Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Slower, softer, higher!

Last night we had a host of rank tests and today we have a host of students with new ranks! Congrats to the following students:
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  • - Kel Feind - Ikkyu (1st brown belt)
  • - Tony Anglin - Sankyu (3rd brown belt)
  • - Dallas Anglin - Sankyu (3rd brown belt)
  • - April Haygood - Gokyu (yellow belt)
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April has done a great job of learning the first 4 releases and the first two atemiwaza. We will be concentrating more in the upcoming months on the next 3 atemiwaza and the next 4 releases. We need to work more on the initial evasion response and off-balance, as these are the two things that most tip the scales in your favor when attacked by a larger opponent.
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Dallas is turning into a fantastic uke. We will continue working those skills as well as concentrating more on the tekubiwaza (wrist techniques).
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Tony's ukemi is a little flat, but some of that is due to an old rib injury. Tony's understanding of the principles of the system is probably better than any other student's. We'll be working on the tekubiwaza as we put more emphasis on proper, safe falling skills.
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Kel has seen and can approximate all of Junana, including the ukiwaza (floating techniques) at the end. During the time between ikkyu and shodan, he needs to take the skills and principles and timing learned in the ukiwaza and apply them to all of the earlier techniques so that everything in the syllabus becomes (essentially) a floating throw. Kel also needs to continue making a careful study of all the fundamental principles (ma-ai, centered unbendable arm, etc...) between now and shodan. Both the fundamentals and the more advanced floating principles are easier to see and develop and integrate if you commit to working ever softer and ever slower.


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Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮
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