The Martial Artists' Training Log

[bushido_man96]

4/29/2025

TKD:  9:00 - 10:35 am.  Solo workout.  Warmed up with 2 minutes of rowing, then did a whole bunch of forms, both TTA and ATA.

TTA:  All my forms:  Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Bo Chung, Do San, Won Hyo, Yul Guk, Jun Gun, Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, Choong Moo, Kwang Gae, Poe Eun, Gae Baek, Se Jong, Yoo Sin, Choong Jang, and Choi Yong x3.

ATA:  Songham 1-5, and In Wha 1-2, spending time reviewing most of them.  Finished with a nice floor stretch.

[bushido_man96]

On 4/30, I had a surgical procedure done that will hopefully reduce the episodes of vertigo that I have.  The surgery went well, I was under for about 2 hours.  Now I'm recovering, and am supposed to refrain from doing any physical activity for a month, and I'm to avoid leaning forward at the waist and lifting anything over 25 lbs for two weeks.  That sucks.  But, I'm going to try something different for a while; watching some videos from out Aikido school and visualization training.  I'm going to watch the videos of my testing requirements, make notes and comments in my journal about the techniques (based off Sensei's notes from my demo), and try to visually walk through the techniques in my head.

5/7/2025

Aikido:  3:00 - 3:30 pm.  Video review and visualization study.  I watched all of the 7th kyu technique videos for review.

6th kyu katatori nikkyo omote:  After the "stop hit" and transition to the grab, step the forward leg back into a back stance (kind of a back step, the leg stepping back is the back leg of the front stance), then cut to the ikkyo and transition to the other front stance by switching the hips through.  Pull to nikkyo, then push through the elbow and zig-zag step to finish the takedown and get to the twist pin.  Remember to ikkyo first, twisting all the way through and getting the withdrawing hand action, then switch to nikkyo.

[DarthPenguin]

Hopefully the procedure went well and you see the expected benefits

I always find that a little time off and thinking about technique when off can work wonders when you are back - it can fix those silly little errors you don't realise you are making

[DarthPenguin]

On 3/25/2025 at 2:35 AM, bushido_man96 said:

After all that, the other student in the class, who said he'd had other experience in striking styles, specifically mentioned Shotokan, talked through his frustrations.  He talked about how he had trouble seeing "the way forward."  He felt he could defend well, but had trouble seeing what "winning," like successfully gaining a position, was like.  We talked about our thoughts for a while, and I likened it to having the "empty cup" approach.  I think he struggles with the ecological approach, especially coming from styles where we stand up and learn techniques in the air before moving to application, and perhaps from a more pliant partner experience.

I think he'd rather do a more static approach to training, where we talk through a technique like an armbar applied when in mount, or drilling the triangle choke from guard.  I think it would help him see "the way forward" better, even though when we start rolling all those steps get pretty jumbled and thrown out the window.  I offered that it might be beneficial to start with a static drill like that, and then move into the games using that as the image to fall back on.  Coach was really open to listening, and he may change up his approach some.  Personally, I haven't minded the approach he's used thus far; it's very different to what I'm used to, but that's what I like about it.  It's taking me out of my comfort zone and really showing me my weaknesses.

I find this quite interesting as i have always had a similar thought that the ecological approach is good but not really for new people. We use it a lot at my class too, and i find it useful, but someone totally new would have issues i think. For example, last week we were working on retaining open guard and destabilising / sweeping opponent. Worked well for me as i worked retaining de la riva, adjusting to another open guard if needed etc. and it helped me realise an issue i have had before was due to my not 'pulling' enough with my de la riva hook - fixed that and started hitting some de la riva sweeps in the drills and when rolling afterwards :). But for someone new, while the principle of "get your feet on your opponent and keep them there" is valid it must be tough  when you don't know the technique.

My personal preference would be to for the instructor to teach a couple of techniques (in my example a couple of basic de la riva sweeps), drill them a few times and then do the ecological drill with the same constraints and instructions. Would give people something to work with, or even if they didn't try that they may have an aha moment about off balancing someone and try something else that works for them.

