Topic 1 - class notes 4, 5, 6 combined

Part of slice 1

Part of topic 1

 I've been a little behind on notes and video editing. Since these class has been largely review, and not a lot of video was shot, it seems appropriate to group them together.

Class 4 5/25/2024

Just Scott. Works out well in that I can focus on mechanics and fixing bad habits

Reviewed previous material - using the "learner expectation" method to have them say back what they think they understand.

  • Stance
    • Shape
    • Purpose
  • Footwork
    • Basic rule
    • Why
    • Range game, attached and unattached
  • Jab
    • Shape and reason
    • Body mechanics
      • Able to spend a lot of time here, to good effect
        • This sort of "private lesson" attention and time really pays off, but unfortunately not scalable
      • Revisit "simple shaolin punch" as exaggerated way to get visceral sense of how to maximize full body usage
      • Lots of tweaks to imagery to avoid
        • Leaning
        • Focusing too much on upper body
        • Keeping stance right to transmit power more effectively
  • Jab defense
    • Change of order, catch, parry (because these are more similar) then cover
    • Lots of one on one here
      • Improvement of body structure so that these are more effective
      • ensuring small movement and that these stay in the centerline so that if timing is off, one is still protected
    • Progressive chaos
      • Multiple reps each block
      • Rotate
      • Block of choice
      • One for one
      • High Jab sparring
        • Not that now that Scott has decent body structure to make the catch effective, he used this a lot - he used to hate it (as do most beginners until they get it)
  • Cross
    • Shape and reason
    • Body mechanics
      • "Simple shaolin punch" didn't work so well for Scott in this case
        • Hard time understanding lower body
          • Not allowing full movement of hips
          • Not keeping the legs strong
            • Used some neijia tips/imagery to good effect
              • Having him feel the difference helps - always A/B
        • Change this to a more in place exaggeration
  • Cross defense
    • Original plan was to do catch, parry, cover, didn't like catch
      • Started to explore some other blocks during progressive chaos to see what I liked better/was easier to absorb. Key aspect of Topic 1 is to be accessible - i.e. learn the most basic, high ROI, least experience required moves
        • Cross Arm Guard/"George Foreman block" - pros and cons - maybe show this, w/caveats for MMA
        • Burt Richardson self defense block - maybe show this, coz good general defense
        • Long guard parry - maybe now, maybe better slice 2 which will have more Muay Thai
        • Cross block - ditto the cross arm guard
        • Shoulder roll - not my fave, I feel I'm too dumb to do it, so I should probably work on it
Thoughts and Challenges
  • 2 good things came out of this session, nice opportunity to clean up a few things, as well as to experiment on how I will show the cross and cross defense to the larger group (speaking to Plans are useless, Planning Essential)
  • Good progress, only 3 lessons ever and doing well on the jab sparring

No video given one on one situation

Class 5 5/29/2024

Zach, Zane, Andrew, Mike, Sara (first class with me, 2nd class ever), Alexis

First class for Sara (again the Variable Skill Level and Attendance Dilemma), so did not do Learn explanation too much for expedience, took over much of the review instead of asking additional questions to get the students to recall the right things.

Did announce higher goals, so more advanced partners could possibly advance faster than the lowest common denominator.

  • Stance
    • Shape
    • Purpose
  • Footwork
    • Basic rule
    • Why
    • Range game, attached and unattached
  • Jab
    • Shape and reason
    • Body mechanics
      • Spent a little more time with Sara - picked up quite readily, "Simple Shaolin Punch" made a lot of sense - very important due to how slender she is to maximize her body mechanics
  • Jab defense
    • Catch, parry, cover - keeping the new order from last session
    • Progressive chaos
      • Multiple reps each block
      • Rotate
      • Block of choice
      • One for one
      • High Jab sparring
  • Low Jab
    • Shape and Reason
  • Low Jab defense
    • Elbow cover
    • Elbow parry
    • Elbows together
    • Start to integrate low and high jabs
  • Some after class sparring with Zach
    • Should show shoulder roll since Zach naturally gravitates towards philly shell type of guard - research philly shell in MMA, esp. Sean Strickland's approach

Thoughts and Challenges
  • Still trying to figure how do deal with Variable Skill Level and Attendance Dilemma, this will get harder as we progress along the slice
  • Trying to find the right balance of moving faster in general and for disparate skill levels
  • Big improvement in body mechanics for those having a hard time at class 3 - much improved
    • Though keeping strong base throughout/not coming up still an issue
Video
  • Some video, nothing really new there though

    Class 6 6/1/2024

    Just Sara

    Her 2nd class. Like class 3, able to make progress with the focus. Reviewed the content. Didn't bring whiteboard because not expecting to have new material, then probably could've benefited in this case.

    • Stance
      • Shape
      • Purpose
    • Footwork
      • Basic rule
      • Why
      • Range game, attached and unattached
    • Jab
      • Shape and reason
      • Body mechanics - she's actually doing quite well
        • Knee tweaks
        • Kua tweaks
    • Catch, parry, cover - keeping the new order from last session
    • Progressive chaos
      • Multiple reps each block
      • Rotate
      • Block of choice
      • One for one
      • High Jab sparring - doing surprisingly well
    • Low Jab
      • Shape and Reason
    • Low Jab defense
      • Elbow cover
      • Elbow parry
      • Elbows together
      • Start to integrate low and high jabs - this proved confusing, despite doing very well prior to this step, though at this point we'd been at it for a while. Too much material?
        • Retro progressive chaos, back to more structure, then removing structure
          • Have some ideas if others are having a hard time absorbing
    Thoughts and Challenges
    • Definitely so effective to spend focused attention, and the results correspond. I wish I could somehow scale this to larger groups
    • Really trying to emphasize in 2 person exercises
      • Both parties benefit, each side has things to work on
      • Need realistic distance, and timing
      • Working to be on the threshold of ability - some folks just too eager to rush
        • Add verbiage to this extent to the whiteboard?

      No video given one on one situation


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