What we worked on - March

Last week of March we worked on Largo cane style striking with power. Using heavy canes, we looked at the body mechanics, weight shifting, torquing, and releasing the strike.
Worked on half speed flow using the same body mechanics but releasing the weapon quarter speed, working now with a lighter weapon. Also worked on expression of the strikes, calling out strikes to give feedback to the feeder - good for hata.
Lastly, worked on feeding 2 connected angles in one strike.

What we worked on ..... March 2010

This week we did some asymmetric flow - sword vs empty hand, to emphasize body angulation and the positioning of the checking hand (touching from the center).
Moved to short blade flow with pendulum and then on to pangamot touching points.

Upcoming VCKE Seminar in Illinois

http://dogbrothers.com/phpBB2/index.php?topic=2011.0

Book Recommendation

The Life Giving Sword by Yagyu Munenori
Strategy and tactics have really not changed so much in 400 years .....

http://books.google.com/books?id=_7iMaZvIf-YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+life-giving+sword+by+yagyu+munenori&source=bl&ots=-5-UFCShsr&sig=-iqPphoF6tR2DlkAWV9e_SAz9OQ&hl=en&ei=KVmaS4zoLJDwsQPE-vWdAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

What we worked on ..... March 2010

The focus for this week was 'hiwa' or slicing. The use of the belly of the blade - working with the arc rather than with straight lines.
Worked force to force, mirroring and their offensive and defensive uses.

What we worked on ..... March 2010

Going to try to keep a log on what we worked on in class - hopefully every week ... we'll see :-)

At the end of February, we free flowed for most of the evening, and came to the inevitable conclusion that the hardest part of dueling is not getting hit yourself - either on the way in, simultaneously on hitting the opponent, or then on the exit.
Conclusions ...? Must improve the defensive line and evasion skills, work on accuracy in judging the edge of the range, and accuracy in judging the timing - one's own, and that of the opponent.

Last week we started looking in more depth at the 'moro foundation exercises', which, when added to the pendulum stepping, are a great solo practice to understand the footwork and body angles used in flowing and dueling.

We practiced holding the wall and flush blocking. Flowed Largo style, and added the hiwa concept.
We also started mirroring and pairing, and considered their uses as an offensive and defensive tactics.
We mostly used the metal blades to work on accuracy of blade angle vs cutting angle, and accuracy in target acquisition.

Youtube Channel

Just a reminder that my Youtube channel is Rndmflw which has all the uploads of Sonny that I have put up, and in the favorites section, you will find those put up by Jay Pugao, along with hella martial arts clips that have taken my interest.
Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/user/Rndmflw

The Eskrima Crew in Sion, Switzerland

Chronologically in the wrong place, but I went to teach some of Sonny's peeps in Germany and Switzerland last November. Here's a picture of the crew in Sion.
Good Times :-)

Year of the Metal Tiger - 2010

OK .... So it's been a while - most remiss of me.
New Years resolution is to keep updating more regularly with news and notes of interest.

First off - Change in Eskrima class schedule and Bagua open workouts:
Visayan Eskrima is now twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30pm - 8.30pm at Suigetsukan Dojo (International and 1st Ave in Oakland CA)

Bagua Open workout (Open to Bagua students from the morning classes and to continuing students of the Yizong system of Luo De Xiu) 1st Sunday of the month 4pm -6pm also at Suigetsukan