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[smoothsake]

I know this is now almost 2 weeks old, but I finally got these pictures off the digital camera...

Every New Years morning, the dojo hosts a Beach Training session. This year we were to meet at 7am in picturesque Manhattan Beach. It was chilly outside, but more importantly the sand was blistering cold -- like needles to our bare feet. It took awhile to adjust but after we got situated it proved to be a valuable lesson. I say that because it is so different kicking on sand versus on a hard surface. If you've never tried it, I recommend you give it a shot.

I must say the best part of the morning session was the tranquil setting of being outside with the Pacific as a backdrop. That and opening the new year with Kyokushin.

We did kihon geiko, kata, and some fun activities like a relay race where the losing team did a set of 50 knuckle push ups and 50 squats (my team lost twice). We even did a sumo tournament.

The most surprising point of the session... that so many kids got out of their beds!!

Osu!

Check out the pictures. (Particularly to the those cawabunga California waves!)

[MarkW]

Nice. I like the look of the waves on the second photo, they look good to a surfer like me!

Being a newbie to karate, how does the belt system work for kyukoshin? I know white belt is first, but whats the sequence after that?

Osu!

[blackdog]

We just did our first training of the year on one of our local surf beaches.

Great fun, training in the sand as opposed to wooden floor boards is a great lesson in balance isn't it?

As we are in the southern hemisphere it is our summer, so it was a little more pleasant for us, although it was not hot (a mild 20 celcius or so) and a stiff breeze was blowing, the water is relativley warm, so we were able to actually get in and get wet!

Trainging IN the water is yet another lesson in balance, as of course the sand shifts under your feet as the waves break and subside.

We also did another drill where we stepped forward ten paces into the water whilst kicking, then did different types of push ups at the tenth kick (got interesting after the 4-5 set where we were thigh deep in the surf , including poor Sempai Leigh who lost his glasses!)

The other great thing about kicking into thigh deep surf is that it FORCES you to practise good technique ie you MUST bring you knee high enough to clear the water to do a good kick. Kumite in the water is fun too, kumite tip in the water, kick a big face full of water at your opponent striaght up , fun, but it can make them mad so only do it if you are happy to get touched up....

Fantastic first training session, i too recomend training on the beach if you havent done it before.

I will try to get a few pictures of our training and post them.

Bren

[blackdog]

Being a newbie to karate, how does the belt system work for kyukoshin? I know white belt is first, but whats the sequence after that?

Have a look here Mark, i really like this explanation Sensei Steve gives here http://www.seishincanada.com/seishin/beltcolors.htm

We use Red instead of Orange, but same difference..

Bren

[blackdog]

We even did a sumo tournament.

Ouch, i just had shivers up my spine.

A fun sumo tournament on the beach is how i smashed my leg to peices.....

Im a big guy (at the time about 115 kgs) and my opponent was another big guy (125 kgs) My right leg sank in the sand while i grab his obi/gi and pushed, he threw me past him (using my momentum) and my leg hyper extended, smashing the bone beneath my knee.

Needless to say I don't take part in sumo wrestling on the beach anymore

All i can say about sumo wrestling on the beach is ....

When Sensei tells you to keep your knees and elbows slightly bent, make sure you do, there is a good reason for it, its called hyperextending your joints, and it aint good for you.

Bren

[MarkW]

Thanks, I understand the belt system now!

(sets his sight towards a red/orange belt)

[blackdog]

I know i promised to put some pics up weeks ago....

but better late than never!

Here is our beach training pics in video format, this was the first training session of the year for the Ocean Grove dojo.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIFrdQw3-I4

Bren

PS K4L, how do i get the vid links to embed as i have seen here in the past? Help please