Thoughts on shapes (By Richard Trafford)
This week has definitely been a focus on weapon work for me, the Jo staff playing a big part of course; with some of our students hoping to grade in it soon. Of course this theme was started of by the usual Monday nights sword session. I must say like a lot of students, when i first started to learn weapon work, i struggled somewhat to find the joy. Be that staff work, nunchuka, baton or even sword. It seemed an awkward skill set to learn, so difficult controlling an object outside of oneself. I’m even sure the thought that it was perhaps a distraction from my main lessons in Karate, might of crossed my mind!
But so often the mind of new martial artist (like mine!) fails to grasp the truth being taught to them, and weapon work, if pursued; has many truths to reveal.
What focused my attention this week was ‘shape’, so often overlooked and ignored by you students in your absorption with task at hand, but never by your watching instructors! But within weapon work it is brought vividly into focus. Its not just about swinging a piece of metal or wood about, but the symmetry and artistry within the shapes you create, between the weapon and yourself. Its an old truth…but a good one; if it looks right it is right! As some of the students this week, (I think,) started to grasp this understanding within their Jo or sword work. They just looked so much better in shape. Less awkward, the lines of their body extended, posture and fluidity improved. Stances flexed to withstand the impact of the weapon they carried, they relaxed and fused with the Jo staff or the sword they held. A relationship was formed (…more)
So maybe our new weapon students, can grasp an idea that us high grades make work for ourselves…Don’t try to just remember the movements, or imagine hitting and cutting people, but instead make shapes between yourself and the weapon that feel good and feel right. Then you may experience the art within the martial arts.
Martial Arts Revisited (By Tim Dickerson)
During my lesson with the black and brown belts on wednesday we got into a neat little concept that I think shows we can all revisit something we thought we knew well only to find we can always know it better. Reflexes was the starting topic which took in a variety of drills to encourage greater awareness. But where we ended up was worth the meandering path. Reflexes are one thing but to have a rough plan for personal defence is a must. So we finished with a remarkably simply “3 strike drill” that got the thumbs up all round. Its great to see people grasp what you teach but its even better when the class cottons on and quickly moves from “I got this” to “hey this is easy – I can really use this!!” Simply put, it encapsulated the element of surprise with the idea of not beig a victim. Great work guys and when we revisit this again in the future we’ll all be even faster 🙂
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