[zvolencan1]

I apologize for another maybe trivial question, Sensei Jon, but I would like to know what is that move you do with your right hand in One Step #3 (green to green stripe)? You actually grab your opponent’s hand, after you turn and step back? Or is that a variation on outside-in block? Thank you in advance.

[zvolencan1]

I just discovered this section in forum, I didn’t realize something like this is here, so I may as well introduce myself now. 🙂

My name is Peter Štrba (that first letter is pronounced “sh” 🙂 ), I’m from Slovakia, and I’m enrolled in Complete Shotokan Karate. I’m an absolute beginner, no previous experience with any martial art whatsoever. How I got here? To be honest, I think we’re headed into some rough times here in Europe, so I was thinking about learning how to defend myself, and my family. That was the primary motivation. I work in theater as a lighting technician, so we have very unstable work schedule, sometimes I work from 8am to 4pm, sometimes from 1pm to 9pm, so ordinary dojo was not an option for me. I went on YouTube, as anyone who wants to learn something, and searched for some instructional videos. Very quickly I got to video with Sensei Jon, because it had the best quality and actually showed something from training. So I followed the first lesson, and I really liked it, so I wanted more, but the only way was to buy the DVD set. So I did, but to be honest again, only after I read the Study Manual I realized, what I actually had done. 😀 I thought I would just train a few times, and I would quickly become something like Bruce Lee. I never planned to train regularly, and certainly not so many hours, as it is required in curriculum. And also many big changes were happening around me at that time, so I didn’t really understand what’s going on, but in many ways it felt like destiny, something very important, that I just have to do, so I finally decided to embark on this ship, and start training. And very quickly I realized it felt good. It actually brought back some nice childhood memories – I was a fan of martial arts films, and I have always regarded Karate to be very cool, and we used to play with my friend that we actually fight with Karate. I saw Chinese movies Three Evil Masters, and 36th Chamber of Shaolin – that was a quarter of a century ago (!!!), but I remembered it, and I actually watched them again during this Christmas – and this time I was searching for techniques I already knew – that was a completely different experience!
And other thing: As I progress through belts, I can see how everything has it’s order in curriculum, and certain moves can come only after I trained some other before that. I can see how the degree of movement in joints is being increased, and I feel I’m starting to use muscles I never used before, or used only a little. I can literally feel centuries of experience and development in techniques, One Steps, and Katas. It’s absolutely amazing.

So I have a practical motivation, and I’m emotionally hooked, so I might go a long way in Complete Shotokan, but we’ll see.

[zvolencan1]

Hi,
I have a question about stance used in One Steps #1 in green to green stripe DVD. Is that a back stance, when Sensei Jon does the knife hand block? He doesn’t mention it in Breakdown, so I just want to be sure. Thank you.

[zvolencan1]

Thank you very much, you actually surprised me, thinking about One Steps as a flexible tool, that’s something completely new for me, and it’s actually amazing to see all the possibilities now. The key is, as you said, to make the individual moves automated, so that I can improvise according to situation. Thank you again.

[zvolencan1]

Hi, I have a question about One Step #1 in yellow to green belt DVD. When Sensei Jon is doing the reverse punch, he brings his left hand to the side, but in the Breakdown of this One Step he leaves his hand up, still blocking the attacker’s hand. So which variation should I use? I think bringing the hand to the side gives the body more torque, thus more power to the punch, also the left hand is now ready for another move, so I guess this variation might be better, but I want to be sure. Thank you.

[zvolencan1]

Yes, thank you very much.

Peter

[zvolencan1]

Hi, I would like to ask about positioning of hands:
1) Down Block (white to yellow belt)
In Technique Guide Mr. Hodge shows that before delivering the block itself I should bring one hand behind my ear and the other almost in the armpit, almost hugging myself, but in Training Guide Mr. Hodge crosses his arms in front of his chest, making a letter X. So which positioning of hands is correct, please?
2) Snap Kick and Thrust Kick (white to yellow belt)
In Technique Guide Mr. Hodge tells us that after getting into front stance I should bring my hands up as in a fight, but in Training Guide Mr. Hodge moves around with his arms down, next to his body, somewhat spread, as if to gain stability. Again – which position of hands is correct, please?
Thank you very much.

Peter

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