USU Systema Blog

Movement and Flow

Tonight we worked on movement and flow.

To begin with we did 2 circuits of 10 spiders (where you start in pushup or crab position and weave your leg under or over your other leg and spin over to the opposite position) and 10 pushups were we would tense up certian parts of the body randomly, at a certian call. That got people feeling semi-loose, so then we got into standing grappling positions (like two bears fighting) and struggled against eachother to see where tension was.

Once that was more comfortable, we did work with trying to exploit that tension. I think it demonstrated quite well how a relaxed/fluid limb will reacte to an attack better that a tense one will.

Since movement and flow was the focus this evening, we then started pairing off and did "push hands" where we pushed eachothers' bodies to feel where tension physiologically sits. I fear that I rushed the group to much on these things, but man does time fly! Anyway, we went from pushes to fisted pushes and finally to softer punches. The prospect of being hit, even softly, can be a bit daunting. It helped to loosen everyone up further.

Most everyone in the room had come from a Karate background, but the movement was good. Honorable mentions are Rachel, Stan, and Jon. Rachel's able to move in and out quickly. She can flow very well from one area to another and with a little practice, she will soon be effectively evading danger while pummeling opponents. Stan is very hard. He is fast with his strikes and can take a blow. The psychological strength to do that is important. He is also loosening up considerably. Jon, as young as he is, has good reaction when it comes to getting hit; he knows he doesn't like to be hit so he moves well.

It's been said that pain is the best teacher, and next week she will be our guest of honor...

Important points are:

Bottom of Permission

Ego

posted by JakeF @ 9:22 PM