This week we practiced outside on the sloping driveway, and that always adds a new element to our training.
We started with walking, then tried it with an object in one hand (to simulate a knife). That always seems to change your awareness during the kata. We talked about how when using a knife, it's best to not put any of your body (hand, arm, etc) between your knife and your opponent.
Next we worked on Releases. We camped out on #3, then practiced moving from release 3 to junana 10, then to junana 12, and back again. Lastly, we worked in junana 3 & 4 to the rotation.
Pat showed me an extremely cool entry into a modified gedanate (junana 4) from release 3 that used more of the elbow and upper arm to create a structure. Pat talked about how it could be kind of a "structure game" in which we're not trying to out-muscle each other, but build a structure that makes the technique more stable and effortless. This particular modification reminded me a lot of the "fire" element Nick spoke about in this video discussing 5 conceptual "elements" that are possibly found in aikido.
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Universal
Pat's Naihanchi stuff this past Saturday was so interesting, it may have renewed my interest in karate. I think I'm going to try to start practicing Ten No Kata again, just to get my feet wet again. It's simple, it's easy, it's......universal?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Judo, 1/2/10
We began with our footsweep control drill. We practiced controlling uke's foot on the verge of him losing control (and "spasming" in sort of a panic). This is tough to explain.
Next we played with okuri ashi harai from more of a deahi setup. We spent some time talking about the differences between deashi and okuri ashi. Okuri ashi is still like a big tangled mess in my mind...well, the throw itself isn't, but the principles we're looking for in it are still kind of new to me. You ever have a friend driving a car, and you're trying to get into it, but he keeps moving it just enough to keep you from it? That's how this stuff is for me lately (but Pat's not doing it to mess with me, haha). Down/up timing. Ugh. Feet moving together / moving apart timing. Ugh. Deashi form with okuri ashi timing. Ugh. Timing, timing, timing! It may take me a while to internalize this stuff, but it's vital that I do. Reminds me of a CS Lewis quote: "As long as you're counting the steps, you're not dancing - you're learning to dance". Here's a nice video by Nick Lowry and co. It's pretty much exactly what we worked on:
At the end of class, Pat introduced me to Judo's Goshin Jutsu. I love that stuff! I think he's going to try to work in more of it each week now. Today we worked on the first technique shown in the video below. Then Pat previewed what we'll look at next week (the 2nd technique in the video):
Next we played with okuri ashi harai from more of a deahi setup. We spent some time talking about the differences between deashi and okuri ashi. Okuri ashi is still like a big tangled mess in my mind...well, the throw itself isn't, but the principles we're looking for in it are still kind of new to me. You ever have a friend driving a car, and you're trying to get into it, but he keeps moving it just enough to keep you from it? That's how this stuff is for me lately (but Pat's not doing it to mess with me, haha). Down/up timing. Ugh. Feet moving together / moving apart timing. Ugh. Deashi form with okuri ashi timing. Ugh. Timing, timing, timing! It may take me a while to internalize this stuff, but it's vital that I do. Reminds me of a CS Lewis quote: "As long as you're counting the steps, you're not dancing - you're learning to dance". Here's a nice video by Nick Lowry and co. It's pretty much exactly what we worked on:
At the end of class, Pat introduced me to Judo's Goshin Jutsu. I love that stuff! I think he's going to try to work in more of it each week now. Today we worked on the first technique shown in the video below. Then Pat previewed what we'll look at next week (the 2nd technique in the video):
Monday, September 14, 2009
Great Video!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday Night Videos
Okay, I'm not sure how funny these will be unless you live in southern Louisiana, or have otherwise had experience with cajun culture. This stuff is hilarious to me, because my wife's family.....shall we say "closely resembles" this guy in accent and expression (my wife is NOT anything like this though). I'm so glad my friend Byron turned me on to these vids.
And another one::::
And another one::::
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday Night Videos, 6-5-09
Two videos today...one is martial arts related, and the other SHOULD be. I'm really digging the silly "Keyboard Cat" phenomenon on YouTube, haha.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday Night Video 5-22-09
I've always been fascinated by "Free Running". If you're not familiar with it, here's the wiki article. If you saw the new(ish) James Bond movie, "Casino Royale", you witnessed an excellent Free Running scene in the beginning of the flick. Last night my wife and I were watching the History Channel special "How Bruce Lee Changed the World". In it, there was a brief testimonial by a runner talking about how Free Running was highly influenced by Bruce Lee's philosophies (the famous "Be water, my friend" idea, among others - economy of motion, etc).
So here's a video of some free running for you. Man, it looks like fun, but is one of those things I'm going to go ahead and predict I will never be doing. It's too bad - it looks like it will be a vital skill to have during the zombie uprising. Their ukemi ain't bad either.
