Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Guest Instructors!!!!

I've got a great list of instructors providing drills in the next few weeks, from Moo Sa Do (KJN Dan Segarra), Hwa Rang Tang Soo Do (SBN Pistella), an old Emperor (SBN John Hancock), and Karate-jutsu and Bunkai expert Jay Penfil Sensei.

Addendum: You can do a current form as well! and PRIVACY

I've gotten a whole bunch of "I can't learn a new form" or "I need to pass my next test..."

Well, use your current form then!

For those who don't want to share with the world and value their privacy:
If you only want to share your form with your instructor and/or me during the challenge you can make youtube videos private. You'll be given a URL for the video which will allow only 25 views before the video goes dead.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

This week's drill...

Oh crap. It's Sunday.

What's in for us this week?

Step #1: Break your form down into "grammatical units". Sections that flow together from a performance and application stand point. This will help as you break down the drills throughout the next 8 weeks. I'll use Pyung Ahn Ee Dan/Heian Nidan/Pinan Shodan as an example later tomorrow hopefully.

Step #2: Create someway to mark down the number of times you practice each sequence as a solo performance during the week. Goal by next Sunday is to practice each sequence at least 30 times by itself, spread over at least three days of training.

Since we're drilling a new form it's still time to ingrain the movements into muscle memory.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Phillip Rhee - Golden Ring Awards 1999 (13-18)

A persons worth is shown by how little they refer to themselves during an award. Touching speech from Phillip Rhee.

Hmm. I wonder if a remake of Best of the Best is in the works....

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Practice More! Two Months to a worthy form

I don't think I have any ACTUAL readers, but in the off chance that I do... I propose a challenge:

Pick up an old form (got to be a rusty, old form that you have neglected) or a new one and record your Day 1. Put it on youtube.

Yeah, that's right. PUT IT UP. It's gonna suck. So remove ratings and comments (unless you are a glutton for punishment). The goal here is to motivate you to do BETTER. Your beginning stage is documented.

Between now and the end of April, practice as much as you can. Every Sunday I'll post some drilling ideas for your form/kata/hyung. Feel free to document those by commenting on a post or posting a video response.

During the third week of April, participants will post an "after" video showing all their hard work. I'll keep mine open for comments at that point.

Who is interested?

Monday, February 15, 2010

Your "Comfort Kata"

Do you have a form/hyeong/kata that comforts you?  My personal favorite kata is Nijushiho.  I've been practicing the form for over 8 years and am still working on it. What's your go to?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Gojushiho Practice

More from my Saturday night practice. Stances are high.. and the cat stances tired me out. Must practice more.

Wanduan Day 1

I'm tasked with a "behavioral change" project for med school. My change will be my activity level. I wasn't working out much at all during the first semester. So now I will be recording my practices to show a before and after during our presentations at the end of the course. Also I have picked up a new form: Wanduan. Slightly altered from the version McCarthy Sensei showed in his book Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate. Here's practice day #1!