuji repeats the exercise on the left leg.
Forefist Punch (gyaku zuki):
“Fudo! Breaking out in a naihanchi-dachi with a good strong kiai! Now!”
A naihanchi-dachi is a stance with your feet shoulder width apart and the blade edge of your foot pointed straight ahead, ie your feet pointed straight ahead. Your knees are moderately bent. Your hands are in fists at your waist, palm up.
“Give me a good forefist punch and a good, strong kiai!” Yells Master Ryuji. At the command, he demonstrates. As he punches, he twists his fist like a corkscrew, from it’s previous position, palm up, until the palm is down, the arm is extended, and he is striking with the first two knuckles of his hand, this time his right.
“Full motion, all the way through! Ichi!” He counts them off for punches on both hands. He then tells them to line up and bows them off.
For homework, he tells them to write their impressions of their first full class. He wants practice *descriptive narratives* from each of them. He tells them to speak to him if they have any questions, then begins pounding Steve with rapid movements.
“For future reference,” he says, so quietly his students can hardly hear him, “always say ‘yame’ when your instructor enters the mat”
“Now, let’s begin,” he says, turning to survey the room. The room is medium-sized, with a cream foam-style mat covering most of it. The front and back walls hold only mirrors, and of the other two, one is solid concrete, and the other has two large windows that look out into the room beyond, and two door-less doorways. The room holds pads of many different sizes (to punch and kick), two chest-and-head mannequins (both named ‘Steve’), and there is a black punching bag suspended in the corner. A rack on one wall holds bos, long wooden sticks used as weapons. Also, in the corner is an altar, holding several figurines and bottles of ceremonial drink.
Mr. Ryuji points the students into evenly spaced lines facing one mirror.
“Now, we can start.”
Today, we’re going to learn a basic punch and kick.
Front kick (mae geri):
“Fudo!” Screams Sensei once the class is lined up. (you’ll remember fudo-dachi from our last lesson) The class jumps to what they believe is fudo. Mr. Ryuji goes around correcting stances. Satisfied, he tells the class “right leg UP!” Master Ryuji’s leg aligns with his obi, at his waist, thigh parallel to the ground and calf tucked in, demonstrating. “And OUT!” His leg extends straight, still parallel the ground, his toes flat. His arms are on his hips.
“Ichi!” He counts, as he watches the class and corrects them. At ichi, the class raises their legs, calves tucked. At “ni,” their leg extends. Finally, Sensei says “Full motion, all the way through! Ichi!” Their legs fly out then snap back. “Ni!” Again!
After ten counts, Mr. Ryuji repeats the exercise on the left leg.
Forefist Punch (gyaku zuki):
“Fudo! Breaking out in a naihanchi-dachi with a good strong kiai! Now!”
A naihanchi-dachi is a stance with your feet shoulder width apart and the blade edge of your foot pointed straight ahead, ie your feet pointed straight ahead. Your knees are moderately bent. Your hands are in fists at your waist, palm up.
“Give me a good forefist punch and a good, strong kiai!” Yells Master Ryuji. At the command, he demonstrates. As he punches, he twists his fist like a corkscrew, from it’s previous position, palm up, until the palm is down, the arm is extended, and he is striking with the first two knuckles of his hand, this time his right.
“Full motion, all the way through! Ichi!” He counts them off for punches on both hands. He then tells them to line up and bows them off.
For homework, he tells them to write their impressions of their first full class. He wants practice *descriptive narratives* from each of them. He tells them to speak to him if they have any questions, then begins pounding Steve with rapid movements.
