Sharing Information and Learning

As I am in the process of a black belt grading year I would like to share some information for those who may be grading for their black belt next year and considering their individual I Ho Chuan goals for 2012.  I am content with the goals and training preparation I comitted to, but there is always learning that can be passed on to others. 

Specifically, these goals listed below focus your training directly towards kung fu to make you a better martial artist, and not directly geared towards making you a better athlete.  Someone, Sifu Brinker, told us this a number of months ago and it is very wise advice.

40 events - practice timed kicks. (one minute kick and one minute rest) front thrust, side heel thrust, round house, and spinning back kicks. (practice with a partner and provide technique "eye for detail" feedback)  Record your results each week.

1,500 forms - practice all forms mindfully.

40 events - full cirriculum review. (ask two questions each class for clarification and document)

40 events - practice cirriculum techniques from all belt levels at open training with a partner or group.  Choose a section of the cirriculum each week.

40 events - develop and practice your five individual techniques with a partner.

1 event - family vacation.
   
All of these will make you a better martial artist and they will provide you with an abundance of physical training.  I would suggest focusing on these types of activities versus an abundance of running, biking, circuit training such as p90x, and others.  Mindully practicing forms is physically as intense as any type of physical training in my experience, and all of the goals above have mental training along with kung fu training.

This is just my two cents but I wanted to share.

Have a great training week and big push towards the end of our 2011 UBBT year!

Allan Gamble