12/12/2005 In Experiments / Ideas, Practice / Training by andy
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There are many ways to breathe. I feel that the exercises I will outline below can lead students to develop a better method of breathing for Taido. They lead to a very natural way of breathing while moving that is highly adaptable to Taido technique (adaptation being one of the five tenets of Taido’s philosophy). Because I want to encourage others to experiment with these exercises, I will first present my alternative method before attempting to write an analysis of other breathing methods.
I totally believe that experimentation with various methods leads to far greater mastery than blind acceptance of any established method. So please try the exercises below several times over the course of a couple of weeks. If, after giving them a shot, you can’t figure out how they may be applicable to your Taido practice, feel free to drop me a line.
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28/12/2005 In Miscellany by andy
[rant] Not to be negative, but these things bug me. I have compiled my list of the top eleven problems with Taido as things currently stand. This list is unique to me and represents my personal values for what Taido is and should become. I can cope if people don’t agree, but meanwhile, i’ll be working on moving things in a direction that I feel is healthier and more effective all around. Maybe I can change a few minds, and maybe I’ll change my mind too as things go forward. For right now, here (not really in any kind of order) are what I see as the eleven biggest things holding Taido back from its potential:
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28/12/2005 In Learning / Teaching, Practice / Training by andy
There is an outlined method for practicing Taido movements. I have also spent a good deal of time researching various training and practice methods as well as general educational theory. Using the standard method as a framework, I have made additions and adjustments that I think are applicable to most skill acquisition scenarios we are likely to encounter in Taido practice.
There are two sets of five steps we need to consider: one is for generally learning the movement and the other is for practicing it. The first process is applied consecutively through each stage of the second, giving us five levels of iteration of the same five-step process. We’ll discuss this process first because it’s the part most likely to be taken for granted or forgotten.
The 5 Steps
- See the movement
- Understand the general theory of the movement
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16/03/2006 In Experiments / Ideas, Practice / Training by andy
I love coffee. Always have, as far back as I can remember actually knowing what coffee tastes like. So when I was looking for a job during a “break” from school, it was only natural that I should apply at Starbucks. I did and was hired. Actually, I worked at Starbucks several times, as well as a few other coffee shops, but this story takes place at the Starbucks store at the perimeter pointe shopping center in north atlanta.
The last time I did a stint at Starbucks was the second half of 2001, and the manager of our store was a woman named Sherri. She was nice-ish, but the two of us had major problems getting along. Though we both had good intentions, we seemed to go about everything in totally different ways. Of course, my way was infinitely superior in every possible manner of judging.
I love coffee. Always have, as far back as I can remember actually knowing what coffee tastes like. So when I was looking for a job during a “break” from school, it was only natural that I should apply at Starbucks. I did and was hired. Actually, I worked at Starbucks several times, as well as a few other coffee shops, but this story takes place at the Starbucks store at the perimeter pointe shopping center in north atlanta.
The last time I did a stint at Starbucks was the second half of 2001, and the manager of our store was a woman named Sherri. She was nice-ish, but the two of us had major problems getting along. Though we both had good intentions, we seemed to go about everything in totally different ways. Of course, my way was infinitely superior in every possible manner of judging.
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16/03/2006 In People by andy
I am not a violent person. Despite my skill at making others want to hit me, it has always been more my style to ignore insults and walk away from physical confrontations. My quick wit has been a tremendous advantage to me in talking my way out of potential trouble. However a few years ago, I found myself preparing to be (painfully) thrown out of a pub by some very large men who worked there. These men were smart enough to see that, if they did not intervene with what was happening in our corner of the bar, someone would have ended up hospitalized.
Luckily, no punches had to be thrown. The “other party” (oddly, a friend of one of my mentors) apologized, and we all went on drinking and having a good time. As the evening continued, it was obvious that he could tell I would not have hesitated to fight him had he not spoken up when he did. And I wouldn’t have: he had been trying to make an ass of Bryan sparks.
I am not a violent person. Despite my skill at making others want to hit me, it has always been more my style to ignore insults and walk away from physical confrontations. My quick wit has been a tremendous advantage to me in talking my way out of potential trouble. However a few years ago, I found myself preparing to be (painfully) thrown out of a pub by some very large men who worked there. These men were smart enough to see that, if they did not intervene with what was happening in our corner of the bar, someone would have ended up hospitalized.
Luckily, no punches had to be thrown. The “other party” (oddly, a friend of one of my mentors) apologized, and we all went on drinking and having a good time. As the evening continued, it was obvious that he could tell I would not have hesitated to fight him had he not spoken up when he did. And I wouldn’t have: he had been trying to make an ass of Bryan sparks.
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26/03/2006 In Learning / Teaching, Practice / Training by andy
i recently wrote an article about how to use kobo as a method of gradually building our capacities for dealing with the psycho-physiological stress of combat. i didn’t go into detail in that article on specific practices, because i mainly wanted to get the concepts across that 1) incremental progression is indeed important, and that 2) kobo is a great opportunity to implement incremental progression in practice. in this article, i will demonstrate the second point with examples of incremental drill progressions for jissen.
i recently wrote an article about how to use kobo as a method of gradually building our capacities for dealing with the psycho-physiological stress of combat. i didn’t go into detail in that article on specific practices, because i mainly wanted to get the concepts across that 1) incremental progression is indeed important, and that 2) kobo is a great opportunity to implement incremental progression in practice. in this article, i will demonstrate the second point with examples of incremental drill progressions for jissen.
