Technique of the Week (July 27th, 2008)

From Emiliano Mazlen, Shihan

Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Karate Club
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Onegai-shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, Sempai and Fellow Deshi,

During our warm-up routine, we should be working many aspects of our techniques in addition to the particular stretch

being done at any particular moment. For this post, I want to reiterate certain ways in which Hanshi has emphasized

we should be honing our application of the Gan – Vision principle during warm-ups.

We should keep seeing as much as possible throughout our stretches. Hanshi has emphasized this point in a number

of particular warm ups – neck exercises especially. When doing neck circles, we should not let the eyes roll back into the head,

and when stretching the neck side to side we should see everything while the head is in motion, rather than letting our vision

lose focus until we reach the end point of the stretch.

In another aspect of this, we should keep our gaze out, where our opponent is likely to be, spending little or virtually

no time looking at the ceiling/sky or at the floor/ground. When stretching all the way down to the ground in front and

then all the way back, we should see what is in front of us for as long as possible until releasing the head/neck to finish the

stretch and, then, ideally seeing behind us, having seen what is above or below us in that final head transition.

Similarly, when doing side bends, when our hips turn, we should spot straight out to the side, rather than looking down to

the ground.

Keep looking and moving forward.

Domo arigato gozaimasu to all,

Emiliano Mazlen