Last night's class was great! After our 30-40 minutes of calisthenics and stretching, we pulled out the dummies and went through one minute practice rounds, where we just threw punches and kicks, chops, elbows, and knees... After that, Sensei pulled out a staff with thick, soft padding on the end. One at a time, we would lie down, and he swing the staff down, trying to swat us with it. We were to roll over and over, keeping our hands up, and then get to our feet while protecting ourselves.
The first time, I did okay... I got thumped in the head, at the very end. The second time, though! The second time, I was fast! Rolling over and over, avoiding every swat of the staff, and then I found myself pinned by the base of one of the dummies, so I flipped my legs over in a backwards somersault, since I couldn't roll my body as a unit anymore. When I flipped my legs over, I used the momentum to carry me to my feet and came up with my arms raised and crossed overhead in a block, just as Sensei brought the staff down for another strike. It was perfect. The staff ended up between my crossed wrists.
It was fast, fluid, and it just worked out perfectly. I love it when that happens! :-))) It's also nice to know that my speed and reflexes haven't degenerated that much, compared to when I was in my twenties.
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Sounds like a great class! "pulled out the dummies"?? Is that what you call your white belts?
ReplyDeleteJust joking!
BWAHAHAHA... ;-) Our newest white-belt didn't show up. His attendance has become rather sporadic, and I think if his mother quits making him show up, he'll probably quit. We gained two youngsters from the children's class, who are old enough for the adult class. One is a black-stripe white-belt, and the other is a yellow-belt. Both of them kept up with us and worked hard. I was proud of them, and it's good to have them on-board. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Frank: Who is your Sensei and Does he/she have a web site?
ReplyDeleteWilliam Brent Fugate is my Sensei. Here's the website of our school:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fugatesmacenter.com/
We follow more or less the same routine: first light running, calisthenes and stretching, then breakfalls & rolls followed by one minute rounds on the heavy bag (either single techniques or combinations). Usually 4 or 5 suffice to get the blood pumping and then it's on to standing defenses, punches & kicks on the mitts or thaipads, groundfighting, weapons... Whatever sensei has planned for the evening.
ReplyDeleteSometimes sensei picks up a bokken and swings it at us as an interactive way of practicing rolls, it's always fun to see the look of apprehension on the newbies faces although for them he'll just swing very slowly to allow them gain some confidence (with me he's not so gentle: if I'm not gone bad luck for me). This is a classical training method and while not particularly practical (it's doubtful you'll ever have to face a katana wielding assailant) it's fun and brings some variety in practice which is usually the least popular part of class. Yesterday we practiced reflex-training: we worked in pairs with one partner throwing roundhouse kicks at the other which he blocked or evaded. The kicks were light but you never knew beforehand at which level they'd be coming so it's a good way to learn to differentiate without getting beaten up if you make a mistake. This really does make you appreciate the thai way of shielding the whole body: raise the leg with the knee at waist-level, the elbow onto the knee with the forearm bent in a 45° angle towards the head which is tucked behind the arm (this allows the leg to sort of bounce of the arm without having to absorb the full impact of the kick which can be quite considerable seeing the leg is much stronger than the arm). It doesn't matter whether he aims low, middle or high: you're always protected and if you extend the other hand while leaning forward you can push him off balance, setting him up for the counter. The only downside is your balance is slightly compromised (you're standing on one leg) and if he's really clever and you always use this block he can sneak under the guarding leg and kick you off your feet. With every technique there are downsides and upsides and it's up to you to find out when they're most appropriate.
Out of curiosity: what kind of combinations do you train? We usually practice standard boxing combo's with kicks, elbows or knees at the end.
Zara
We don't really have set combinations that we practice, unless we're working on a drill. During the one minute attacks on the dummies, those are the chances to practice movement and various techniques to a solid object other than the makiwara. At home, I use my heavy bag.
ReplyDeletethanks Frank!
ReplyDeleteThe web work for the site is nice, I like the menu itself, really cool.
ReplyDeleteOk, do I have it: Fugate Sensei is under Wheeler Isshinryu?
ReplyDeleteI think so... Master Mitchem's lineage. Funny you should mention the web work: Sensei was complaining about it, just a few weeks ago... LOL! =D
ReplyDeleteHe's originally from Michigan; from around Detroit, if I remember correctly.
Ahhh, Mitchum Sensei, thanks Frank.
ReplyDelete