Friday, March 27, 2009

Using Concepts ,Principles and Formulas...


.... to get the old grey matter working use a simple chronological list as a formula (amongst other things formula can mean “A prescription of ingredients”)



Here are some starter lists of things to look at when analysing the Club set

When performing
1. Posture
2. Balance
3 Flexibility
4 Timing.

When striking (strictly in this order)
1 Accuracy
2 Speed
3 Timing
4 Power (power like all principles is complex, my simple rule is "don't add power to something you don't understand", if you were showing someone how to use a sledge hammer for the first time, hopefully you would not say to them "just pick it up swing it over your head, shut your eyes and hit the boulder as hard as you can", because if you did you would be putting everyone in the immediate area in real danger.So when learning or developing something "logically" "power" is usually lower down the list).

When manipulating
1 Fulcrums.
2 Levers.
3 Alignment,(directive force!)
4 Timing.
As seen from the lists above Timing is a major factor in making a lot of Kenpo "stuff" work. Using various timing patterns for the same or similar sequence of movements can reveal specific answers as well as speculative interpretations. Just like a good comedian good timing is always needed to deliver the punch line!!
Work with these 3 short lists to begin with, then make your own lists for developing different areas of training.


VERSUS

As a kind of simple but fruitful equation use the versus tool,as expressed “Vs”
Mr Parker uses the "Vs" (versus), equation constantly during his work, lines vs. paths, circular vs. linear etc, this valuable little exercise is one of his "tricks" that will help you discover some of the “secrets” that are hidden right before your eyes. When applied to Club Set it opens up whole new vistas of exploration.

The simple Vs equation should not be used to find a "winner" but to gather information, it does not have to be interpreted ike the boxing match Vs, say Ali vs. Frazier to find out a winner(I know my age is showing).

The out come is what you can discover or discount, it would be naive to suggest for example that when linear vs circular, that circular "won" and linear is now disregarded,( I know once again I am stating the obvious)


FILLING THE DEAD SPACE
DEAD SPACE - The gap between moves of a technique sequence.It can also be thought of as unused points on a circle or circles of motion. The filling of DEAD SPACE includes the active use of the principle of CONTINUITY OF MOTION. This is termed SEQUENTIAL FLOW.

Once again to address the Power Principle quoting Ed Parker "flow first power later",

a friend of mine and an instructor said to me I teach flow now power now, when i quoted the above to him, I pointed out that "later" was relative and it could mean later in a session, later that day, later in the year, but it is good practice to teach flow first.

VOCABULARY OF MOTION

Refers to having an extensive knowledge of Martial Art movements. Each individual move, whether it is offensive or defensive Is considered as being a "letter" of motion.

Combinations using the same arm or leg form WORDS OF MOTION.

Combinations employ­ing both hands and/or both feet are considered SENTENCES OF MOTION.

Combined SENTENCES OF MOTION form PARAGRAPHS OF MOTION.

Com­binations create alternatives. A reservoir of alternatives offer you countless variations that can be tailored to suit whatever the situation calls for.

This is what you are trying to achieve by practicing the Club Set or Club Form (kata), expressing the harmonious blending of Club and Body using a vocabulary of motion.


When Developing :
Good basics are essential (especially your stances),

Under­stand the idea of each movement,

Train with intensity,

Develop an unconquerable attitude(this should not be miss understood as a "loud and abrasive attitude").


Follow the following "ideas" and you will gain the benefits of the use of more complete SENTENCES OF MOTION, some of which are:
1. Keeps your opponent mentally, and physically off balance.
2. Reduces your opponent's opportunities to retaliate.
3. The additional diversification of targets and weapons to insure multiple effects.
4. The increase of your flexibility of thought according to the prevailing predicament.
5. The increase in your Vocabulary of Motion.
6. May provide the necessary formulations needed when confronted with particular 'What If" situations.
7. "In every offense there is a defense and in every defense there is an offense. The insertion of sequentially flowing moves may provide simul­taneous built-in offense as well as defense.
8. May provide a balance between the use of MINOR moves and MAJOR moves.
9. Increased Vocabulary of Motion through the use of REVERSE MOTION.
10. Increased Vocabulary of Motion to call upon as you need to tailor for specific combat situations.
11. Additional vocabulary to feed your opponent's reactions with your action.
12. Teaches you how to employ your action to cause a reaction that will feed your next action.
13. May increase efficiency by getting more strikes in a shorter amount of time.
14. Increases efficiency by increasing your opponent's body reaction speed.
15. Supplies you with Vocabulary that may be needed in the event of unanticipated reactions or timing by your opponent.
16. Aids in attacking all of your opponent's ZONES OF PROTECTION.
17. Adheres to the concept of CROSSFIRING to give you maximum cover­age in nullifying your opponent's arsenal of weapons.
18. Leads you toward the GASEOUS state of our Art.

The above 18 ideas are copied directly from the works of Ed Parker


As stated earlier just because you have a club doesn’t mean it's the best choice of weapon. A weapon should increase options not decrease them, keep an open mind and don't become "weapon fixated" to the determent of the rest of your "arsenal of answers".

Your mindset should allow you to use all available natural weapons when using single or double clubs.

The following examples are just ideas and by no means a complete list.

HEAD Be careful when "Butting" you may come off 2nd best.

SHOULDER a shoulder "Nudge” can off balance an opponent or use as a fulcrum.

ELBOW Slipping in a well timed elbow shot can come as a real shock to an opponent,

FIST You can punch with a free hand or with the hand holding the club.

CHEST The chest (and other body parts) can be used as a extra fulcrum for manipulating.

THIGH thigh can act as a fulcrum below the waist.

KNEE a knee strike can "set them up or finish them off"

SHIN use a path of action to strike or pin with the shin.

FOOT a well placed kick can effect the outcome……incomplete list……develop your own ideas (any questions on the terminology used in this blog email me or reference Ed Parker's written materials)




THE EQUATION FORMULA.

A word of advice before beginning to explore the motion of the club, or any other type of motion for that matter, temper your ideas with a smattering of logic, use the available material (Mr. Parker's Infinite Insights series are bursting at the seams with information just waiting for you to analyse and adapt to your needs).


Do not be afraid to be creative, put your own interpretation on things, the things you come up with may be significant.


A major tool in development is the Equation Formula.Which is briefly to any given base, a single or multiple move you can:


PREFIX a move


SUFFIX a move


INSERT a move


REARRANGE the moves


ALTER targets and/or weapons


ADJUST the range or angle


REGULATE the force or intent


DELETE a move



I titled this blog entry Using Concepts Principles and Formulas, I finished this entry with Ed Parker's Equation Formula, I would like to state that one the "ideas" that floats my particular Kenpo Boat is the rearrangement idea,

REARRANGE - Shifting or changing the sequential order of movements. One of the key ingredients of the EQUATION FORMULA.

I sometimes like interpret the rearrangement "ingredient as

"don't just look at it,take it out of its box and play with it",

this is meant to free up peoples approach towards training.

Well that's all for now on CPFs,just going to finish off with another EP quote

"Progress requires charting your course for a successful journey in the world of ideas"

Follow the link below for a brief look at The Developed Club Set.



















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