11.26.05 - Saturday Training

Items Reviewed Today:

1. Working with Juan
2. Warm ups
3. Techniques
4. Orange belt form

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Working with Juan
I came in early at 6:30am to work with Bill & Juan. It was good to go back and refresh from the very beginning again, starting with the neutral bow. I was there primarily for reference and demonstration purposes when Sifu needed a body, but going back to the beginning like that really helps to solidify the basics for me.

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Techniques
Alexandra and I went through the first 4 techniques with Marty. First we spent some time working on Returning Serpent. We also spent a little extra time with Escaping Ram too as there were some fine points that Marty wanted to get worked out with us. I think I absorbed a little more than usual because Marty asked several times how Sifu covered the techniques, mostly the specifics targets of a given strike.

The last two techniques were covered by Bill as Marty went over and worked with the Purple belts. Sifu covered both Deflecting Thunder & Returning Serpent in detail with both of us. I was focusing on keeping my fists closed through the techniques, at least where I’m supposed to, and I think I am getting better. I still need to work on taking the other guy’s space, as I have been told so many times. I’m not sure what the hang up is for me, but I’ll work it out.

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Forms
We did the forms individually after we finished practicing techniques. The Purple belts were first and went through them one at a time with a focus on accuracy. When they finished, it was my turn and, after practicing just a little bit this week, was surprised that it felt pretty solid to me. The blocks were well placed with good ‘pop’, my cover was better (or at least felt like it), and everything flowed well without me having to think about it too much. The only critique I received was that I was apparently at a cant when I went into the final meditation, as opposed to facing directly forward. I’m not sure what that was about. I’m gonna call it a fluke and hopefully I won’t do it again.