Focusing on forms (kata/hyung) this week, we saw tremendous improvement from all the students. Special thanks to Sensei James for helping Niabelle get a sign-off on her attendance card for Chon-Ji. Remember: The key to your success in the martial arts is in how much you practice on your own outside of class.
Also, Ramza will begin offering basic stick fighting classes at 10 am on Saturdays. So far only one brave student has signed up.
Next week: Techniques.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Class Week-In-Review July 20, 2014
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| Small class on Monday, but we covered much! |
Special thanks to Angel for holding yet another successful warm-up class Saturday. He has covered for other students who were assigned, but did not arrive on time. Check your calendars. Your name may be assigned to lead a class. Be ready. Be early!
The most enjoyable part of Saturday was the showing off the homework projects. This was the first of such projects inspired by martial arts teaching expert Keith Pascal. We hope to assign more such projects in coming months.
This first project was to write a report based on the story of Master Hee Il Cho in an article published by Black Belt Magazine. Master Cho vividly describes the differences between martial arts training when he was a child to the training widely used today. They also had a choice of writing a poem, creating a Venn Diagram, comic book or illustrated scene of his life as described in the article. The students who did the assignment created wonderful projects. Although every single project was fantastic and none exceded the other in creativity, Niabelle's project must be noted as exceptional in that she created seven page comic book in Korean and English for her report!
You can view or download a PDF of everyone's projects for free below.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Class Week-In-Review July 13, 2014
On Monday and Wednesday, the knife attack drills continued. Our goal is to make us brave and courageous. Once you can control your fear, it is easier to save your life. Disarming and using techniques will be more successful. For now, bravery and speed will be our focus. Knife attacks are quick and often deadly. So we move through a progressive level of various movement and speed drills to break the fear factor and turn on the warrior within.
The blind-folded disarm drill was slightly successful for all of us. However, from the way that drill went—and the 5 second attack evasion drill—all of us would have left the fight with very damaged limbs and stab wounds. Half of the time we would probably have survived. However, we might have died eventually due to blood loss.
Special thanks to Sifu Leonard for sharing with us important tips for surviving a stabbing attack. Simply put, if you find the attacker's knife in your body, leave it there until you get professional medical attention. Pulling it out could result in greater blood loss and tissue damage.
Confidence is growing in the students, but we have more work to do! Try not to miss class. It could save your life.
Congratulations to Angel for leading the beginning of class on Saturday on last minute's notice. Next week's teacher-in-training: Maryam.
The blind-folded disarm drill was slightly successful for all of us. However, from the way that drill went—and the 5 second attack evasion drill—all of us would have left the fight with very damaged limbs and stab wounds. Half of the time we would probably have survived. However, we might have died eventually due to blood loss.
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| Ankle rotations are important warm-up exercises |
Confidence is growing in the students, but we have more work to do! Try not to miss class. It could save your life.
Congratulations to Angel for leading the beginning of class on Saturday on last minute's notice. Next week's teacher-in-training: Maryam.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Class Week-In-Review July 6, 2014
We have a shorter week with no class on Saturday July 5th. On Monday we focused on combination kicking and striking, working up a good sweat and turning up the speed for countering. Special thanks to Sensei Aaron for leading this session.
Wednesday was a (re-)introduction to knife defense. Eric, Sensei Aaron and Sensei Tony led the class. We learned about human nature and the resistance to stabbing, as opposed to slashing with a knife and how we must avoid knife attacks. Unfortunately, due to the stealthy nature of many knife attacks, we must approach them with urgency, as statistics demonstrate that most attacks will not last more than 5 or 10 seconds.
Looping footwork—retreating slightly and quickly turning back in from an angle are crucial to evasion and the possible option of deflecting. Also remember to suck in the air, bringing your body inward for those few extra centimeters of protection. The final part—and last resort—is to disarm. These almost always result in some injury for the defender. However, with some multiple stabbing drills, learning a few disarming techniques and a blindfolded disarming drill, students now have a little more confidence.
We plan to build on this and continue in coming sessions next week.
Students went home with a new drilling technique to improve speed of deflection and grabbing (with shin kick counter-attack) the attacking arm with a belt they can tie to a tree, post or railing.
Many of the drills we practiced are defined and illustrated in a book called The Ultimate Guide to Knife Combat by Black Belt Books.
Wednesday was a (re-)introduction to knife defense. Eric, Sensei Aaron and Sensei Tony led the class. We learned about human nature and the resistance to stabbing, as opposed to slashing with a knife and how we must avoid knife attacks. Unfortunately, due to the stealthy nature of many knife attacks, we must approach them with urgency, as statistics demonstrate that most attacks will not last more than 5 or 10 seconds.
Looping footwork—retreating slightly and quickly turning back in from an angle are crucial to evasion and the possible option of deflecting. Also remember to suck in the air, bringing your body inward for those few extra centimeters of protection. The final part—and last resort—is to disarm. These almost always result in some injury for the defender. However, with some multiple stabbing drills, learning a few disarming techniques and a blindfolded disarming drill, students now have a little more confidence.
We plan to build on this and continue in coming sessions next week.
Students went home with a new drilling technique to improve speed of deflection and grabbing (with shin kick counter-attack) the attacking arm with a belt they can tie to a tree, post or railing.
Many of the drills we practiced are defined and illustrated in a book called The Ultimate Guide to Knife Combat by Black Belt Books.
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