Speed of Techniques

Whenever we practice a set of techniques in class, we all have the tendency to try and speed things up although this often comes to the detriment of the technique itself. Whether we’re talking Promised Sparing, HapKiDo Cane, Stick, or PaSaRyu forms, we have to be continually reminding ourselves and students that a quicker speed rarely equates to a more effective technique.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. This was a saying I picked up in the Marines and it didn’t completely sink in until years later. How can going slower improve the speed? Concentrating on the technique and smoothness will sharpen the effectiveness of the technique. The effectiveness of the technique is often confused or attributed with the speed. Focus on the technique by slowing down. Proper execution will produce smooth techniques that will appear and provide the quickness desired. It is often hard to explain to students that the slower you execute the technique, the faster it will become.

For 2012, the theme will remain – Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Go faster by slowing down.

SUN!

Mr. Dragon

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my brothers and sisters in Martial Arts, Happy Thanksgiving!

As was the theme this week for the Dynamite classes - Appreciation: Showing gratitude for what others do for you - and returning the kindness.

Best wishes and thank you all for the support you've given Niki and I.

Mr. Dragon

Breath Control

As I transition into solo training for the time being, I am reminded how important, subtle, and elusive effective breath control can be.

Even though we stress the breathing aspect in the warmup exercises and stretching, I encourage you to continue to focus on your breath control during kicks, punching and striking drills as well as your form practice. Hapkido is no different...proper breath control can really enhance a technique.

Thoughts?

SUN!

Checking in

Well We survived the trip and are settling in here. It all seems real nice.

I have set up some strength training equipment, but have not resumed any type of training yet.

Having that class and a gym to go to every day for the past 20 years or so was a big motivator and always something to look forward to. It will be a challenge to get going on our own, but I am getting prett itchy to resume somehow.

Hope everyone is well...SUN!

The Changing of the Guard

I would like to announce that on October 20th 2011, Mr. Matt Dowds will officially take over as chief instuctor at Central WI Martial Arts. I have absolutely no doubt that he will be a total success and the program will flourish under his guidance. Please join me in extending my congratulations to him and his beautiful family.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the wonderful people I've had the honor of calling my students over the past 15 years or so. I really had a great time.

I look forward to remaining in close contact with everyone and will be remaining in close contact with Mr. Dowds and the instructor committee.

My next goal is to establish PSR in the Southeast and I will begin to work on that within the near future.

SUN!

I recently took a group of green through red belts through a detailed analyses of Sah Dan (this was at a class time that I don't normally attend). At the end, after the bow, one of the red belts, (probably 13 yrs old), asked if I could show them some self-defense techniques. (I cringe at that term. I prefer "self-protection or self-preservation".)

"Do you mean some MORE self defense techniques?" I said.

"Huh?" he said.

I replied, "Son, we just did over 30 of them. It was called PaSaRyu Sah Dan."

TcB

Train with purpose...

"Train with purpose; the more you sweat in the gym, the less you bleed on the street."

— Dr. Jerry Beasley