Orange Country Irvine Goshin-Kai

Karate Family Photo Shihan Matt with his son Lucas. Lucas earned his black belt in 2015. ... Today - He is a junior and on the dean’s list at UC Irvine. If you're a parent, consider taking karate with your child. A great experience for both of you.

Sr Sensei Tom Furukawa & Sensei Ashley Furukawa (father-daughter) instructing the Friday black belt class.

Need to quick workout? Try Karate HIIT / Tabata from the OCIGK. Great for everyone, all ages, no equipment, can be done in a small space. https://youtu.be/uJwBveHTvs0

Adapt and overcome. Outdoor training. Safe and productive.

Bruce Lee’s ability to thrive in spite of setbacks was as refined as his martial arts ability. 40-years after his passing, we can still learn from him.

First Tiny Tigers class of the month with Sr. Sensei Tom. Second class since reopening. Distanced and safe, effective and productive.

Congratulations to Sensei Tom Q., on 11/3 he was promoted to nidan and conferred the title of Sensei. Sensei Tom truly exemplifies the karate spirit!

NO CLASS - Thu 10/29 and Sat 10/31 Reminder. OCIGK classes meet 4 times per month. Therefore, there are no classes on Thu 10/29 and Sat 10/31.

Learn Kata Pinan 1 Step-by-step, section at a time guide If you need a refresher on kata Pinan 1 or want to learn it for the first time, this video will take you though the kata, step-by-step, one section at a time for easy learning.... If you’re a youth student, kata Pinan 1 is taught to blue belts and is one of the key katas you need to know to get to green belt. For adult students, it is taught to Orange belts. Kata Pinan 1 has a similar I pattern steps as Kata Jodan. The difference being the low block and low punches in a Zenkutsu Dachi stance, where the front leg is bent and the back leg is straight. There are also unique aspects to the kata including the Tessui (hammer strike), Shuto Uchi (chops) and Neko Ashi Dachi (Cat stance) covering the four corners. Sensei Ashley will take you through the moves step by step, one section at a time. Just click play and follow-along. https://youtu.be/A3rGtFCgOnc

IN PERSON CLASSES STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER Dear Sempai and parents of Sempai: Great news! ... City of Irvine, based on data and guidance from government authorities, has approved us to re-open in-person classes again. We will start with black belts on 9/18 and then re-open junior belt classes on 10/1. Classes are already loaded on myirvine.org We encourage you to register as soon as possible. - September 18: In-Person Karate Class for Black Belts - October 1st: In-Person Karate Classes Begin The OCIGK leadership team has worked extensively and collaboratively with the City to develop a documented, government approved, set of procedures and protocols that will provide the safest training environment for all. This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5yRj40V2E8 tells you about these procedures and other actions being taken to ensure this is the case. Re-opening Highlights: Black Belt classes start 9/18 Black belt classes are 6:30pm-7:30pm, Fridays, at Northwood Community Center; 1:15pm-2:25pm, Saturdays at Deerfield Classes are open for registration now at yourirvine.org Safety measures include but not limited to (see video for complete): 6' distancing throughout training; health screening for all students and instructors by City staff; class size limited base on facility; face coverings required throughout class; classes youth only, no co-mingling of youth and adult students; sanitizing and disinfecting of training area prior to each class; only students and instructors allowed in training area. OCIGK proprietary "Distancing Pods" required for each student (purchase from Instructor) Wait listing if classes fill

The markings of early morning, 12 goju kata, at the beach. Have a great Sunday!!

** Calling All OCIGK BROWN BELTS ** OCIGK online brown belt classes have started. Time to dust the rust off so sign up today. Contact [email protected] for details. ... Arigato. See more

Our first online black belt training was a great success and proves to be an effective alternative to in-person training.

Making our next video...taikyoku kake and kata kake uke. Coming soon!

