Looming grading

I was not at training in on Monday, first session I have missed in about six months I think - the senior club instructor came over and I think put a bit of rat up everyone's night dress (is that a real saying?). I think it is always a good thing to have a bit of a shake up and let students work with a different instructor (albeit someone most of them know quite well but haven't seen for a good while) to keep people on their toes.

This is especially important given that we have a grading on the 22nd and now only three training sessions before.

On Monday he covered off kata and combinations. I'm planning to do attack and difference (yippon commit) in some depth tonight and then next week go through areas requested by those people grading. It can be a tense time pre-grading and one or two of the students are a little bit light on practice, particularly of kata to pass right at this point in time.

I always liked to focus my pre-grading training around kata for a number of reasons. Firstly the technical - do the stance and technique work within your kata right and your basics and combinations will improve along with the kata.

Secondly kata is designed to incorporate all the good stuff you need to do those other techniques at that grade - in other words the kata's are designed as a training aid for your grade and using them as such makes sense - I practice kata everyday, without fail. It really helps.

Lastly, proper kata done at full speed is bloody hard work. After three or four kata I will be breathing hard and after eight, nearly unconcious. It is good cardio work and will help stamina and on the grading day you will need that.

Last point on gradings. I may be old fashioned (I have been doing this since 1980) but I always train for a grading, increasing the running and fitness work so that I am physically able to cope with a high belt grading (anything from purple onwards I'd suggest at least). Karate, particularly at a high kyu grade level is challenging, physically, technically and mentally. So being able to tick off the fitness part of things well in advance of a grading is important to me. It means I'm not stressing about whether I can carry on and do the next kick or fight - sure I'm tired and working hard but mentally I can focus on another strong technique while the instructor is watching me and not be concerned that all my reservoirs of energy are gone.