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18/04/2006 In Check It Out by andy
This page is for referrals to products I recommend. I do not make recommendations for things I do not personally enjoy owning and using. In some cases, I may receive a commission if you choose to buy through my links, but I’m not just posting random links for money - you can rest assured that anything on this page is the best I have found.
Elastic Steel
Paul Zaichik has some great products for improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Each one gives you a specific routine designed to get the most out of the body’s natural reflexes. Teach your nervous system to relax and allow your body to “stretch” deeper with less effort. Build real, solid strength without having to go to a gym. Paul is not just some random personal trainer selling internet workout programs; he’s a martial artist and gymnast, and he has some very impressive movement.
This page is for referrals to products I recommend. I do not make recommendations for things I do not personally enjoy owning and using. In some cases, I may receive a commission if you choose to buy through my links, but I’m not just posting random links for money - you can rest assured that anything on this page is the best I have found.
Elastic Steel
Paul Zaichik has some great products for improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Each one gives you a specific routine designed to get the most out of the body’s natural reflexes. Teach your nervous system to relax and allow your body to “stretch” deeper with less effort. Build real, solid strength without having to go to a gym. Paul is not just some random personal trainer selling internet workout programs; he’s a martial artist and gymnast, and he has some very impressive movement.
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02/05/2006 In Practice / Training by andy
ok, so maybe you think i’ve gone kobo-crazy with this article series, but as i’ve already explained, i believe intelligent and creative use of kobo-derived drills to have incredible potential for improving students’ taido skills. this isn’t necessarily a new development, but i’ve recently been more inspired to develop such drills than i have for a couple of years.
this is probably related to my excitement to be returning home to teach again at georgia tech later this year. don’t get me wrong - i love teaching in japan, but i’ll always be a guest here and non-expert by virtue of being foreign. new training methodologies and technical ideas are well-received in japan only so long as they come from high-ranking, expert instructors. i get called “teacher”, but i don’t get to use my own methods. on the other hand, in america, i’m one of the old-timers, and i have free reign to teach my students in the best manner i can devise to do so. thinking of the improvements they will make with these drills gives me a lot of motivation.
ok, so maybe you think i’ve gone kobo-crazy with this article series, but as i’ve already explained, i believe intelligent and creative use of kobo-derived drills to have incredible potential for improving students’ taido skills. this isn’t necessarily a new development, but i’ve recently been more inspired to develop such drills than i have for a couple of years.
this is probably related to my excitement to be returning home to teach again at georgia tech later this year. don’t get me wrong - i love teaching in japan, but i’ll always be a guest here and non-expert by virtue of being foreign. new training methodologies and technical ideas are well-received in japan only so long as they come from high-ranking, expert instructors. i get called “teacher”, but i don’t get to use my own methods. on the other hand, in america, i’m one of the old-timers, and i have free reign to teach my students in the best manner i can devise to do so. thinking of the improvements they will make with these drills gives me a lot of motivation.
Continue Reading...
02/05/2006 In Practice / Training by andy
ok, so i promise this is going to be my last article about kobo… for now. this is just an easy list of guidelines that will help you get the most out of your kobo practice. i figured it would be good to tidy up my recent output with a concise listing of what i think are the most important points, in no particular order. you’ll find that they aren’t all applicable to every practice, but they will all be useful at one time or another. think of this a tip sheet, and refer back to these points periodically as you use kobo for practice.
trust
of the highest importance in practicing with a resistant opponent is the creation of a safe environment. this allows all partners the ability to explore within the bounds of the exercise. this is the yakusoku (promise) part of yakusoku sotai.
ok, so i promise this is going to be my last article about kobo… for now. this is just an easy list of guidelines that will help you get the most out of your kobo practice. i figured it would be good to tidy up my recent output with a concise listing of what i think are the most important points, in no particular order. you’ll find that they aren’t all applicable to every practice, but they will all be useful at one time or another. think of this a tip sheet, and refer back to these points periodically as you use kobo for practice.
trust
of the highest importance in practicing with a resistant opponent is the creation of a safe environment. this allows all partners the ability to explore within the bounds of the exercise. this is the yakusoku (promise) part of yakusoku sotai.
Continue Reading...
08/06/2006 In Learning / Teaching by andy
So, what’s the big deal about patricide? It seems to come up a lot in literature. When the Olympian gods overthrew the titans in greek mythology, it was Zeus who made the victory decisive by murdering his own father, Cronus (who, incidentally, had also murdered his own father). I’m pretty sure there’s a few patricide stories in the Bible (it’s practically a how-to manual for all-around wickedness), but I can’t think of any off the top of my head. Some primitive cultures had coming-of-age rituals in which the sons would act out battles with their fathers and uncles before learning the secrets of the tribe. In American courts, murdering one’s father has become nearly acceptable behavior, provided he did something abusive to the child at some point.
So, what’s the big deal about patricide? It seems to come up a lot in literature. When the Olympian gods overthrew the titans in greek mythology, it was Zeus who made the victory decisive by murdering his own father, Cronus (who, incidentally, had also murdered his own father). I’m pretty sure there’s a few patricide stories in the Bible (it’s practically a how-to manual for all-around wickedness), but I can’t think of any off the top of my head. Some primitive cultures had coming-of-age rituals in which the sons would act out battles with their fathers and uncles before learning the secrets of the tribe. In American courts, murdering one’s father has become nearly acceptable behavior, provided he did something abusive to the child at some point.
Continue Reading...
