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
Fear training
This is an establishing post. This blog will serve the Utah State University Systema and Self-Defense Club. Synopsis of training sessions, ect will be posted.
For this initial post, I will discuss two things: breathing and fear. Both have been on my mind since I had a brush with fear. They are interrelated in a way. In fact, fear is a term given to physiological attributes such as increased heart rate, increased, more shallow breathing, and things like that. I emphasize the breathing part.
For our use in Systema, we know that breathing effects muscle movement and general ability to move and flow. Good breathing allows more good movement. Bad breathing does not. Instance? Try doing jumping jacks, or push-ups with hands in varying positions (moving your hands thru-out the ups and downs) with and then without breathing. You will notice tightness and maybe even anxiety, amongst other things. So it is with Systema movement. Our goal is free flowing effectiveness. This can hardly be realized while we are tight.
My experience with fear related earlier actually happened while sparring with a Kung Fu practitioner. He was fast and hard and very good. I let my fear of being hit, ego you can call it, get in the way of good movement. Almost like that was going to save me. Har har har! Mikhail Ryabko said, "Don't like yourself too much". Well, last night I was in love. I have gone against hard fighting, fast opponents before, and have done well, but my movement was free. That was the difference. Breathing stopped here due to my fear. I looked silly. I got beat.
That brings up an interesting point. You know the "Fight or flight" response? Humans can control that. Someone attacks you, you can furiously blast your way out, injure yourself and get away, or you can cooly tend to the situation. Sure it takes practice. For some, getting hit in the stomach is just as terrifying as getting punched in the face. For others, both are fun. What makes the difference? A lot of things, I think. One thing is for sure: familiarity breeds contempt. In other words: practice real, practice well. Allow people to hit you in practice. Become familiar with what it does to your mind and body. Give them that priviledge from the bottom of permission.
Fear approaches us in many forms. Try standing really close to someone, casually, that you know or don't know. See how your breathing (not to mention theirs!) will change, how you or they may tense up. Sink your head and bare your shoulders (like an aggressive dog) and see how it changes further. That is all part of a fear response. Now imagine being in a conflict. That fear response serves you well, but remember to keep it a servant. Regulate your breathing, calm your mind. Work. Do good work.
