You know I used to think it was more important to have a good teacher than to be in a good system. Yet, I'm beginning to reconsider that. For example, if the system says one thing, the teacher can be overruled. Also, what if the teacher can't keep teaching and someone else takes over.

Jumping the dragon's tail

With the white through purple class, Jim D. said to make two lines, and the kids just stood their except for one. So we had the kids run in place till they formed two lines. Then we had the people in the last belt test come forward and gave them a hand. Then we had the kids bow in, mediate, then do some laps. I put a rope under a wavemaster and the kids jump over it. I called it the dragon's tail.

Then the kids we did some stretches. Then we broke into groups. I worked with two yellow belts, and took them through almost everything on their card. Somethings they had to be reminded of. But that's working with kids. For a game we played jump the dragon.

Bill lead the next class in a some laps, some were figure 8's. Then we rotated between cardio exercises, and stretches. Then we got out wavemasters and paired up on wavemasters. We did various strikes and kicks, then rotated around doing punches and kicks. Then each group broke off and practiced a form they later demonstrated for a class. After that we broke off and worked on some things. We worked on Hansuki for a little while along with 30 combination and 6 kata. Then we lined back up and did several more forms.

being mindful

So to get the kids warmed up, I threw some rubber knives and foam bats and the kids did laps with them. We did shuffling front and back, backwards, and skipping.

I worked with the blue through green-brown belts on the eight point blocking system with natural strikes, and half-mooning. I would call out numbers in order and have the go back and forth, then call even and odds, and for the last thing I did random numbers. Then we went into forms and I had them do forms at different angles to the room. For a game we played snowballs.

Then for the green-brown through blackbelt class we did the same thing with the kids class with rubber knives on the ground. Then we got into a gauntlet and did ju-jutsu techniques with a partner. Then we would rotate partners. For the last part of class we broke off into groups. Me and another blackbelt then worked on combinations and knife techniques.

So often in the martial arts, an organization gets to be a certain size then it splits. One thing I've been wondering about is perhaps it would be better for there to be school owners who own multiple locations, then have a person running the school. If you would have multiple school owners for the same number of schools then that would be that many number of people your going to be dealing with.

sideclub footwork

So I helped teach two classes tonight. A blue through green-brown class, and a white through purple belt class.

So anyway, I stood by the door while the kids were running laps to make sure the no one would open the door we have an accident. Then I did the led the warmup. I worked with two bluebelts. I had them do a form various different ways, including avoiding snowballs, frisbees, etc. Then reviewed all the material on their card. For a game they played jump the dragon.

Then for the white through purple belt class, we had them run laps over wavemasters. That didnt' work out so we had them jump over blockers. Also two people would randomly do overhead attacks.

Then we did the stretching. Jim D. then led the kids in a serious of punches and kicks. The helpers got out shields and were moving targets for the kids. I put down so cones to help the kids get deeper horse stances.

I worked with one yellow belt on a tiger kempo punch self-defense technique, and a sideclub. What I did with the sideclub is put a bat down, for her feet to follow. It seemed to help.

For the last thing the kids played snowballs. Then the kids dodged as the helpers threw them. Last thing the it was the kids versus the helpers.

softness prepares for the hard

One thing I'm wondering in the Okinawin Kubudo, is if perhaps their is too much hardness. Perhaps if there were more softness, then people would be more able to do the hard style. For instance I was told kenjutsu is not for everyone. So why then should it be part of the entire school's curriculum? Perhaps a seminar or two or even a class.

kempo heats

So I bowed the kids line up and bowed them in. As they were mediating had them repeat that they would go to the bathroom before class. Then I setup some stacked mats and had them run eight laps quietly as possible. That was to help them to learn to be more quite before the next class.

So Jim D. ran them trough some cardio stuff, then we broke into groups. I worked with the lower blue belts. First I had them work on one pinion. One thing I had them do is hold pieces of belts while they were doing the form. Then I had each one do a kempo and the rest of the group would do that kempo. Then we went into a circle of fire with kempos. Then I reversed it so the person in the center would attack instead of defend.

Then for the last part of the time one of the blackbelts got done with the person she was working with so she played the attacker. I put up a mat and she was behind the mat. Then she would do various attacks; sideclubs, overheads, knives, kempos, etc.

For the last part of class we played frisbees. The kids played some games amongst themselves. Then it was the blue/green-brown belt class against the green-brown/blackbelts.

So the next class I warmed the class up with the same thing I did before, but this time instead of dots I put rubber and wood knives on the ground. My purpose was to see how many people would step on the knives. Also, I asked a brown belt how many laps it had been.

Then Devin S. had each person do a 15 second stretch. After that we did as many heats as possible. I got 19. Usually I can get atleast ten more of that. Then we did heats of kempos. We did each animal about two turns then the person would rotate out.

Front ball kicks

The kids forgot their cards so I had the kids run in place. Then one at a time they were to get their cards and put them in a pile. It also served as a warmup.

Worked with the white belts on front ball kicks. I explained that one was hit the bag when doing a front ball kick with the ball of their foot. What I did is have the kids put on sparring footwear, then told them not to hit the wavemaster with only the bottom of their foot.

Worked with purple belt on the material for her fourth stripe. Basically worked on sideclubs on and overheads self-defense techniques. I started to go into two pinion but I figured it was enough with those techniques.

more chin na

I helped monday teach classes. So we lined everyone up, and had them run around. So I went and got some frisbees and waited till the kids started running. Then I opened the door and started throwing at them. It was so they get used to dodging them. Anyway, switched to a foam bat to keep the kids away from the concrete.

Then we split off into groups. I worked with a green-brown and a green belt. We worked on the spinning reverse crescent kick, and the bow kick for awhile. Then we worked on sideclubs and overheads. What I had them do is each would take turns doing it, then the person who hesistated first or copied had to do five pushups.

Then the last thing we did is played a game. What I had the kids do is all line up. Then when I would call out a technique they were to do it. If the person to hesitate first would then go sit down. Were were running out of time, so we did all previous techniques.

With the white through purple belt class no one remembered to get their card. So what we did is had the kids run in place and each person individually went and put their card on a pile. Then I had the kids line up in two rows and face each other. Then they were too look at each other and be faster than the other person while doing punches. Then I had the kids turn too the back wall, while I did reminded some people of some punches. Then I we did the same thing with kicks. Next we broke up into groups.

I worked with three yellow belts. But we kind of had to switch gears a minute since we were giving someone a belt who couldn't make it for the belt test. So I had the kids line up, and be the attacker. Then we all got in a circle and awarded the kid his belt. So then we moved played a game of frisbees and that finished up the class.

So then I went too the green-brown through blackbelt class. Then we moved did our laps. Then did some cardio exercises and some stretches. Then we went into circles and did side clubs, overheads, and kempo punch defenses. For the last fifteen minutes we did a bit of grappling. Travis B. showed a Chin Na technique and we all paired up and worked on it.

To practice the "Drunken Monkey style" one usually must drink copious amounts of certain beverages. Although there is another way. At work we have a carts that get busted up, needless to say they move around a bit when you push them around.

Hard versus soft

Soft has a negative meaning to it. Most people when they think of soft equate it too weakness. When I think of soft I think of flexibility, being able to adapt to the situation, controlling how much force one uses.