10.22.05 - Training with Lynn L.

New Items Today:

• Class in Vass with Lynn Lane’s students

Reviewed other items:

• Warm-ups
• Techniques
• Orange Belt Form
• ¼ Speed Sparring

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Class in Vass, NC with Lynn’s Students
We did things a little differently today as we traveled down to Vass, NC to study with another school. Alexandra was the only one from Raleigh that was unable to make it because she had to work. We had a total of 10 or 11 students combined so it was a comfortable group.

Bill led the class the entire time, per Lynn’s request. We started out with the typical warm-ups (leg raises, etc.) and then we did some abdominal breathing exercises (Tan-Jon Ho Hup). Eventually we got into the Orange belt techniques and ended the first part of the day with the Orange belt blocking set. The only technique I didn’t know and had trouble with was the one that Bill had just shown me – Beheading the Dragon. As per his instruction at the beginning, I just went through it as good as I could and we moved on.

At this point the class took a turn from the normal progression. Bill asked Lynn if there was anything in particular that he wanted his students to work on. Lynn stated that he was interested in having his guys see the extensions for the techniques. Since this largely involved the purple belts and up, I decided to grab the camera and took pictures for this segment of the class. I took somewhere in the neighborhood of about 100 pictures.

I observed that Lynn’s students simply weren’t used to practicing at the level of intensity that the TKI students do. As the purple belts rotated in and out with their different techniques, they explained the base technique with a demonstration, then repeated the process with their added extensions.

There was a particular point in the demonstrations when Bill stepped in on Lynn’s request and demonstrated how Hapkido and Kenpo could be very complementary to each other. One of Lynn’s students, Steve, asked if he could “see how that feels” as Bill was demonstrating a particular wrist grab technique. Bill instructed him to relax, and Steve was anything but relaxed. So, Bill “distracted” him with a backhanded flick to the groin, which elicited the desired response and Bill followed through with the technique. Steve had a particular look of anguish on his face from the ‘distraction’ and it was later learned by Bill that Steve wasn’t wearing a cup! I’m thinking Lynn’s guys will be better dressed for class next time in case Bill attempts to ‘distract’ anyone again. Hehee…

After the demonstrations were complete, Bill directed the class to pair off for some ¼ speed sparring. He reiterated the “¼ speed” part but I think that was lost on a couple of Lynn’s students. I had a lot of fun with the sparring, as I usually do. Lynn’s guys were fun to spar with because they are fresh bodies with new moves. The other White belts in the class were largely cautious and stuck mainly to blocking. Steve, the Purple belt was fun to spar with because he was just twitching with nervous energy. He hasn’t quite figured out how to control that energy yet so he was somewhat random in his movements which made it fun. Of course, sparring with the TKI guys was fun too. I squared off with Walt and we started right in like always. I think I surprised him a little bit as he remarked “Ah… you’ve practicing with Phyl and Alex!” There was one particular clinch that we managed to get into where we each had each other’s weapons tied up and were essentially facing each other. I was mentally going through my inventory of weapons when Walt smiled and head butted me. Yep, that was what I was looking for, but Walt ‘found’ it before I did. I’ll get him next time.

After the sparring, we broke off and wrapped things up. We did the “pass the pain” ritual and that pretty much concluded the day. Steve and some of the other guys were commenting on coming up to TKI at some point in the future to train with us. Later Bill mentioned to me that he and Lynn might try to work it out so that once a quarter or so we could alternate and make a trip to the other’s location. That would be pretty cool.

After class, several of us joined Lynn for lunch at the Golden Corral in Southern Pines, NC. It was a good lunch and we parted for home from the restaurant.

Lynn, Bill & Marty