Self learning

[vaulander]

Another Kung Gee clip. Not one of my better moments, and there is some confusion in it as Derrick asks for the repeat of a particular technique. I focus so much on getting the Dew Ma and Lao Ma proper that my Seipin Ma and Ji-ng Ma looks hideous, toes pointing everywhere. The end is too sloppy and lifeless. Claws need more bend in the arms, looks like I am trying to reach across the parkinglot. Bending too much forward as well. I hate the Dragon claw/Lao Ma move, I can't get the Lao Ma proper at all. Butterfly palms are scattered, like face and solar, got a mile between the high and low hand. The hands themselves aren't firm at all, looks like loose dragon claws. My balance is off, so used to training at work in sneakers that the light Feyue shoes feel odd, the heel is not raised so the foot is flat on the ground, putting my tight calves in play again. I guess the only good thing about this clip is the lack of 'silky' sash fluttering around, hehe.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQpHteqJDlI [/youtube]
I must train harder and more focused.
V.

[SifuYui]

Vaulander,

Yes, I just realized I described something different than what everyone else was talking about. You guys were talking about using a hook after the backfist and I was talking about using an uppercut. The move I was describing looks like the move from the Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen poster called "Fist Going Through The Sky Posture", which is also called Tung Tien Kuen Faht (Cantonese phonetically). I tried to cut and paste the move but couldn't (I'm not exactly computer savvy) so if anyone can post that it would help Vaulander to see what I was talking about.

The way I teach the sequence before the 4 Bik Jeungs is the way I described it - backfist to uppercut, not a hook. The hook technique comes during the second side of the GGFFK form.

I hope that clarified it rather than cause more confusion...

Yui

[ironpalm]

... and I thought we were talking about a backfist, hook, uppercut combination...?

[laukarfei]

you move like a robot lol

your foundation is not good enough to be practicing forms imo. your friend should have shown you how to execute the footwork instead of worrying about gung gi or any chinese words

and even though im probably the least positive individual here, you really are robbing yourself of something special. learning like this, maybe its what youd rather do but honestly like hannah montana says "its the climb" lol

[SifuYui]

Vaulander,

After watching your form, I would encourage you to keep doing what you are doing since that is all you can do at this point. Learn the sequence of the form and when you get the funds, find a teacher to hook up with and have them clean it up for you. As you and everyone else have said, it's a journey, and not a short one to be sure. I'm on the East coast as is Ten Tigers; I have a training brother out on the West coast. I currently have a couple of students who travel back and forth to train with myself and Matthew in S.F. They had to move due to economic reasons but wanted to continue their Hung Ga training - similar to your situation. I'm sure there are other Hung Ga teachers on this forum that wouldn't mind guiding a student committed to Hung Ga.

Keep training.

Yui

[vaulander]

Of course I am robotic. I am trying to adjust the form, work on corrections, and getting it down right. At this point if I just relax and 'do it' I revert in places, and I want the form solid. Once I 'have it' where I do it correct all the time I can relax, breathe life and passion into it, make it more alive. Give me a couple of years and I will be better at it.

Edit: Sifu Yui, next summer I will hopefully meet my sifu again for some more cleanup. I got some adjustments this August from him, and I am working on those with mixed success, as you can see, hehe. Gods willing, next year it will be fine sandpaper instead of rough grinding.
Cheers!
V.

[ironpalm]

[Asmo]

Ironpalm's suggestion I support fully You need to work on a few things, not hundreds at the same time.

I think I said that a lot of times now. I have to be honest and say I am not motivated to post (not saying my opinion matters though, hehe) if you keep posting such large undertakings along with telling you have X number of forms still practicing.

You would really really really benefit from working on just a few basics, and then work from there.

[vaulander]

Just so happens that yesterday (Sept 2nd, 2009) I decided to just hard-grind sections of Kung Gee, as all the corrections and suggestions I have gotten is a bit much to keep in mind during the whole form. Since stances and footwork are my biggest flaws, I started with sections 3&4 of Kung Gee, that is, the section between the stationary Seipin Ma and the tiger claws of section 5&6 (Wing Lam DVD lessons.) I figure minimum of a half hour every day for a week, then the next section for a week, etc. Both sides, and those sections that are one-sided get mirrored. Once I reach the end (rolling around to catch section 1 and 2 of course,) I start over.
In the interest of research, I figured I'd clip the first day and the last day of the week/period just to measure improvement. I only got about 9 and a half minute of it yesterday, as the batteries wore out, but here it is. There is really no point in commenting on it, I know it's worthless junk and I really need to work on it more. I was planning on getting some reps in during lunch today, but it was raining, and due to a really bad night I am dead bloody tired, so I won't do the full 30 minutes today. Looking forward to Saturday though, I have a day off, and nothing but laundry to do, which takes care of itself once the machine starts. Grinding time!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZdN6ZZ8-U[/youtube]
V.

[Jerry Battle]

Hey vaulander,

If you will, please allow me to give you some suggestions.

