Month: April 2008
you can also do this drill on a partner who is on the ground or learning on a wall and work to move without tensing up and giving support to the other’s alignment.
Note where your body moves and tenses up in regard to the different placements of your fist and angles.
you can also do this drill on a partner who is on the ground or learning on a wall and work to move without tensing up and giving support to the other’s alignment.
Note where your body moves and tenses up in regard to the different placements of your fist and angles.
Systema Israel Levers in movement
You can do this with the wrists, elbows, hips, knees and ankles and it will benefit your movement in many ways.
If you are alternating with your partner in roles remember to be here as you breathe and move. There is something to be learned and cleaned in every breath.
For children you can do this to count how many times they can sit down and get up without breathing and they will have a good time. Don’t rush because moving faster takes more power than it is saving. Move at a comfortable speed and control.
Nik asked how to shadow fight and my answer is to focus on the basics. Although the name is shadow FIGHT you need to focus on yourself and your survival instead of working to disarm or win, work to keep your eyes open and your body free and moving and wait till you can see an opening which exists rather than trying to break someone’s actions. You must relax enough to feel what is around you and than the opening will just show because we are all learning and all human. If you have intention to do anything to your attackers than you are blocking yourself from what is important and letting one of your parts put the intellect and body feeling to sleep. For example take a real knife and hold it very close to your eyes. At first you will only see the tip of the blade and squint at it but with breathing you will be able to see your arm holding the knife and maybe your shoulder is raised and your standing is imbalanced and you can move away and survive it. We sometimes work slow to relax and increase our awareness to everything we do and even taking a few steps at one minute per step will greatly increase you awareness to your body and allow you to move much more freely because once you are aware of your tension and alignment the body cleans itself and the mind is humble and the work begins.
work honestly
Don’t focus on the result or a “move” and stay in this moment working with what you have now.
If something doesn’t work, fine. KEEP MOVING.
breathing and your awareness to it are key. Stay inside yourself and ACT, do what you want and be where you want to be in space rather than in relation to real or imaginary people.
FEAR is a good servant so let it help you but keep it under control.
SPEED is a result of relaxation and awareness. Don’t try to work in someone else’s speed. Work in your own speed and control his speed.
Move as little as possible.
Work with variations (against a wall, against a few people, with only one shoe on etcetera)
use a whip to clean yourself of fear and tension.
Keep asking questions
Sharon.
Work with a partner in this way: both students work to hug their partner in some way and avoid getting huged by them at the same time. Work with the body walking and working through the pendulum and guide the other students arms as you give some support and move away to put your arms around them. In case you close your hug and you are huged yourself you need to escape because your own freedom is more important than a job and if you reach a hug that the partner cannot hug you through than you have found a natural movement by your own work.
For example if a partner comes to hug you from the side you guide one of his hands to continue the motion as you relax the hips and move within his grasp but free from it and from there hug him from behind and he will try to escape as you guide him toward a destination or to the ground.
Once you do this for a while work with one arm to simply stay free as your partner works with both arms. Also note where you can push and pull him on the shoulders and hips that works best for guiding his body where it works for you.
Once you do this for a while do the same as you work only with legs and than with your eyes closed.
have fun.
In order to feel the support you give when you resist a movement or pressure you can work with a friend and have for example your elbows together with him working to push them together and you apart. As you keep this support you move the rest of the body without letting the other feel your motion and keeping your shoulders and hips relaxed. Move a bit apart and do the same with the forearms and than with one arm pushing up and one pushing down. After you do this in place start to move as your partner moves with a hit towards you and you keep his arm supported as your body moves out of the way and slowly work to close the support by letting your partner end the motion or sliding yourself from forearm to elbow to back as you give this point or points of support and navigate to a more comfortable situation where you have more freedom to work. In all cases remember your safety and alignment are more important and that you need to think of where you are in space rather than in connection to others to be free.
Now Using the tip of the knife draw your full name in the air and do the same with your other hand. Do the same using both hands together and than using only your arm from the elbow down. End this by writing using your wrist alone and of course repeat the drill by writing with the butt of the knife. Remember that all of your faculties must attend to make you whole. Soul, body and mind.