Thursday, March 27, 2008

Three Ts of Sparring

Mr. Hill talked about the three "T"s of sparring on Tuesday.
  • Timing
  • Technique
  • Trickery

Not necessarily in that order.

Effortlessly

Found a ten minute video on YouTube today of Fong Ha. Looks like he my be intending to post lessons for all of us who can't make it to Berkeley to train.

Check it out.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

"Uncle Willie's" pushups

Last night while leading the conditioning exercises Mr. Rypma said that during the Uncle Willie's exercise one should contract the abdominal. If one were strong enough and performing this on ice the body would jack knife.


This exercise is performed by prone, the forearms on the mat and lifting the body up off the ground so that it is parallel to the floor, weight on the forearms and balls of the feet. It is named for Grand Master Willie Adams.


I use to think that this was an "easy" exercise and an opportunity to rest. Not any more, it's bleeding hard work to pull the elbows to the toes. Can you say isometric? How about dynamic tension?

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Orange Belt, Third Stripe

Last week Koyshi Dave Joslin tested and awarded my 3rd green stripe on my orange belt.

The day before he pointed out that the quick down blocks on the arms of the Y need to knock a kick so that they go behind you. Strike with the two knuckles.

After class I asked him about Seiuchin Kata, does he have the kanji? First thought was to look in the book I am reading but it does not have any kanji :(. He will look for it. Yes, it does mean "empty mind", that is the concept/principle/strategy taught with Seiuchin Kata. Munen Muso.