Most effective/amusing instructional metaphors

[gzk]

Sometimes a movement is easier to understand when likened to one that we are already familiar with; when a metaphor is used. What are some you've heard that stick out in your mind? Some of my favourites are:

• "Pick your foot up off the hotplate" - how we chamber a front kick
  
• "Push start the car" - how our weight should be distributed when delivering a punch, elbow or headbutt
  
• "Do the Elvis leg" - how our front leg should bend at the knee and turn inward to help lever the opponent over our back leg when performing a bearhug takedown
  
• "Hallelujah" - how we should post with our hands when mounting an opponent, particularly with forward momentum after a takedown. If you've ever seen Pentecostals, you'll know what I mean.
  

[The BB of C]

"Wax-on, Wax-off!" --- How to block

[NinTai]

As my instructor puts it:

"Mo-ichi-do, the great Okinawan lie."

mo-ichi-do = one more time

Shimi shimi ko ko pa - you've run out of room on the floor, shuffle back a few steps.

[Rateh]

Balance a plate of spaghetti

I use that with my kids all the time to teach them the proper chamber for a roundhouse kick.

I also tell them "no jello legs" when they do their kicks.

[ninjanurse]

Here are a few I use for kids:

"Hot floor!" gets them to move their feet when sparring

"Hot tea!" reminds them to keep their hands tight and level for certain knife hand techniques

"Like a dog using a fire hydrant" (usually whispered in an ear and results in uncontrollable giggling) gives them a mental picture of how to chamber and deliver roundhouse kick

"Plate of hot gooey chocolate chip cookies" (or spaghetti) balanced on your chamber for side kick helps keep the leg up and level...you'd sure hate to drop them and have them squish all together!!!

"Push like a piston" to describe the kicking action of side kick and back kick

"There's gum on the bottom of your feet!" helps them to keep thier feet flat and stable when moving in stances.....can also be used to emphasize the thrusting motion of certain kicks-they stick for just a second and you have to pull back fast to get unstuck

[bushido_man96]

"No floppy fish technique"...for keeping the feet tight when kicking.

[karatekid1975]

Here are a few I use for kids:

"Hot floor!" gets them to move their feet when sparring

"Hot tea!" reminds them to keep their hands tight and level for certain knife hand techniques

"Like a dog using a fire hydrant" (usually whispered in an ear and results in uncontrollable giggling) gives them a mental picture of how to chamber and deliver roundhouse kick

"Plate of hot gooey chocolate chip cookies" (or spaghetti) balanced on your chamber for side kick helps keep the leg up and level...you'd sure hate to drop them and have them squish all together!!!

"Push like a piston" to describe the kicking action of side kick and back kick

"There's gum on the bottom of your feet!" helps them to keep thier feet flat and stable when moving in stances.....can also be used to emphasize the thrusting motion of certain kicks-they stick for just a second and you have to pull back fast to get unstuck

I have to remember these! I'm scared now LOL. Like the monkey stance ... (sorry guys ... inside joke).

[karatekid1975]

OMG!! My instructor used a new one for me tonight and it worked! "Regular" to "Goofy." We are both snowboarders and I couldn't get this one drill (sparring drill). Then she said "regular to goofy" and I picked it up! Nice

It has to do with which way you go down the the slope on the snowboard .. right (goofy) or left (regular) foot forward.

[boyo1991]

omg wax on wax off! lol yes!

[pegasi]

My instructor tells the kids "no baseball bat kicks" to point out that they're kicking straight legged, instead of chambering the kick. It also means that they're telegraphing, swinging the leg around like a baseball bat.