TACTICS FOR MASTERING BALENCE

[ninjanurse]

Long-short; fast-slow; circular-straight; yin-yang; etc....

 

Now, look in the mirror....you are not only looking at your reflection you are looking at your opposite. All things have balance. Understand?

 

[White Warlock]

I looked in the mirror... and realized i needed to shave.

[Drunken Monkey]

i looked in the mirror and spotted a dictionary on the table behind me.....

[delta1]

If I looked like either of you, I wouldn't look in any mirrors!

 

My mom who took kenpo before she had me is confused as well. especially about the reflection in the mirror thing, that has been in my mind so long I am having dreams about it.

 

If your mom took Kenpo, she should be able to help with these concepts:

 

Moving in ballance- since you study a system of Gong Fu, your movement probably emphasizes different principles than Kenpo. But all martial arts stress moving in ballance. Not over comited, not leaning. You should be able to change direction, maneuver, or attack in mid stride/move. If your trailing leg is full, you should be able to pick your front foot off the ground 1" without changing your posture. You should transition smoothly from one posture to the next.

 

Attacking in ballance- mixing up your attacks, utilizing all weapons and attacking all zones, as opposed to throwing the same few attacks all the time (unless they are working all the time!).

 

Mirroring- as you look into the mirror, you see your immage do the same thing you do, but apparently on the opposite side. This is primarily a defensive application as right checks left and left checks right simultaneously. When you realize that you are actually looking at the same side moving, you have a view of primarily offensive application, as right enters his open left, and his right enters your open left. When you are faster than your reflection and can do both at the same time, you protect yourself and hit first, and win (your reflection in this case being your opponent, not the mirror).

 

Ballanced mind- empty, yet full of the task at hand. Taking in everything, while fixed on your opponent. Focused on your intent, while not obsessed on what you want to do to him.

 

These are just concepts, not rules or a how to list. To understand what I and others here are saying to you, you have to think about and meditate on what we are trying to get across. Ask specific questions if necessary to clarify things, and talk to your mom, your instructor and others. But there is no shortcut to the process. You have to engage the grey matter, then go to the mat to work things out physically. Othrwise, you'll end up avoiding mirrors like the drunken warlock!

[White Warlock]

Bah!

[ninjanurse]

Delta! I was hoping our young 13 year old would figure it out with just a few hints but alas you are as thourough and knowledgeable as usual. Besides, I was too lazy to write it all out!!!

 

[delta1]

Thanks, ninjanurse. I tend to get carried away sometimes, but oh well... .

 

White Warlock- sorry, I couldn't resist! But, really, a shave? Ubber droll, mon!

 

Actually, I tried to shave the other day, and almost mutilated my face before I realized my daughter had put a picture of the dog looking out the window up on the mirror. My mouth was puckered, and there was this one really long hair that I just couldn't get...

[White Warlock]

hehe, well i was actually being honest. I've been working on remodeling a home pretty far from where i live, so i've been staying here for a week now... without having shaved. Hell, i still need to trim my friggin' beard. Lookin' pretty ragged.

 

Oh yeah, and i'm cybering with my laptop connected to my cell phone. I'm so... hip.

 

< a moment of silence >