OCIGK Goju Ryu Karate Training Video: Taikyoku Jodan series (kata Jodan 1-3). This video is a step-by-step instruction of the Taikyoku kata jodan series. This video is intended for you to learn and train at home. In this video we will cover the entire kata Taikyoku (TIE-KeeYO-KOO) jodan series, Jodan #1, Jodan #2 and Jodan #3. All very similar, with very important distinctions.... The Taikyoku kata was developed by Gichin Funakoshi in the 1920’s to provide students in response to an observation that he made that the original kata were too complex for beginner students. The Taikyoku jodan kata are simple combinations of the jodan uke upper block with front punches and a basic foot movement in an eye "I" pattern. The purpose of this video is to teach the kata themselves. We assume that you know how to do a proper techniques and stances. OBJECTIVE: Beginner: Seek simply to learn each kata from start to finish. Memorize the moves until you can complete each kata without use of the video. Intermediate: Seek to complete each kata with precise technique, including execution of each key point just as described on the video. You should also be able to verbally explain the differences among all three. Advanced: Everything in the intermediate section plus be able to describe a self-defense application of each kata. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED: None AREA REQUIRED: Enough space to complete each kata without having to cut a step short. For the average size person, this is about a 12’ by 12’ area. TRAINING TIPS: 1) Master each kata by itself before moving on to the next. In other words, work on Jodan #1 until you can complete it without the assistance of the video, THEN move on to Jodan #2, and so on. 2) WATCH YOUR FOOT MOVEMENT!! When learning new kata, most students focus only on the hands. Yes, the hands are important, but once you have mastered the hand movement, continue to work on the kata until your foot movement is correct as well. 3) In all three kata, the first move is a step out with the right foot and then turn. DO NOT just turn and block. 4) KIAI! when you are supposed to. Do not think I’ll learn the kata now and work the kiai in later. The KIAI is very important to the spirit of the kata. https://youtu.be/uF1yDr3m-8Y

Our committed students taking advantage of our at home instructional videos. Stay well, stay safe, continue training!!

** BREAKING NEWS ** We launched the OCIGK Goju Ryu Karate YouTube Channel! In order to help you train at home, we have launched a new YouTube channel featuring weekly training videos for our students. Go to YouTube and subscribe to OCIGK Goju Ryu Karate. Our first video is Cardio Karate. ... OVERVIEW: Cardio Karate: It is an easy to follow, fast paced workout video for everyone of all ranks and ages brought to you by the Orange County Irvine Goshin Kai (OCIGK) Goju Ryu karate school. After the warmups, you'll get a great workout in 15 minutes. This is something you can do everyday to stay in great shape. OBJECTIVE: Beginner: Seek to complete the workout from start to finish without stopping. You should be sweating and breathing hard at the completion of your workout. Intermediate: Seek to complete the workout 2 times back-to-back without stopping. You should be sweating and breathing hard at the completion of your workout. Advanced: Before starting the workout, choose a kata and complete it 5-times (incrementally faster each time) before starting the workout, then complete the workout 2-times back-to-back without stopping. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED: None AREA REQUIRED: Enough to execute fully extended hand and foot techniques without contacting anything else. TRAINING TIPS: 1) We recommend that you are in your uniform when doing this workout. Of course, doing the workout in sweats or other workout clothes would be fine, having your uniform on will ensure that you are in a karate mindset, reminding you of the power and technique that you should put into the work out, rather than simply movement. 2) Ensure the techniques include mid-to high power. This helps incorporate an anaerobic element to the exercise. 3) Ensure each technique is completed properly, although it does not have to be perfect technique. 4) If you are doing this workout correctly, you should be breathing hard and sweating at the end of this workout. 5) Figure out the correct pace for your fitness level. a) If you find yourself having to stop before the workout is complete, that means you are going too fast. Slow down to a slower pace. b) If you find that at the end of the workout you are not exerted enough, that means that you are going to slow. Pick up your pace so that you are breathing hard (hard enough so that it is slightly difficult to speak), but can continue. https://youtu.be/ehxzKHw6GLM

Perfect weather In March for bo training outdoors.

Black belt testing today. She is 13...see the highlighted remark; her own words, not ours. Inspiration for all of us!

Our Winter Tournament. There are no traffic jams on the extra mile!

Read Kyoshi and Shihan’s article https://www.mmablogdingo.com about the origin of kata and all the great training benefits it provides us. It is a 4-part article, so check back every week for the next section.

The journey starts young at OCIGK. Last promotion test of the year.

An amazing day of holiday cheer at or end of year Awards Banquet. Congratulations to our Students of the Year: Alexa, Mia, Carter, Austin!