MiniMe performing basics

With an end of year trip to Japan looming we just had time to fit a final grading in before we headed off on holiday. In what should in theory be our last kyu grading before we go for our black belts late in 2010, we once again headed to Vale Farm Sports Centre ready for a tough examination of our karate.

The grading took place on Sunday 20th December 2009 and would include grading for all levels so no training session beforehand for those that are purple & white belt or higher. I always find these gradings harder  since you never know what time your respective grade will be called and going for 1st kyu meant that we would be in the very last group. In theory we should have been grading around 4.30pm with a Sensei driven warm-up / practice starting at 4pm. However, as usual the grading was running very late, this time because of a late finishing Taekwondo that took place at the same venue earlier in the day.

Thankfully I had let MiniMe bring his Nintendo DS so he settled down for some Mario Kart fun while I stood and watched some mixed grades being put through their paces by various black belts, below us in the squash courts. Kilburn SKC operates a quite a few sites so there were lots of unknown faces practising but I did recognise the senior black belts who were putting them through their paces. I had long ago learnt that there is little point wearing yourself out before a grading and with some an unknown wait ahead of us I politely declined the offers to go down and join in the practice.

This seemed to be a very good decision as it was just before 6pm before Sensei Natalie started the warm-up for those going for 1st kyu or those attempting to clear a temporary. MiniMe was flagging a little by this time but I persuaded him to join in the practice, although I told him not to go full on at this point, and he looked very sharp to me through basics and kata. The dojo was already very hot at this point thanks to the all day use so I made sure that both of us practiced our technique but held back enough to make sure we were not worn out before the grading started. Our group was called upstairs quite quickly so we did not have enough time to run through kumite as a group and this left MiniMe a little worried since he was worried about forgetting the order of the required attacks.

We were soon upstairs and for the first time the juniors of the grade were called up first, which meant that MiniMe was in the very first group. I watched him go through his basics under the direction of Sensei Eric and Sensei Darren without any comment and it was soon time for me to be called up for the same basics and again no specific comments aimed at me. I was able to sit and watch MiniMe perform both kata and kumite while I was waiting and MiniMe sailed through Bassai Dai but had a few problems performing kumite. His blocks and counter attacks went very well, as did his first few sets of attacks, but for some reason he was putting no power into any of his kicks. I have noticed MiniMe do this before at previous gradings although it is not something that he does with me when we practice. I get the feeling that he is hesitant to kick someone with real intent just in case he actually makes contact; why this would make a difference to kicks rather than punches I do not know. Sensei Peter made several comments to MiniMe, urging him to put more effort into the kicks, but there was only a marginal improvement each time.

MiniMe had now completed his grading to he headed downstairs while I moved on to complete kata (Bassai Dai); not more most accomplished kata performance ever, which is probably try for all my gradings, but I did keep my composure and did not rush through as some tend to do. Next up was kumite and I was partnered with someone that I did not recognise. If I am partnered with someone who I train alongside then it can sometimes be a bit easier in kumite since we have practiced together before and know our normal pacing. In this case I had to keep all my wits about me and I decided that all my attacks had to have power as well as technique and at this level my opponent should know how to block properly. We sailed through my attacks and his counter attacks but when it came to his attacks I found that I barely had to block since just the backward movement was taking me beyond each attack. Sensei pulled my opponent up for not showing enough commitment and told him to attack with purpose.

The syllabus for the grading:

• Basics (Chudan Jun-zuki->Sambon Renzuki+Sambon Renzuki<-Jodan Age-uke+Gyaku-tsuki->Chudan Soto0uke+Yoko Empi+Yoko Uraken+Chudan Gyaku-tsuki [Zenkutsu-dachi to Kiba-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi]<-Chudan Uchi-uke+Gyaku-tsuki->Shuto-uke+Nukite [Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi]->Mae-geri->Rengeri [Chudan/Jodan]->Mawashi-geri->Yoko Ke-age [Kibadachi] left/right->Yoko Ke-Komi [Zenkutsu-dachi] left/right->Yoko Ke-komi [Zenkutsu-dachi]
• Kata (Bassaidai)
• Kumite (Jiyu Ippon Kumite – Jodan/Chudan/Maegeri/Yoko Ke-komi/Mawashi-geri one side)

That was the end of our final 2009 grading and I went downstairs to catch up with MiniMe to find out that he had already received his results and was very pleased with himself since he had achieved a straight pass. I followed shortly after and just like MiniMe I had also achieved a straight pass so there was just time to buy a new belt for MimiMe (brown with two white stripes), says our goodbyes to a few people, and then make our way home.

With no more training planned in 2009 this would be our last karate activity for the year and also for sometime into January 2010 thanks to our holiday to Japan (sadly the JKA Honbu would be closed for training on the days we have scheduled in Tokyo) so thanks to everyone associated to Kilburn for their support through 2009 and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.