first half Slam Set 1

This is someones 1st half of Simonet's Slam set. The angle of the camera is interesting as the near side isn't that blocked. (Better than my filming efforts).

This is good work.

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

This video makes me laugh. It can be applied to anyone / thing in an organisation that proclaims authority over knowledge.

My homework for you - should you watch this - is to think of examples in your learning where you once revered someone / an idea and then had Dorothy's experience.

Leaders of large martial art schools that are very strict on their knowledge could be a target of this ?!

Authors@Google: Josh Waitzkin

This is a good review of themes from Josh's own book that deals with sports psychology, motivation and skill improvement.
This is the 2nd time I have linked to his work / book on this blog. This explanation is more reasoned.
It's a good interview on a good medium.

Key Point Aesthetics vs Practicality

Yesterday had some light sparring activity. During this I had my chin up - what's new. Again I get told to keeping it down. I know this is an issue but like a bad child the habit resurfaces. I try to blame the Wing Chun straightblast and chin up (they keep their chin up becuase the head can be arched back with it out the way).

I am countered with the reply:

"You will get some YMCA practitioner who has spent £2 on his boxing sessions knocking you out. Not even Yip Man would fight like that. Choy Lee Fut would even tuck their chin in.".

This is all right. I know it. But the chin still creeps up. This is what happens when the aesthetic of forms creeps into practice. I must re-invent my forms with chin down. Going right-side forward on the dummy will help here I think as its a realistic stance and the chin has to have something to be tucked into.

Note to self: need to research how other practitioners get their chin down. I recall in a book by Henry Cooper a rolled up newspaper was wedged under the chin to reinforce the lesson.