The best thing to do is to work your basic stances in order to strengthen you legs. I suggest this on the fact that your stances are not firm. You are suppose to stand firm like a mountain, but your stances are very unstable. You should also train your stances while transitioning from one stance to another. This is best done by holding each stance low and for a minimum of 30 secs. After a few months you'll find that your stances are very firm and you no longer wobble when you transition from one stance to another.

The second thing you should do, is work about six movements in you form over and over. I remember the days when my sifu would have me do a single move over 100 times during class. What you can do is take six movements and do a large number of repetitions. You should do some where you are just concentrating on the movements, some where your focus should be on speed, some where your focus should be on power and some that you focus on movement, speed and power.

Try not to do so much until you have the previous movements perfected. After that, you can add more movements.

I hope this will help you in your journey on the martial path.

Peace

Jerry

[vaulander]

Thank you for your suggestions, my friend. The problem with my stances isn't strength, I have plenty of that. I don't know if you have read this entire thread, but earlier I explained that since I ride a bike everywhere all year long, my legs are the strongest part of me. Like an inverted body builder who ignores the legs and have a monstrous upper body. The problem with that is that my legs are very tight, and especially my calves don't have much range. You will see on earlier clips when I was trying for low Seipin Ma and Ji-ng Ma, that every time I went into Dew Ma I would rise, because I could not bend my foot enough to keep the same vertical level. I stretch, of course, but there are limits to how far I can stretch, and if I force it the joint takes the pressure, so it feels as if I am crushing the bones together.
What I am working on is balance and the proper foot position, so even if my Dew Ma is a little higher than I would want, it's at least correct. It is my hope that by drilling the above sequence my stances will improve, and I like that it is a closed loop, going from Seipin Ma to Seipin Ma on both sides, so I can just repeat it endlessly without having to readjust my position or similar. Sort of like a mini-form in itself. I don't know why, but I have a real problem with broken patterns. In any situation I will create patterns, systems or routines to fit the situation. One of my shortcomings, I guess, but it does make suggestions like 'practice 3-4 movements good, then add a few more' seem wrong to me. It's like a music Record with a notch in it; "...then I saw a fair maid-NOTCH-...then I saw a fair maid-NOTCH-...then I saw a fair maid-NOTCH-...then I saw a fair maiden si-NOTCH-" I could go on forever with various examples, but that would just be boring and pointless. I am sure you understand already. On the other hand, I can live in the patterns long after normal people are bored out of their heads. (Ask Derrick about me putting a single favorite or new song on repeat for days on end.)
Anyway, I am typing when I should be in the hallway practicing. Until next time...
Cheers!
V.

[Jerry Battle]

Vaulander,

Thank you for your response. I do hope you understand that strength from riding a bike is different than the strength of Ma Bo.

I do understand flexibility, I am far from being as flexible as I would like and I suffer a similar problem when it comes to the horse step. My joints in my hips pain me greatly until all the connective tissues warm up. This problem started when I had a few surgeries that caused me to stop training, then I decided to obtain my degree. This lasted for a period of approximately five years. And in those five years, my opportunities to train was next to none. I am at a stage that I am learning everything over again. Not that I don't remember, but because my body does not allow me to do the things I did when I was younger. I am fortunate enough to still have a good foundation so it should not take as many years to get back to my peak level of skill.

I wish you success in your training, Peace

Jerry

[vaulander]

So I haven't done the drill I had decided on today yet. Instead I was playing with Dew Ma and Lao Ma, moving between them to get some smooth footwork action going. After that, I decided to finally listen to advice.
I put on the Ha Say Fu Tiger DVD that I haven't seen in a while, just for entertainment. Don't worry, I'm not going there, breathe easy. Started with a Right Dew Ma, and just held it for as long as I could, while 'squeezing the egg' or whatever it's called. Once I got my fill of that one, I shifted to Left Dew Ma. Then to Left Lao Ma (left leg holding the weight,) and finally to Right Lao Ma. Went back to right Dew Ma (right toe touching ground, you get the idea,) but by then my right arm wouldn't stay in place anymore, it started jerking or spasming forward. My old shoulder being difficult again, of course. Total stance training was about 20 minutes, split on the two stances for both legs.
I have to admit, 'squeezing the egg' doesn't seem like much for a short while, but maybe midway into the session I had to re-tighten my fists continuously and bring my arms back to tension.
You might call watching a DVD cheating while doing stance work, but the stances get worked for stability and strength, AND those two stances stretch my calves wonderfully. Just keeps my mind from spinning on itself. I was planning on reading the new book I got while doing this, but that would make squeezing the egg impossible. Perhaps after dinner I can try it.
Cheers, and thank you for being patient with me,
V.

[TenTigers]

I tell my students to practice Say ping ma-with a staff across their thighs, by watching TV. It occupies the mind and distracts it from the pain. One commercial spot is 15 seconds. Start by holding the stance for one commercial. Then Two. When they can work up to several commercials in a row, they are holding their horse for a few minutes.

[Jerry Battle]