Kick to the leg, kick to the leg, kick to the leg then feint to the leg and kick to the head. God, I love sparring with new people. All the stuff I can't do with someone with experience actually works with new folks.
We haven't done any sparring for a very long time, but Sensei obviously thought it was time to get the new folks up to speed. I'm assuming it's a misnomer in our mixed Korean/Japanese class, but he likes to call slow speed sparring Randori. From what I understand it means different things in other schools and classes.
Needless to say it was pleasant to pick where I'd left off months ago. Except this time I was able to focus on a few techniques I hadn't been able to put into play in the past. I guess I'll have to learn a few more.
Cook is entering the question everything phase. I'm not sure what all the developmental phases of learning MA are, but one of them is definitely the "endless questions." Last night he had to ask about everything - "why, why why?" Tiring stuff after awhile, but it's good that he challenges Sensei to describe things. I tend to go with the flow and forget that I need to know the underpinnings of what we are learning in order to apply things later.
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4 comments:
Our sensei won't answer a lot of questions about why from beginners. Just do it. She says. And she doesn't encourage us to answer a lot of questions on the mat, either. Off the mat, she can be more indulgent.
At the beginning, I had more questions, too. Now, I just want to work on it.
My objective is to explain things at various times. A lot of what martial arts is (meaning combative and self defence applications) are conceptual. So you either get the experience the hard way or you go by theoretical concepts that are shared with you. In my mind, if I always share these kind of concepts while the person is relaxed and receptive, they might be able to only access the information whilst in that state. So I sometimes intrude on their higher level thought processes while their s*** tired or hyped up. Hopefully such explanations sink in and make sense when they are needed. Similarly I oftentimes spring the 'oral testing' segment of their grading on them whilst they're trying to catch their breath - after sparring or after a sequence of kata. It makes for a challenging grading.
Colin
Colin, I love your approach on making them use both sides of their brain to make them a better artist. I think my teacher does this to a certain degree. Everyonce in a while I hear him or another classmate say, "I saw you thinking!" This can be good in the sense that the cadence worked out and the plan went into play well, but on the other hand (which happens more often that not) I just lock up because too many possiblities hit at once.
I love the oral test entry - fabulous!!
Thanks!
I used to be an assistant national coach in Archery. Part of our approach up to competition is to ensure that all aspects of pre-competition preparation is exactly the same in practice (as they face in competition).
For instance, serious national teams are even expected to bring along their own food so that when they visit a foreign country, they don't get their performance botched up by a disastrous breakfast.
So this influences the way I approach martial arts training. Optimal performance is achieved by stressing the person out at the same state he will be in when he is engaged in combat/self defence.
If anything, it makes for an interesting show!!! :-)
Colin
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