01.21.06 - Saturday Training

Reviewed Items:

1. Warm-up drills
2. Back fist drills with & without focus mitts
3. Lead leg (foot replacement) roundhouse kicks
4. Orange belt techniques

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Back Fist Drills
We discussed the use and technique of the back fist today at some length. We reviewed that the fist is bent so that the first two knuckles lead for greater penetration at the target. Also discussed was the whipping action that should practiced. Sifu described how, with practice, the arm and hand should be relaxed until just prior to impact, at which time the fist should ball up tight and the wrist should bend into position. Done properly, this all comes together to create a very quick whipping motion.

The class paired up and we practiced this back and forth with a pseudo temple strike. The optimum target was 4” from the actual temple. I was paired up with Alex and he gave me some feedback early in the drill, stating that I was launching with my shoulders. Given this information, I relaxed my shoulders and focused on the technique. A few minutes later at the conclusion of the drill, I asked if I had managed to get everything smoothed out and he stated that I looked much better in the latter part of the exercise.

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Orange Belt Techniques
Sifu divided the class up and Marty took the White belts off to one side to practice the Orange belt techniques. The group was rather varied in skill and depth – Khedron and I were in the front line and Jeff & Alexandra were in the second line. For all 6 techniques, Marty called out the name and then asked me to describe the technique and explain what it was defending against, and then had me demonstrate it for everyone. He then went through with a more detailed explanation of the technique and started walking the group though practice exercises.

Marty has a similar approach to practicing the techniques but varies a little bit from Bill. He often had us drop our hands and focus specifically on the footwork only – first slow (Tai Chi slow, as he says), then moderate and finally full speed. Then we would add the hand movements. Before we moved on to the next technique, he would have us close our eyes and practice it “blindfolded”. I recall doing this earlier in my training and it was just a little bit confusing. I was surprised this time when it actually helped me cement the different skills together and allowed me better focus on my imaginary attacker.

At the end of class, Sifu had all of the White belts line up and we went through all of the techniques under the watchful eye of the Purple belts. I felt comfortable with all of the techniques but Phyl gave me some feedback immediately following class. He stated that the last leg check in Beheading the Dragon was missing – both times we went through. I was a little surprised to hear that as I really focus on that mentally when I run it through my mind (and I like those leg checks!) but if I missed it twice in a row, I obviously need to take a closer look at it.