So here's a video of some free running for you. Man, it looks like fun, but is one of those things I'm going to go ahead and predict I will never be doing. It's too bad - it looks like it will be a vital skill to have during the zombie uprising. Their ukemi ain't bad either.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd post this video....I love Cinco Claus!
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Return of Friday Night Videos!
This video was sent to me by my friend Byron. People that are good at things amaze me. This video makes me wonder in shame what I've done with my life.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Friday Night Videos, 4/10/09
Courtesy of my friend Ryan - one of the silliest and strangest "martial arts" videos I've ever seen.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday Night Videos, 4/3/09
Here's a comedian my buddy Ryan just showed me. I love the following 3 bits:
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday Night Videos, 3/20/09
I've always liked this Judo video. Yes, it's a concept video, but I still enjoy it.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday Night Video - 3/13/09
My friend Ryan sent me this video yesterday. It reminded me of something I just read in Dave Lowery's book, The Karate Way. He talks about the old adage that "boards don't hit back". He makes the point that the force of the strike has to go somewhere, and if the board doesn't give, the energy goes right back into your hand....or head. So this guy asking for the holder to not let the board move at all, is only asking for a bigger headache, I think. It's still funny though.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Friday Night Video 3/6/09
A commercial I really liked:
On a martial arts note, here's an interview with Dr. He Young Kimm, founder of a Korean martial art called "HanMuDo". He's based right here in Baton Rouge. I'm not planning on studying this art, but I wanted to get ya'lls thoughts on it.
Heian Shodan
The only katas that really stuck with me from my days practicing Tang Soo Do are (the Korean versions of) Taikyoku Shodan and Taikyoku Nidan. One of the karate-do katas I'm trying to get familiar with on my own time at home is Heian Shodan. So far, the couple of things tripping me up are the things that differentiate this basic kata from Taikyoku 1 & 2.
First, there's a hammer fist or back fist, or something, as the fourth technique of the kata. This was never among the things I worked on back in the day. Same with the other thing that's most awkward to me - the sword hand blocks at the end of the kata. I think in a couple weeks Pat and I are going to do a karate lesson, so maybe it will get cleared up then, or in a subsequent lesson.
In the meantime, here's a video of the kata, for my reference:
First, there's a hammer fist or back fist, or something, as the fourth technique of the kata. This was never among the things I worked on back in the day. Same with the other thing that's most awkward to me - the sword hand blocks at the end of the kata. I think in a couple weeks Pat and I are going to do a karate lesson, so maybe it will get cleared up then, or in a subsequent lesson.
In the meantime, here's a video of the kata, for my reference:
Monday, March 2, 2009
Couldn't Wait Until Friday
I have a very short video I'd like to post, and I just couldn't wait until Friday to do it!
I've been playing bass for over 16 years now (wow, I just did that math...wow). One of my favorite bass players, and a guy I look up to and learn a lot from is Victor Wooten. He's amazing, and has really helped revolutionized the role of the electric bass. He's forever talking about music being a language...a way to express yourself. He says techniques and music theory are like letters in the alphabet or grammar. He talks about how when we speak to express ourselves, we don't think about the letters, we just use them to make words, use the words to make sentences, and so on.
I've gotten to a point in my bass playing where I feel like I'm past thinking about technique very much. Not that I'm a master at the instrument, but I do feel better able to express myself on it than I used to. I look forward to that level of proficiency in martial arts...that level of artistic expression. Victor's advice in the clip that follows reminds me of a Bruce Lee quote: "Remember, you are expressing the technique, not doing the technique."
There, you've gotten a Thursday Thought AND a Friday Night Video on a Monday! Could it get any better than this?!?
I've been playing bass for over 16 years now (wow, I just did that math...wow). One of my favorite bass players, and a guy I look up to and learn a lot from is Victor Wooten. He's amazing, and has really helped revolutionized the role of the electric bass. He's forever talking about music being a language...a way to express yourself. He says techniques and music theory are like letters in the alphabet or grammar. He talks about how when we speak to express ourselves, we don't think about the letters, we just use them to make words, use the words to make sentences, and so on.
I've gotten to a point in my bass playing where I feel like I'm past thinking about technique very much. Not that I'm a master at the instrument, but I do feel better able to express myself on it than I used to. I look forward to that level of proficiency in martial arts...that level of artistic expression. Victor's advice in the clip that follows reminds me of a Bruce Lee quote: "Remember, you are expressing the technique, not doing the technique."
There, you've gotten a Thursday Thought AND a Friday Night Video on a Monday! Could it get any better than this?!?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday Night Videos - I Hope You Like Pain!
I can't believe it's just now occurring to me to post this video. From what I understand, this is footage of some guys auditioning for a part in a martial arts movie. They're not "the best around" if you get my meaning. I pray I never look like these guys.
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