I picked up a set of practice Butterfly Swords, steel ones, not the lightweight aluminum ones.
These are really fun! They come in pairs, one for each hand, and are pretty heavy for their size. Using them is an upper body workout in itself!
They are not a common weapon system in most martial arts. They come from a Southern Kung Fu tradition. I've only seen reference to them in Hung Gar and Wing Chun. Here is a Wing Chun form I found.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Shaolin Kempo technique archive
I'm remiss in plugging a very good site that has taken the great effort of collecting and publishing the techniques of Shaolin Kempo. It's the Kempo Info site.
It really is a great resource, but personally I can't watch some of the videos of the Black Belt forms. IMHO, some of the forms are being performed as hard style karate forms, instead of more flowing Kung Fu forms. They just look wrong to me.
It really is a great resource, but personally I can't watch some of the videos of the Black Belt forms. IMHO, some of the forms are being performed as hard style karate forms, instead of more flowing Kung Fu forms. They just look wrong to me.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Back to teaching
I haven't been teaching very much the past couple of months. I was taking another class that met on the same night I usually teach.
Tonight, it's back to my regular class and I'm looking forward to it. I really enjoy teaching and it's a great way to refine your technique as well.
Tonight, it's back to my regular class and I'm looking forward to it. I really enjoy teaching and it's a great way to refine your technique as well.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Recent Black Belt Test
MetroWest Martial Arts and Wellness in Westborough, MA recently held another Black Belt test.
I was one of the people giving the test. It's only been three years since my last test, so I'm good for awhile. :-)
The test went well and the folks going for Shodan & Nidan really shined.
In case any of my dear readers are still spreading that myth about belts slowly getting dirtier over time until the advanced students belts were black, here is the true history of using colored belts for ranking.
I was one of the people giving the test. It's only been three years since my last test, so I'm good for awhile. :-)
The test went well and the folks going for Shodan & Nidan really shined.
In case any of my dear readers are still spreading that myth about belts slowly getting dirtier over time until the advanced students belts were black, here is the true history of using colored belts for ranking.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Basics, basics & more basics
If you are a martial arts instructor, and just don't know what you are going to cover in your next class, here is a good suggestion.
Basics, basics and then more basics.
The basics are the core, the foundation you build more advanced techniques from.
You get more power from a good punch thrown from a solid stance than you do from a good punch made while off balance (OK, you Drunken Monkey stylists are an exception, but then you practice a lot to do that).
Practice, practice and more practice. You want to be able to hit that nerve bundle with that Leopard Paw strike in a fight, then you have to practice punching over, and over again.
There are all sorts of cool and fun drills to do to keep things interesting, but it all comes back to the basics.
Basics, basics and then more basics.
The basics are the core, the foundation you build more advanced techniques from.
You get more power from a good punch thrown from a solid stance than you do from a good punch made while off balance (OK, you Drunken Monkey stylists are an exception, but then you practice a lot to do that).
Practice, practice and more practice. You want to be able to hit that nerve bundle with that Leopard Paw strike in a fight, then you have to practice punching over, and over again.
There are all sorts of cool and fun drills to do to keep things interesting, but it all comes back to the basics.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Customizing Kempo
One of the basic principles of teaching Kempo is that Kempo changes to fit the student.
This doesn't mean you don't have to learn the basics. It means that as an instructor, you should modify techniques you teach to fit the student.
A petite female who weighs 110 pounds soaking wet is going to have a different fighting style than a 200 pound man a foot or more taller.
There are differences beyond the obvious size and weight difference. They have a very different center of balance. The man will generally have much more upper body strength. Then there is overall social conditioning that the different genders gets.
You want to successfully teach women and young girls in your school, you will need to understand these differences and be able to adjust your teaching style for each different kind of student you have.
This doesn't mean you don't have to learn the basics. It means that as an instructor, you should modify techniques you teach to fit the student.
A petite female who weighs 110 pounds soaking wet is going to have a different fighting style than a 200 pound man a foot or more taller.
There are differences beyond the obvious size and weight difference. They have a very different center of balance. The man will generally have much more upper body strength. Then there is overall social conditioning that the different genders gets.
You want to successfully teach women and young girls in your school, you will need to understand these differences and be able to adjust your teaching style for each different kind of student you have.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Sixth Law of Kempo
Law of No Block
Kempo emphasizes economy of movement and economy of time. Kempo's no block principle teaches to avoid being struck by a punch or kick, you should move your body out of harm's way. As one of my old Saber coaches use to tell me, "It's all about controlling timing and distance."