[bushido_man96]

On 5/9/2025 at 3:34 AM, DarthPenguin said:

I find this quite interesting as i have always had a similar thought that the ecological approach is good but not really for new people. We use it a lot at my class too, and i find it useful, but someone totally new would have issues i think. For example, last week we were working on retaining open guard and destabilising / sweeping opponent. Worked well for me as i worked retaining de la riva, adjusting to another open guard if needed etc. and it helped me realise an issue i have had before was due to my not 'pulling' enough with my de la riva hook - fixed that and started hitting some de la riva sweeps in the drills and when rolling afterwards :). But for someone new, while the principle of "get your feet on your opponent and keep them there" is valid it must be tough  when you don't know the technique.

My personal preference would be to for the instructor to teach a couple of techniques (in my example a couple of basic de la riva sweeps), drill them a few times and then do the ecological drill with the same constraints and instructions. Would give people something to work with, or even if they didn't try that they may have an aha moment about off balancing someone and try something else that works for them.

I agree with your points here, that a combination of the two approaches might be better, especially for newer students.  I will say this; the conditioning aspect of the ecological approach can't be underestimated.

As for the procedure; it came and went.  It can take up to 6 weeks to realize the results of the procedure.  So right now I'm in a holding pattern of light duty and no classes through the end of the month.

5/8/2025

Aikido:  4:30 - 5:00 pm.  Video review and visualization study.  I reviewed all the 7th kyu material videos.

6th kyu katatetori nikkyo ura:  After the "stop hit" and transition to the grab, I need to pull the elbow down so as to let the hand come to about the level and same line as my shoulder on that side to present the opening to step behind.  Again, go all the way to ikkyo while C-stepping back, then to nikkyo.  Then spin behind (ura) to finish into the twist pin.

6th kyu katatori nikkyo omote static:  Much like the dynamic notes above, but don't have as much of the "drop step" to the front stance.  Everything stays much more in front.  Remember, ikkyo to nikkyo, and zig-zag step to twist pin.

[bushido_man96]

5/12/2025

TKD:  8:45 - 9:15 pm.  Video review and visualization study.

I reviewed all of the ATA colored belt forms, many of them multiple times, to get some nuances down (kihap locations) and to just get the mind refreshed.  Although these forms may not have much practical application, they do provide a test of physical skills, and I appreciate them for that.

[bushido_man96]

5/19/2025

Aikido:  10:30 - 11:00 am.  Video review and visualization study.

Started out reviewing all 6th kyu material, picking out little odds and ends on each one.

6th kyu shomenuchi kokyunage:  I need to focus on the spacing on the entry; I think there is a little more spacing than when doing iriminage.  Once I enter, I need to pull uke into that 'buddy drop' position and make sure my center is dropped when I do that.  Hopefully my center is lowered the whole time, but as I step in, I find myself at times "stepping up" to uke, rising a little.  From the buddy drop position (where their head is pulled to my chest and they are off-balance), I can do the drop-step to front stance and then turn my hips through to the front stance the other way to throw.

[bushido_man96]

5/20/2025

TKD:  9:00 - 9:45 am.  Video review and visualization study.

I watched all the ATA forms videos, and from In Wha 1 and up I watched each video twice.  I said the techniques out loud as they were being performed, noted the moves the kihaps were on.

Aikido:  9:45 - 10:15 am.  Video review and visualization study.

I watched all the 7th kyu material videos, mentioning key points to myself on the techniques as I went.

6th kyu shomenuchi iriminage:  Motivating by cuing on the striking arm and just placing the hand on the back of the neck.  Then need to feed into the crook of the elbow.  Remember to Tenkan!  After the feed, raise the elbow up and add spiral pressure to the hip/small of back while doing tenkan to break balance.

6th kyu katatetori shionage omote:  After initial step back and securing wrist, cut through using front stance, then step to them to make contact, brining straight arm on top of shoulder and alongside head.  A single big step around then to confirm balance is broken, then cut down and across shoulders and step across (or through) the shoulders.