Senior Black Belt Competitor Needs Advice

[kenpo.stylist]

enter into traditional weapons instead of open. That way you shouldn't have to compete with all the extreme stuff. I watched both kata you have and they both look great. While I like the bo staff kata, I preferred to watch the three section staff kata simply because I know how difficult it is to preform. Most impressive kata. Concentrate on snap and power with the empty hand technique during the form and you should have a sure fire winner.

Again, highly impressive form. IMO, you have nothing to worry about, and wuold clean up most BB age divisions below you...at least the majority that I've seen.

[cleung]

Thanks for your comments too. There are generally no extreme forms in my senior age divisions - fortunately. In some circuits, I could get away with traditional divisions since their rules state that one doesn't necessarily have to use a traditional form as long as the moves are traditional. NASKA is an example. For other circuits, my forms would not be allowed since their traditional divisions require only recognized traditional forms. Even with the bo, I don't hold it in the traditional way with the right hand being the forward one. I hold it the reverse way like a Chinese staff. That will get me in trouble with some traditional divisions. Fortunately, there are some events with creative (non-extreme) divisions which are a bit more flexible without the extreme techniques.

[cathal]

What are you doing in the 40-49 year old division??? You look like you are 25!

I think you are talented with both, but I enjoyed the bo staff the best. Best of luck to you!

That is an example of one of the benefits of martial arts training.

[White_Tiger]

I totally believe you...I meant you look 25 as a compliment.

[cleung]

Thanks for the compliment. I have yet to be asked for my documents to prove my age in divisions. I know that I look relatively young but if I'm side by side with some of the 20 something year olds doing their forms, that's when I really feel my advanced age.

[Jiffy]

Always the way it will be. Ah well, just compare yourself to those your own age, you'll be miles ahead!

[isshinryu5toforever]

The bo is the better weapon right now. I am more of a traditionalist, so I don't like the idea of adding kicks. Although you are using a competition bo, so it's possible I suppose. The only way I could think to make it more "modern" other than the kicks, would be to add a release move. I won't use the word technique, because it has no real application. But you could add it for tourney purposes.

[cleung]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am able to do a few extreme moves such as a release as well as hand rolls but they look slow enough that even I was able to determine that they should be left out of my bo form. Also, I have missed the bo 1-2 times in competition while attempting releases so for me, the move is too high risk. In the senior divisions, it appears that my bo form is as creative-extreme as it gets compared to other competitors' forms. So I'm pretty happy with the level of creativity in the form as it's now a matter of making some adjustments or even deletions of parts that don't seem to sit well with people.

[obiwansbane]

three tips... first, u need a slight bit more snap in some of the techniques, this will cause the judges to be forced to see each move instead of letting ure kata meld into one big mush that they have to sit through

second, try spinning the bo in ure open palm hand above your head, this shows a great deal of control of your weapon and scores you a lot of points in this area. Watch chris marks sampler on youtube and u will know what im talking about

third, try and put out a softer form, this is just for experimentation purposes.. try and do a drunken form or something, i know our instructor does his drunken bo form when there are lots of kung fu judges, this really seems to give them a kick and he scores really high with it, if possible i will try and get a video of him doing it when we go to provincials in december

[cleung]

Thanks for the tips. I do have a soft style form with my 3 section. Unfortunately, most judges in NASKA are hard style.

I know the overhead move with the open hand. Looks great but too risky for my seniors group.