05.06.06 - Saturday Practice

New Items Today:

• Purple Belt Techniques: Clapping Tiger & Raking Hammer

Reviewed Other Items:

• Orange Belt Techniques
• Orange Belt Form
• ¼ Speed Sparring

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Warm Ups
Pretty much the normal warm ups today – nothing new as far as exercises go. I did have some problems with my lower back again and took some extra time to get it stretched out. When I’m working out, I have noticed an improvement in my back when I keep my knees bent and ‘sit’ into my stance with my head up. My lower back usually bothers me first thing in the morning though… perhaps it’s a problem with my mattress?!?

Part of the warm up exercises consisted of the Orange belt techniques and the blocking set. Everyone participated as we went through the techniques slow, then fast. I still get a kick out of seeing everyone scattering across the room when they cover out, and then quickly returning to formation. After the techniques, we all did the blocking set together before getting started for the day. About half way through the blocking set, I realized I was falling back into the habit of holding my trailing fist palm in (toward my stomach) instead of palm up as it should be. After all these times and I’m still working on the blocking set!!

¼ Speed Sparring
We all participated in the sparring and rotated around so that everyone sparred against everyone else. When I was sparring Sifu, he had reached in at one point and poked me in the neck with a rigid hand. I asked what that was and he just smiled and continued. When we had completed the sparring, Sifu announced that he was intentionally targeting pressure points and the appropriate methods of using them during this sparring session. My exposure to the pressure points to this point has been minimal as I have been instructed simply to know what certain points are and know what points I am targeting when we practice techniques. The Purple belts have several more pressure points to memorize and need to know which method of deployment is best used for each point.

Purple Belt Techniques
After a brief explanation from Sifu, Elliott and I stepped to our corner of the room and practiced both Clapping Tiger and Raking Hammer. Elliott was taught Clapping Tiger the same way it is taught on the tapes – with a side throw. Sifu, with Vic’s blessing, teaches the technique with an overhead throw. Aside from the throw, the rest was pretty much the same. As for Raking Hammer, for some reason I think I’m going to be working on this one for a while. I have a tendency to keeping “cocking” my elbow before throwing it, and I am having a heck of a time getting my range. This is one of the techniques I’m having a hard time practicing in the air for some reason. I’ll continue to practice it though and I’m sure it will get better eventually.