Quadrants

We are taught through our training that the body, yours and your opponents, are broken up into quadrants and all things are based off of the center line. If this is not practiced mindfully it can effect a number of factors involving stances, execution of techniques with full body power to definite completion, and of course the channeling of power through grounded execution. This will also hinder the first three parts of the six harmonies because the required alignment to achieve full definition is impossible. You cannot engage the three efficiently because they are basically fighting each other. What I mean by this is some parts of the body are just loading up, some are already at full extension, and others are only halfway there which throws the trajectory and grounded power right out the window. Not to mention at this point your feel like a piled up gearbox.The timing is completely off and makes for very awkward transitions and this will translate throughout the whole form making it very difficult to not only maintain your center, but actually use it to its fullest potential. I have found that a lot of awkward areas of my form work and areas where I just don't feel any power at all, stumble during transitions, are a result of me not being mindful of the four quadrants and my center line.....and that pesky angled back foot.

I have discovered lately when practicing my forms that I am applying my techniques off center and my back foot is angled away from my center line as well which throws the power right past my opponent instead of through them. Not to say the foot should point to the center line, but it should run parallel. My punches for example are slightly to the inside of my lead leg, instead of following my center line. The result is an over extension of my arm, which leaves my elbow vulnerable, and my hip is not even part of it because it isn't even engaged or it's completely extended because of the angle of my back foot. During transitions the technique is leading the hips instead of the hips leading the technique, so by the time I have finished full rotation, there's not really much there. Also when making a transition, because the back foot wasn't lined up correctly in the first place, my back foot is nowhere near where it should be because its a technique behind making the next one come solely from the shoulders instead of the whole body. This will definitely remove any flow at all and makes it seem like I am starting each technique from the start because I feel continuously jammed and not working towards the center removes the timing and grounding required to actually apply what I am doing.

So I have been mindful of these things while practicing and I'm finding much smoother flow and transitions and I feel like the whole body is more involved. My forms feel really good actually and this should translate very well into the rest of my Kung Fu. My punches are not overextended and my stances have shortened up slightly. This makes me feel more grounded and the whole body is involved when I snap those hips and complete rotation with the heel planted and that back foot forward. Now I just have to re program that muscle memory through 1 MILLION repetitions and keep in mind to get good, before I get fast. See you at the Kwoon.

Vicious Virus

I was invaded by a virus from hell the past 2 weeks or better that was a real piece of work indeed. It would come in waves and each one would almost knock you to the ground, and then you seemed fine and then, just kidding!, wham again. I don't usually get sick too often and when I do I can usually shed it fairly quick, not so much with this viral spawn of satan but the immune system stomped it into oblivion so end of story there.

This down time cost me a bunch of training time and long days laboring through work but as far as I can tell it's over and it's time to crank up the dial. Trying to follow the discipline of always moving forward no matter what isn't always easy but if we keep the mind in check and focus on all options anything is progress. For example I did still continue to work through some training with smaller reps and complete my beta version. I also continued with working on some less laboring aspects of training such as stretching and reviewing my plans and goals and applying what I could. I wasn't able to perform at last class because I still wasn't well and didn't want to bring this evil into the Kwoon and share it with others because that's just not cool. It sucks though because it's always great to see everyone's forms and meet the deadline together with the team. I also missed a couple of black belt classes which bothered me even more because I want to take advantage of every single one I can before I head out of town some time this month. That's how it goes sometimes though and all you can do is deal with it and look ahead. I think though if I keep the plan in front of me and stay away from pulling a shift in the excuse factory or guzzling a big mug of resentment with a shot of pissed off...I'll pull off my best year yet.

Well that's all I really have this week and I hope everyone is doing well and basking in their own rays of awesomeness!! See you at the Kwoon.