Locks and holds

Many martial arts employ locks and holds successfully.
They are an effective way of restraining an opponent and/or damaging the body.

Unfortunately, locks and holds require commitment.If you hold somebody, you are committed to maintaining the hold using sustained strength.
At some point you must let go and your opponent is free.

We do not use locks and holds.

Begin with a clear idea

Every exercise, drill or form posture (pattern of movement) has a simple purpose.
Determine what this is and start from there.

Many drills are training a wide variety of skills simultaneously.
Do not be put-off by this.
Focus on the most basic, simple concern and work on that.

If in doubt, ask the instructor for clarification.

Keen to learn broadsword

I'm dead keen to learn broadsword but Sifu wants me to complete the Yang Cheng Fu form first.

Maureen

Age Concern class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANJYuvFx_uY

Bear

Sifu is very playful, friendly and enthusiastic - but unfortunately like a bear cub or some other animal, he's prone to inadvertent roughness. 

Rachel

Doreen

Liz

What is self defence?

Self defence is the ability to protect yourself from harm: physically, mentally and emotionally.
It is not about fighting.

Life presents us with many situations that can be unpleasant:

1. Assault
2. Verbal abuse
3. Problems at work
4. Personal relationships
5. Hostile/dangerous motorists

You may feel helpless, afraid, angry and frustrated.
Discover how to keep a cool head, avoid conflict and cope with hostility.

Beginners class

We offer beginners classes that anyone may attend.
New starters and students with different levels of commitment are all welcome.

Whilst there are grades and belts, the onus is very much upon individual progress and achievement.
You can train as hard or as casually as you like.

Kara-chi?

Quite a few karate and wing chun students say that their teacher does a bit of taijiquan as part of the syllabus...

An alexander technique teacher in Bradford once admitted that she taught taijiquan as a cool-down despite having no knowledge of taijiquan whatsoever. Shame on you, Heather.

There is more to taijiquan than moving slowly.

Fundamental principles: whole-body movement, reeling silk, never tensing your muscles, circularity, not pushing, not striking-through, softness, yielding and looseness.

Do any of these factors apply to karate?

Ray

Perspective

A student needs a sense of perspective.
It is good to recognise the purpose of the beginners belts and to commit time to really understand and appreciate the lessons they teach.

Ambition is fine, providing you compliment it with hard work rather than just talk.

Not every person wants to tear through the belts and gain power.
Some students are content to plod slowly along, quite happy in their study.
There is nothing wrong with taking your time.

Clair

Helen

Anne

Nature

Peter Southwood's tips #6 Weekend sessions

Take advantage of the weekend morning to get a good 3 hour session of practice completed early in the day.
Train everything that you neglected during the week.