08.06.05 - 2nd Annual West Coast Kenpo Confederation
IKCA Hour
After a quick breakfast in the Captains Galley with the guys from Maine, we got dressed and went up to the main room in the upstairs of the hotel. The first hour was for the IKCA members only and was meant as a ‘brush up’ for those currently studying the system. Before we got started with the days events, there was a moment of silence for a number of students who had recently passed away. Following this was a brief ceremony where Chuck and Vic awarded black belts to several members who had earned them. After the formalities were commenced with, we were all broken into groups by rank. There was a relatively small group of white and orange belts and we were led by Shawn Monday and Jerry Brooksher.
Shawn and Jerry led us through the basics, starting with the neutral bow, forward bow, reverse bow and the cat stance. The only ones I had experience with prior to this seminar was the neutral bow and cat stance so I was learning new things right off the bat. After the stances, we did the lunge punch, in which Shawn complemented me on my form & posture. I was surprised to see the differences in my group when Shawn called for a switch. About half of them just jumped up and came down in the opposite foot position, much like I do in TKD. I think I was the only one doing it the way I was taught by Bill, which I feel makes the most sense. Anyway, after this Shawn asked to see some ball kicks. He started at the other end of the line and after correcting the third person in a row, he called for attention and demonstrated the correct way to do it. We all kicked again and he spotted me and complimented me on my form again. Very cool! He had us stop in mid kick (like Bill has had us do so many times in class) and I think I was the only one that didn’t fall off balance, which prompted a brief but humorous description and exhibition about ‘dead legging’ from Shawn and Jerry. Next was the thrust kick, followed by the roundhouse kick and the back kick. Although I didn’t receive any more attention from Shawn regarding form or posture, I was already appreciating the attention to detail that Bill gives to his students. It certainly made me feel more confident within my own group, even as a white belt.
After the basic stances and kicks, we did some blocking. It was a brief foray into blocking but he covered the basics and moved right into techniques. The first one we did, Thunder and Lightning, happened to be the only one I had any experience with as Bill had just shown it to me the week prior to the trip! We practiced it for a few minutes and then moved on to the next one, Escaping Ram. Although I seemed to be the only one that didn’t know the technique, I picked it up quick enough with an explanation from Jerry as Shawn was drilling the rest of the group. After practicing a few more times, we did Thrusting Release, in which Shawn called me forward to demonstrate on. After knocking me around a bit, he showed me how to do the technique and I fell back in line and practiced with everyone else. We were just beginning to start with Returning Serpent when Chuck Sullivan called us all back in line and eventually dismissed us to start the day. It was very cool working with Shawn and Jerry and I learned a bunch in the first few minutes of the day.
After a quick breakfast in the Captains Galley with the guys from Maine, we got dressed and went up to the main room in the upstairs of the hotel. The first hour was for the IKCA members only and was meant as a ‘brush up’ for those currently studying the system. Before we got started with the days events, there was a moment of silence for a number of students who had recently passed away. Following this was a brief ceremony where Chuck and Vic awarded black belts to several members who had earned them. After the formalities were commenced with, we were all broken into groups by rank. There was a relatively small group of white and orange belts and we were led by Shawn Monday and Jerry Brooksher.
Shawn and Jerry led us through the basics, starting with the neutral bow, forward bow, reverse bow and the cat stance. The only ones I had experience with prior to this seminar was the neutral bow and cat stance so I was learning new things right off the bat. After the stances, we did the lunge punch, in which Shawn complemented me on my form & posture. I was surprised to see the differences in my group when Shawn called for a switch. About half of them just jumped up and came down in the opposite foot position, much like I do in TKD. I think I was the only one doing it the way I was taught by Bill, which I feel makes the most sense. Anyway, after this Shawn asked to see some ball kicks. He started at the other end of the line and after correcting the third person in a row, he called for attention and demonstrated the correct way to do it. We all kicked again and he spotted me and complimented me on my form again. Very cool! He had us stop in mid kick (like Bill has had us do so many times in class) and I think I was the only one that didn’t fall off balance, which prompted a brief but humorous description and exhibition about ‘dead legging’ from Shawn and Jerry. Next was the thrust kick, followed by the roundhouse kick and the back kick. Although I didn’t receive any more attention from Shawn regarding form or posture, I was already appreciating the attention to detail that Bill gives to his students. It certainly made me feel more confident within my own group, even as a white belt.
After the basic stances and kicks, we did some blocking. It was a brief foray into blocking but he covered the basics and moved right into techniques. The first one we did, Thunder and Lightning, happened to be the only one I had any experience with as Bill had just shown it to me the week prior to the trip! We practiced it for a few minutes and then moved on to the next one, Escaping Ram. Although I seemed to be the only one that didn’t know the technique, I picked it up quick enough with an explanation from Jerry as Shawn was drilling the rest of the group. After practicing a few more times, we did Thrusting Release, in which Shawn called me forward to demonstrate on. After knocking me around a bit, he showed me how to do the technique and I fell back in line and practiced with everyone else. We were just beginning to start with Returning Serpent when Chuck Sullivan called us all back in line and eventually dismissed us to start the day. It was very cool working with Shawn and Jerry and I learned a bunch in the first few minutes of the day.
posted by Bonzai at 8/06/2005 11:03:00 AM
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