More a problem with the stance than the kata, but I have a bigger problem with it in the katas than when I'm just doing the stance.
One of my sensei's pointed out that I keep lifting my back heel in first kata, just after I've moved and landed back in the stance. I seem to sort of bounce up a little bit and then settle back down into the stance. And now that my sensei's actually told me what I'm doing and even though I try to keep my heel down when I move in the stance I seem to be doing it even more Happens in second kata too, but not as much (have no idea why though) and I do it occasionally when we're not actually doing a kata but are just doing the stance, but it's not as bad.
helphelphelphelphelphelp! Please?

OK but why are you doing it? Without seeing it I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to why you might be doing it. Your best bet is to push your instructor for help. Anyone can notice a mistake, but you have an instructor to show you how it ought to be done and work with you to iron these wrinkles out. If all they can do is point out what you're doing and not explain why then @#%#$^# *reinforcement of general opinion*




Mick

We noticed a couple of people in my dojo doing something like that - one of them was my son. They seemed to rock forwards as they landed and bounce a little. We worked out it is because they are 'landing' - the leg *you* are standing on as *you* move through the stance is straightening before the front leg is in position, and the body tends to drop forward onto the front foot. There is no bend in the back knee to take the impact and so the rocking motion occurs.
You need to keep the knee of the supporting leg bent until the whole body is ready to stop moving - it should still be bent as you are striking or blocking, and be straightened as everything finishes. Has a lot to do with "keeping the same height" all the way through the stance too. (I am always the same height..... )
Move around slowly in long forward stance without doing anything else. Focus on what your knees in particular are doing - when they bend and when they straighten. See if you are using the supporting leg to 'push' as your other foot passes it.
Rambling again.... read the sig.

Maybe over doing the punch/block, bending forward to much. I was doing the same, putting to much snap in the punch. but I have to agree with Mick.. Talk to the B&W

Thanx. Think it's a bit of both of those, my sensei's original advice was just to make sure I really put the weight down on my back leg so that my heel didnt come up. Wasnt particularly helpful Still doing it, but not so much any more.

Having thought about this for a bit (in the absence of seeing anyone actually doing something which might be in some way similar) it could be that your weight is either rising or falling when you ought to be arriving at the next position.

You're right, your original instructor's advice is not particularly helpful. But it is typical of the level of experience out there. [/grumpy]


Mick

Hey do you guys even know the level of the sensei involved? I'm not sure exactly what Sensei Mitten is refering to, but several of the sensei teaching at those classes are BB and above.

Please do not make assumptions on grade level just because the sensei involved didn't have the answer in this case. That's why we train with more than one sensei right? They can't all be demi-gods.

Probably a fair assumption though. One would hope that a higher graded instructor would be able to offer more help..

In answer to the question..

Is your stance to long?

Is your back foot angle to central?

Are you turning your front foot before moving forward in the stance? I find that turning the foot to late can cause a number of problems.

I never assumed on the grade of the instructor. I just assumed on their knowledge and ability to teach which, although should be related, often may not be. There are any number of BBs I would not train with. Unless I was paid. Enough. Or even then, maybe not.

What Rancer said might help too. Having the foot turned in or out instead of being straight (the GKR preference is still for the foot to be turned in?) can cause problems. Moving your feet in half-circles when you step can cause problems. Some people teach it for a reason, but if you're being told to do it for no reason then...


Mick

To be fair, from what my sensei said I think the RM here only just started picking up on little things like that in the sensei classes and really coming down on them (cant remember when exactly, but we got a new RM near the end of last year) so she probably hadnt really thought about it before, especially where it concerns the lower grades (sensei who picked it up is a B&W who either is, or is getting close to, a brown belt).


Front foot in long forward is supposed to be with the outside straight ahead, and the back foot turned to the front to a degree that I keep getting different answers for but is not supposed to be straight on to either the front or side wall. Or at least that's what I've been taught .

Kay things that seem to be working: keeping my knees bent as I step through, using hips more (and boy is that proving to be difficult), and what monday sensei suggested (different to the one who pointed it out) slightly turning my front foot out just before I step through and keeping my back straight (another thing that's proving difficult).

I seem to be okay with the step through and punches, but I still keep doing it a lot on the turns and the blocks. Have noticed that I do tend to lean (in various directions ) when I turn which isnt helping.

I had the same problem with the foot-lifting, and it was due to having lots of forward momentum. I find that if i twist the back foot at the last movement i.e. as the front leg lands/sets, then it stays down. Originally i tended to point the foot more to the front.