Karate Tournament

Just because we don’t spend enough time running all over the place, yesterday Robby and I decided to take a drive to Bowling Green, KY to check out the “Tournament of Champions,” organized by World Champion Karate Academy.  We had attended a familiar tournament in Benton, KY a few weeks ago and heard about this one so we went strictly as observers.

It was worth it.

Fuzzy Fur Feet (part 2)

In July, I bought my Vibram Fivefingers shoes and have really enjoyed them. I’ve worn them for a lot of walking, even when I’m not walking just for exercise. I wore them all over the place at The Southern Festival of Books and though there was a lot of wet marble, I was comfortable, if a little more damp than I would have been in regular shoes. If you haven’t already seen these shoes, expect to see more, as well as other brands that are designed to be as closes to being barefoot as possible. Even Nike is getting in to the act. Check out the video after the break for a review of the shoe and concept.

fuzzy fur feet

Dr. Seuss’s Foot Book comes to mind almost every time I put on my new vibram® fivefingers®.  I hesitate to call them shoes, because they’re really not shoes in the traditional sense, as you can see from the picture.

kata drill

From Stephen Irwin’s blog comes a good suggestion that I’ve done before, but sometimes need to be reminded of. Instead of doing kata all at once, break it down into segments and practice from there, with other things in between. Tonight, if I’m teaching kids, I think I’ll do Heian Shodan like this.

Part 1, four moves, stopping before the left turn/rising blocks

Part 2, start with the last move of part one, then work through the kiai

part 3, from the kiai to the southern progression (I tend to think of the katas on a compass, though we tend to actually fast west when we start them at our current dojo, and faced east at the old one (because of where shomen is)

part 4, southern progression

part 5, shutos

With those being done in repetition, out of order, etc.,.