Clips from a recent public presentation

[michaeledward]

Hudson Kenpo had a public presentation of the most recent Black Belt students at the end of August. I was involved with this presentation, having recently received my 2nd Degree Black Belt. In our school, Form 5 is the required form for 2nd degree. The first clip is my presentation of that form. The second clip is a presentation of nine of the ten self-defense techniques that comprise Form 5. (If you watch the clip, you will see that Hopping Crane is substituted with something else).

The uploaded files are quite large ~ you may need to buffer the clips. I apologize for that. I do not regularly use video editing software. I'm sure there is some good compression software out there ~ but, I haven't looked too hard.

[punisher73]

Thanks for posting! BTW Played fine for me with no problems.

[michaeledward]

One week goes by, with only a single comment. I wonder if I posted this in the wrong forum.

Comments Invited.

[Dianhsuhe]

I am not EPAK so I cannot comment but congrats!

[stone_dragone]

Also not EPAK, but looks great!

[KimDahl]

IT looks like your timing is of In Dance of Death when you do the chop it should be when the leg land so do the chop together.

Best Kenpo Regards
Kimpo

[LuckyKBoxer]

well Michael, for some reason I never saw it until now...
I applaud you on performing for people, and for posting it for review.
I have to ask you something first.
What do you see wrong and what do you see right with your own clips?
I watched them a few times.
I have to say that some of the things that jumped out at me the most was you tendency to "muscle" the takedowns out, rather then use your leverage and technique to do them correctly. It seems you have the basic movement down for the techniques, but it seems you are still working on the finesse part of it..as an example... on Falling Falcon, you never gained control of your opponent, or rather unbalanced him before you muscled him to the ground.. and he pretty much let you have it, as did most of the ukis on most of the takedowns..
I might suggest you work those takedowns against a significantly heavier opponent and force yourself to do it correctly.. it is to easy to muscle smaller people down, and consistently training with smaller people, especially on the takedowns is not a good way to work those..
Takedowns are a specialty of mine.. I absolutely love takedowns and throws.. so Form 5 is kind of a favorite of mine due to that..
One of my favorite teaching moments is when the smaller students get the takedown correctly and are able to take me down.. at 6'3" and 260 pounds its not an easy task and usually requires the students to do it with perfect technique or they dont get it.... but like I said when they do, its a great moment for them and for me.

[michaeledward]

What do you see wrong and what do you see right with your own clips?

Thank you for asking.

There is much I see wrong; starting with the salutation in the form, my feet get back to attention before my hands get back to my hips. I know better. I usually do better.

The applications came off smaller than I expected. Some of that may have been too-complaint attackers. Some may have been adrenaline or fatigue. Some of it may have been because were all training partners.

I, perhaps, should have viewed some film before the presentation ~ It would have altered my execution a bit, I think. But, this was a live, one-shot, deal. It is what it is.

There's always plenty to do with our feet, isn't there?

[sjansen]

I'm not EPAK either but:

Your techniques were nice and crisp and your execution was excellent. Your ukes did need some work, but you cannot be faulted for that. They were probably more nervous than you.

The breathing needs some work also. Are you putting all of effort into the last strike? If your not, then your breathing should be the same throughout. You should hear a rumble throughout and not a burst at the end.

[sigung86]

Here comes wage, prickly, Uncle Dan with some words of wit...

1. The road to Carnegie Hall is filled with correct practice.

2. I wouldn't put a video out for public viewing until I was absolutely sure I had the techniques down to textbook. Then allow for variation in performance.

3. Don't put yourself up for public criticism until you are sure that you have fulfilled 1 and 2.

4. Don't take me seriously, I may have no idea of what I'm talking about.

[ackks10]

Well i might make alot of people mad at me for this, but i have to say , what happen to "flow" everything i watched was robot like (not kenpo) and there was some slips when doing the tecqs, and what is with all the yelling?? i mean no disrespect, but like Dan said it is on here, and it is what i saw, loosen up when doing the tecqs,and don't try so hard , and it won't hurt if you added an insert in some of them,it shows knowledge.

[Mr.Strobel]

I liked the application video; like was said before your uke seemed to make it a little more difficult than it had to be.

Sometimes your dummy can make you look bad and there isn't really anything you can do about it except to adjust. In the Fallen Falcon technique when his arm got away from you, I would recommend a couple of close kneels rather than reaching for the arm, you can always to the technique again.

Congrats on the 2nd and good on you for posting it.

[ackks10]

When your Dummy makes it hard for you, HIT HIM!!! than he will understand,and if he don't HIT HIM AGAIN!!!, ,,but that's me old school.

[Celtic_Crippler]

I liked the application video; like was said before your uke seemed to make it a little more difficult than it had to be.

Sometimes your dummy can make you look bad and there isn't really anything you can do about it except to adjust. In the Fallen Falcon technique when his arm got away from you, I would recommend a couple of close kneels rather than reaching for the arm, you can always to the technique again.

Congrats on the 2nd and good on you for posting it.

If your uke is not familiar enough with the tech to move accordingly, then that's your cue to help them understand why they should. I'm not saying floor them, but "encouragment" with a little discomfort is sometimes helpful.

Nobody is going to attack you the way you want to be attacked on the street. You must learn to deal with this, and at the same time learn "control"; how much force is necessary to accomplish what I wish to accomplish. You also help your uke in learning the technique as well by feeling how the tech works (remember, there are 3 points of view involved in learning a tech.)

Working with an "unknowing" uke is also beneficial for you in regards to becoming more spontaneous and going with what works at the time. As ACKKS 10 said, insert if necessary... use the equation formula, grafting, and borrowing to accomplish your goal. Those principles are there for a reason, and demonstrating a knowledge of how to incorporate them should not impact your grading negatively. IMHO, quite the contrary.

Anyway... I dumped Form 5 a while back... it was probably my least favorite of all the Parker forms (and I'm not a "forms person" anyway....lol)

I think it's typical to move mechanically with fresh material. You're still seeding it into your mind, while primarily using concious concentration (going by the numbers in your head) while performing it. It's only when you've done it a million times and it's seeded deep into your subconcious that it becomes more spontaneous and fluid.

Thanks for posting! It takes guts to put yourself out there.