Enter the Dragon!

Last class I put Jeremy, Lejoe and John through a practice grading. In our gradings the student demonstrates a range of techniques in front of a grading panel (typically three black-belts). In addition to techniques they may be asked to demonstrate reflexive self-defence techniques against nominated attacks and be asked questions to test their martial arts general knowledge. I like to do this mock-grading (just in front of me) prior to a student's first grading for a range of reasons: It helps familiarize the student with the format of the grading It shows the student where they need to focus their practice in the lead-up to the actual grading It shows me what I've been neglecting to show It shows me what my class has been learning, as opposed to what I've been teaching The last point was brought home to me in somewhat dramatic style when all three students showed the same defect in their footwork in the 1st hand throw. When demonstrating this throw I expect tori to rot...

Although there are a bunch of advanced themes I could choose to go onto, the nature of my class --- heavy in beginners -- is such that I want to stick with themes that work from a more basic level. If you have more experience you are of course free to journey deeper into the same theme! Control With gradings coming up in early July I want to work on technical detail, reviewing the basics and chip away at improving form. More than being able to reproduce the appearance of a technique -- which must adapt to the practitioner, partner, and situation -- is to grasp the elements, variables and feeling. Some tips: Learn all the components: Watch your instructor closely; feel how the bits work on you; refine, refine, refine ... Go slow: Speed hides deficiencies and can be easily recovered later. Work with lots of partners : Feel how they do it; feel how it works differently; adjust, adjust, adjust. [If you're struggling get some time with someone of similar size and shape to yourself...