In other words, a block is a wasted move because it does not stop your opponent from attacking again with their free limbs. It is much better to move out of the way and simultaneously counterattack.
This is a fairly complex concept to implement correctly. So I teach beginners to block.:-) Once they have a better understanding of the art, I introduce this concept.
Kempo has multiple systems of just blocks, but note that the more advanced onces involve traps, redirects and body movement (Next time you watch a Master do one of the blocking systems, pay attention to the movement of their spine.)
Kempo emphasizes economy of movement and economy of time. Kempo's no block principle teaches to avoid being struck by a punch or kick, you should move your body out of harm's way. As one of my old Saber coaches use to tell me, "It's all about controlling timing and distance."
In other words, a block is a wasted move because it does not stop your opponent from attacking again with their free limbs. It is much better to move out of the way and simultaneously counterattack.
This is a fairly complex concept to implement correctly. So I teach beginners to block.:-) Once they have a better understanding of the art, I introduce this concept.
Kempo has multiple systems of just blocks, but note that the more advanced onces involve traps, redirects and body movement (Next time you watch a Master do one of the blocking systems, pay attention to the movement of their spine.)
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Fifth Law of Kempo
Law of Kicking
Kempo's mandate to kick low is based on logic. A roundhouse kick and spinning reverse crescent kick to the head maybe flashy and impressive, but such maneuvers take longer to execute because your legs has to travel farther. They also expose your groin to your opponent's kick.
Kicking high requires superior balance and focus, you should practice your leg techniques high, and deliver them low for self-defense. Kicking low to the legs, executing a "pillar attack" can break your opponent's balance and legs.
As I tell my students, when your opponent is on the ground is the best time to kick them in the head.
Kempo's mandate to kick low is based on logic. A roundhouse kick and spinning reverse crescent kick to the head maybe flashy and impressive, but such maneuvers take longer to execute because your legs has to travel farther. They also expose your groin to your opponent's kick.
Kicking high requires superior balance and focus, you should practice your leg techniques high, and deliver them low for self-defense. Kicking low to the legs, executing a "pillar attack" can break your opponent's balance and legs.
As I tell my students, when your opponent is on the ground is the best time to kick them in the head.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fourth Law of Kempo
Law of Targets
You are not going to break your knuckles punching an attacker's temple. A kick to the groin will not fracture your instep. A knife hand strike to the throat will hurt the throat more than your hand.
Kempo teaches you to choose your targets in order to maximize damage to your opponent while minimizing damage to yourself.
You are not going to break your knuckles punching an attacker's temple. A kick to the groin will not fracture your instep. A knife hand strike to the throat will hurt the throat more than your hand.
Kempo teaches you to choose your targets in order to maximize damage to your opponent while minimizing damage to yourself.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Third Law of Kempo
Law of Multiple Strikes
Kempo teaches you to strike first and strike often in rapid succession. You train to hit high, low, straight in, and along a circular path.
First you stun, distract, and slow your opponent. Then you take him/her/whatever out.
Kempo teaches you to strike first and strike often in rapid succession. You train to hit high, low, straight in, and along a circular path.
First you stun, distract, and slow your opponent. Then you take him/her/whatever out.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Second Law of Kempo
Law of the First Strike
If a confrontation is inevitable, you should not wait for the aggressor to attack first! You need to hit him first with your foot, fist, elbow, knee, etc. You need to hit the attacker hard and hit continuously until they are subdued.
If a confrontation is inevitable, you should not wait for the aggressor to attack first! You need to hit him first with your foot, fist, elbow, knee, etc. You need to hit the attacker hard and hit continuously until they are subdued.
Monday, July 07, 2008
First Law of Kempo
Law of the Circle and Line
The first law of Kempo states that when your opponent charges straight in and attacks, you should use your feet to move your body along a circular path, while moving your arms in a circular pattern to deflect the oncoming force. When your opponent attacks you in a circular pattern, you should respond with a fast linear attack along a straight line.
The first law of Kempo states that when your opponent charges straight in and attacks, you should use your feet to move your body along a circular path, while moving your arms in a circular pattern to deflect the oncoming force. When your opponent attacks you in a circular pattern, you should respond with a fast linear attack along a straight line.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A good teacher
I was at the dojo tonight working on the computer system and got to watch Dan teach for a while. Dan is a really good teacher. As an instructor myself, I like to watch other instructors at work. There is always something to learn. Dan has been teaching for a long time, and I like his style of teaching. He teaches principles as well as good technique.
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