Things went back to normal last night and we all met at our dojo (in Childwall, Liverpool) for regular Monday night training. Sensei Roy Flatt's classes are always quite full, this class was no exception, about 14 black belt students as well as many kyu grade students.

Warm Up exercises

Basics:
Suri Ashi (sliding exercises), from side to side, forwards & backwards and across the dojo floor in 3 steps (the dojo is about 10 meters across).

With a partner: Both partners face one another in heiko dachi (standing upright) then both step to their left and fall into neko-ashi dachi, both still facing one another. One person then steps forward into zenkutsu dachi (long stance) and punches jodan (head level) toward his opponent. Meanwhile, the other person steps back into zenkutsu dachi and blocks the incoming punch using jodan age uke and quickly counter attacks using gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Then both partners step back into neko ashi dachi and step across to their right, performing the same exercise on the opposite side. Similar exercises were practiced to defend from kick attacks.

Next the class was split into 2 groups: black belts and kyu grades. Black belts students were instructed by Sensei Roy, we practiced Sesan kata. Some of the group did not know this kata yet, but Sensei made sure to position them in the line-up in such a way that they had people all about them so there was always somebody for them to copy even when the kata involved turning and facing another direction. Finally, 8 senior grades were split into another group and practiced Sesan kata bunkai (kata applications, the meanings behind each movement in the form).