protectivearts

SPOTTING

I am failing my new year’s resolution of teaching to the test. Concepts and connections are taking precedent over technique in my classes. This morning the only technique I taught was ai-hanmi-katate dori kokyuho (and its variant irimi nage). I have covered kokyuho previously but this morning I used it as an exemplar of precision positioning. ToContinue reading “SPOTTING”

ARMORY

There is no substitute for a live edge when it comes to understanding how a weapon will act in the hand and to learn how the hand should employ the blade. A serious martial artist will need to own and use the weapons he purports to train and teach. (And must know the proper etiquette forContinue reading “ARMORY”

KOTEGAESHI to IRIMINAGE: Circular Dissolves

Although I have tried to stick to the basics and teach to the test, this morning I broke the theme – and re-introduced concepts. It was a small class so the deviation probably did little damage. Techniques are in many ways easier than concepts because they are discrete and short, composed of a few beatsContinue reading “KOTEGAESHI to IRIMINAGE: Circular Dissolves”