ToShinDoKa
Green Belt
Oh, buddy, the fun stuff!
Recently I was up at the Chapel Hill NC Quest Center (yeah, I'm in the south, so NC is 'up' to me, unfortunately...) for a 'end of the year' Gyokko ryu Seminar. We reviewed material from the Jo, Chu, and Ge Ryaku no Maki of this sensational tradition, and you'd have to been there to see it come to life as our instructor directed this experience...
Anyways,
I noticed something that seems like a natural part of the 900 year + old art of combat, that I assume applies to everything in To-Shin Do Go Shin Taijutsu: The FLOW of LETHAL INTENSION, FIGHTING PRINCIPLES, and TECHNIQUES spawning from said principles, in response to said lethal instention. What I mean is, every attack started logically, and the explaination wasn't just, attack here, but there was a specific REASON for attacking in a certain place, over attacking somewhere else. The trained defender, if the feeling was right, almost limited the areas where the violent opposition could launch his attack.
As the attacker would lauch his attack, the defender seemed to move JUST ENOUGH to gain an advantageous position (avoiding the brunt force) and the majority of the time, punished the attackers weapon (if a limb) or disarmed him. Everything made sense, and movement seemed very practical, compared to the unconnected fansy moves Hollywood shows the Ninja arts to be. Each counter attack: the kick to the leg in Koku, the drastic change in the angling of Saka Nagare, or the body signs of changed intention given off in Hane Bi, all appeared to me as a beautiful, brutal dance...and IT FLOWED. A few changes the attack speed served to keep the spontaneity, and so the pressure was on, but when the intention was felt, the techniques internalized, the principles came to life! My body moved out of fear of getting hit (though there was always responsible and controlled uke) as if I were actually going to die in this confrontation, and so it FLOWED. :jediduel:
Killer intention to my perception, my perceptive response triggered fear and adrenaline, internalized body positioning from repetition manifested in place of my normal RUN AWAY or OH GOD! FREEZING responses, proper positioning triggered my subconscious desire to punish the violent aggressor, now seeing the opportunity, and then...WHAM!
I suppose, my question is: ("What, there's a question?" YUP!) How do you suggest I work on developing 'nagare' (mental/physical) in my own manifestations of taijutsu? Or, better put, I can practice kata, but they don't always work, or I'm thinking too much...how can I start developing a natural creativity in my taijutsu under pressure, so as not to come to a stand-still that could cost me my life in a self defense situation? (If that makes sense :idunno:
Recently I was up at the Chapel Hill NC Quest Center (yeah, I'm in the south, so NC is 'up' to me, unfortunately...) for a 'end of the year' Gyokko ryu Seminar. We reviewed material from the Jo, Chu, and Ge Ryaku no Maki of this sensational tradition, and you'd have to been there to see it come to life as our instructor directed this experience...
Anyways,
I noticed something that seems like a natural part of the 900 year + old art of combat, that I assume applies to everything in To-Shin Do Go Shin Taijutsu: The FLOW of LETHAL INTENSION, FIGHTING PRINCIPLES, and TECHNIQUES spawning from said principles, in response to said lethal instention. What I mean is, every attack started logically, and the explaination wasn't just, attack here, but there was a specific REASON for attacking in a certain place, over attacking somewhere else. The trained defender, if the feeling was right, almost limited the areas where the violent opposition could launch his attack.
As the attacker would lauch his attack, the defender seemed to move JUST ENOUGH to gain an advantageous position (avoiding the brunt force) and the majority of the time, punished the attackers weapon (if a limb) or disarmed him. Everything made sense, and movement seemed very practical, compared to the unconnected fansy moves Hollywood shows the Ninja arts to be. Each counter attack: the kick to the leg in Koku, the drastic change in the angling of Saka Nagare, or the body signs of changed intention given off in Hane Bi, all appeared to me as a beautiful, brutal dance...and IT FLOWED. A few changes the attack speed served to keep the spontaneity, and so the pressure was on, but when the intention was felt, the techniques internalized, the principles came to life! My body moved out of fear of getting hit (though there was always responsible and controlled uke) as if I were actually going to die in this confrontation, and so it FLOWED. :jediduel:
Killer intention to my perception, my perceptive response triggered fear and adrenaline, internalized body positioning from repetition manifested in place of my normal RUN AWAY or OH GOD! FREEZING responses, proper positioning triggered my subconscious desire to punish the violent aggressor, now seeing the opportunity, and then...WHAM!
I suppose, my question is: ("What, there's a question?" YUP!) How do you suggest I work on developing 'nagare' (mental/physical) in my own manifestations of taijutsu? Or, better put, I can practice kata, but they don't always work, or I'm thinking too much...how can I start developing a natural creativity in my taijutsu under pressure, so as not to come to a stand-still that could cost me my life in a self defense situation? (If that makes sense :idunno:
