Eye opener

Asteer · Post by **Asteer** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:09 am

Since I have started visiting these fora, I have read many posts insisting on the importance of "cross-training." Although I have been in total agreement on a theoretical level, I guess I had not really thought about or understood the REALITY of what was being said. I had an eye opener today though.

I spent the afternoon with a guy who has been teaching Shotokan for over 40 years and has been doing various forms of Tai Chi for the last 15-20 years. On top of that he is about 6'3" and 250 pounds (I'm 5'6...). We played with Dan Kumite and with some moves from the Seisan Bunkai. Well, I discovered pretty quick that it ain't like working with another Uechi guy that knows what he is "supposed to do" (irony intended...). He blew all kinds of holes in what I thought I knew about how Uechi is supposed to work.

Although it was a bit "frustrating" at times, it also forced me to look at how I can adapt what I am doing to what he is doing and who he is (ex. big, very strong and very experienced). Far from diluting my Uechi, I think it probably will enrich it. Mind you, I still have a long way to go in my Uechi and lots to learn.

At the end he showed me some push hands stuff. This was not the nice gentle flowing stuff you see on TV. He sent me flyin' a couple of times. It was really facinating and practical stuff that I am sure I will be able to incorporate into my training.

Anyhow, all that to say that I think I'm now starting to understand a bit better what has been said about cross-training

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:22 am

I know of quite a few uechi people have cross trained in Shotokan to get some good hard sparring training. It's a strong style with hard kicks and punches. those guys will kick the living crap out of you while you stand in Sanchin and take it like a man! As a Uechi shodan, It would be worth joing a Shotokan dojo for 6 months to a year just to get into a weekly sparring class there. You'll get more lumps and bruised in one night then you got all year in your Uechi dojo! and they'll be well earned bruises, not like the ones you get from Sensei when he comes over to test his "power" while your standing there like the "mummy" in sanchin.

Asteer · Post by **Asteer** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:49 am

The Bronze Dago wrote:You'll get more lumps and bruised in one night then you got all year in your Uechi dojo!

Yeah, I've got a few of those now, and we were just messin' around a bit... And my chest still hurts from one shot he gave me in PUSH HANDS!! I must have flown about 5 feet, and he didn't hit me... His hand was already on my chest and he just "dropped" into it and off I went. I heard the air hiss out of my lungs like one of those squeeze toys.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:21 am

Believe it or not, your best defense against and incoming scud like that is your breathing. You exhale down into your diaphram and blow up your body like a huge basketball at the exact moment you detect a breach in your red zone. Your body will naturally absorb alot of it, even more so if you let him "move you back" a bit. It's the secret to taking hard shots! They'll wonder how they are hitting you with their best and you just keep on coming! Next thing you know, they'll be running from you with their tongue hanging out, turning blue in the face going *tsst* *tsst* *tsst* all the way home!

You can practice this with a medicine ball... start with an 8lb ball and work your way up to a mammoth 20lb. Then try it with punches and kicks.

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:01 am

know of quite a few uechi people have cross trained in Shotokan to get some good hard sparring training. It's a strong style with hard kicks and punches. those guys will kick the living crap out of you while you stand in Sanchin and take it like a man! As a Uechi shodan, It would be worth joing a Shotokan dojo for 6 months to a year just to get into a weekly sparring class there. You'll get more lumps and bruised in one night then you got all year in your Uechi dojo! and they'll be well earned bruises, not like the ones you get from Sensei when he comes over to test his "power" while your standing there like the "mummy" in sanchin.

Dude, those are some badass shotokan schools you found.

Most of the shotokan schools here do touch contact sparring.

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:30 am

Tony, One Shotokan guy I know did a seminar at a TKD school. First he took full power kicks and absorbed them by letting them just rock him. Then he did it again and didn't absorb it but had the kicker absorb it. One guy sent himself into a wall and another just went down from the shock of having his own kick sent back into him. Damn impressive demo and it had a group of TKD black belts wondering what the heck happened to them.

Most of the shotokan schools here do touch contact sparring.

The better Shotokan schools are really into controlled technique so during sparring they may ask what kind of contact that you want. When I've trained in a regular dojo light could be sundome or just touching the gi which is impressive when done by two people going full speed, full power and good enough to acknowledge a good hit. At my best I was able to punch to a guys nose and control it so I just touched it. Medium to hard meant that you were getting hit but targeted to a "safe" part of the body.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:33 am

Scott Sonnon posted a video on Vans forum of "sucking in" a hit...

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:01 am

heh theres good and bad shotokan like anything else ...

but Ive had a few knocks here and there

Anyhow, all that to say that I think I'm now starting to understand a bit better what has been said about cross-training

I think that cross training is the way to go if your serious about improving , no matter how good what you do is , you need to look at others methods .

uechi has given me some big insights into base and hustling the opponent in tight . Ive been dabbling BJJ down here too and that stuffs just gold in understanding standup and takedowns , makes uechi make a lot more sense .

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:24 am

Because they seem to be of the opinion "my side kick can stop anything. Woooooooo"

Ill show you the power of touch contact. Behold! I shall tap you on the chest! Wooooooo

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:32 am

The Bronze Dago wrote:oh no...the disease must be spreading

Get up, come on get down with the sickness,
Get up, come on get down with the sickness,
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You flocker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:40 am

Yeah but at least ya know scots will only explode if they breathe to close to an open flame !!!

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:57 am

Yeah but at least ya know scots will only explode if they breathe to close to an open flame !!!

Don't give them ideas Marcus, they failed with the Shoe Bomber and might take a stab at it again with a pickled Jihadi.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:00 am

Pickled Jhihadi ??? is that anything like kimchi ?

Rick Wilson · Post by **Rick Wilson** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:52 am

Stepping outside the box always opens your eyes.

Uechi is an excellent style but the training needs to progress as the student progresses and we all need to step outside and see what others are doing.

Good for you.

It WILL improve your Uechi!

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:23 am

I discovered Uechi by stepping outside the box.

So its a must.