Notes from Wandering Guru - Seminar with Michael Perry

Random Notes from Seminar w/Wandering Guru Mike Perry Current mood: contemplative
FMA = Fantasy (based) Martial Arts aka/Backyard Martial Arts
Or
What I gleaned from Mike Perrys visit to Jefferson City, MO from 5/12-5/14/06

(Still working on the best title.)
(for the most part - my own words are in parenthesis)
5/12/06

Keep Hands & Stick moving in Centerline.
Move Center line
Study Opponents body movements (bio rythms)
slow down against their rhythm

exercises:
1a Flow the Drill
b Clap Hands
c Students Freeze & neutralize from there
2a Allow the catch at every tap
b Make Hard Capture (use strength)
c Make Explosive Release
3a Grab & release Drills
b firmest grip possible
c escape the grip and re-grip them
4 - walk the line with any three attacks for ranging
5 Tap Extra Hard

5/13/06

Focus on the technique that works. What is the result is the most important, question!

How does practice make you a better person?

Warriors (everyone) have to live with others this is our predicament!

Priorities dont change, but the may change order. Always, the purpose is to resolve. As in Combat, so in Relationships, (as with most things).

Protect yourself first Mike refers to this generally as Parry
Control
Neutralize
Finish
(This raised the questions: What am I good at? What should I prioritize on improving? For myself? My students?)

See the end result of what you want before you step out on the practice floor.

Centerline is a moving perspective!

See your centerline connected with the centerline of your opponent.

What do I have to bring to the drill?
What do we need to practice w/in the drill?
- control the weapon

I DONT CARE! Mike Perry, The moment you begin to think about your own life you are finished!

1 Practice the Parries.
2 Once you have the Parry, catch. This is the Control.
3 Once you have the catch, hit, disarm, throw, brake, lock, etc. This is the Neutralize.
4 Once you have Neutralized, Finish Appropriately!

Isolate the Technique:
To understand any drill or application better, break it down and work only a couple moves max, at one time.

EX: 9.5 drill one feeds 9 thrust only/one feeds 5 thrust only
- Train for attributes (strength, speed, bursting power, sensitivity, rhythm)
- Keep it all Centerline
- Take it out Fast

Every bodys equal in the backyard! Mike Perry

Always let your feet move 1st.
I give you my center, then move to my side.
Leave the door open, they are not so anxious to come in.

Barriers keep them from opening up to you. What about relationships?

Principle:
Awareness is based on perspective.

Fantasy Based Martial Arts. Reality Based? What have you been teaching for the last 15 years? Mike Perry

Think CENTER OF ATTENTION. Where is the action? Control the situation at any give time/space.

Different reactions from hitting different parts of the weapon. Bobby Tobota Balintiwak

In practice flat of the glade hits bone, and stick hits muscle. The other way around for actual combat.

If they stand there and take it, keep hitting them.

2 ways to teach: Push them UP or Pull them UP!


Keep everything clean & tidy, it its place so that you notice if anything is out of place.

5/14/06

Principle:
Finish todays workout with what you need most.
Always end with the last 20 min the same as the 1st 20 min of tomorrows workout.
You will do what you practice.

Your survival depends on your ability to create.

Why do you practice?

King=Mind
Queen=Heart
Body Guard=Weapon hand
Informant (Intelligence)=Empty Hand

Be like a ballet dancer. Feel every muscle fiber needed for every technique. (This is what I call Hard and Slow practice for dynamic tension training.)

Make your students really good by giving them one thing to get really good at. Mike Perry

Teach each of them different stuff. (This is a good way to hone in on individual strengths, so they can help each other fill in the gaps.)

The rhythm is what is important. Gradually increase the speed as they improve.

1st I break the drill in ½ then in 1/4s = Continuous threat training. MP (This is the basic premise behind Isolating the Technique ex: 9.5 drill.)

In the Police Strikes, practice tripping everyone across the room.

Play Low. Hit High. Hit Middle. Hit Hard.


Size up opponent by:
What level does he like to play at?
How does he move? Circular/angular/forward&back/Up and down/side to side/etc.
What are his signals?
How hungry is he?
Whats his drive?

1) Wait to go in.
2) See the result.
3) Devise plan A
4) Work it.
5) Go to plan B if plan A fails Plan A always fails.
What is there Body Type?

Power Drill:
Listen to the swoosh sound of the weapon cutting the air.
1) call out high/middle/or low
2) students make the swoosh there
3) vary it using a single strike

Wind Sprints:
1) combo of 2 -5 strikes
2) Hard and Fast for 2-3 min
3) Short break
4) Repeat

Feint:
Think top when you intend to strike low.
Train yourself to think head is body, and body is head.

Parry is most important, but it cant be done without footwork.
Control the action!

Triangle Footwork is not necessarily for getting in or out. It is mainly for building skill in balance, switching feet

It doesnt matter, as long as the dishes get done. MP (pertains to the fact that it doesnt matter how you do it, as long as you accomplish the task at hand.)

Think Fast Move Slow! Move Fast Think Slow!MP
Look at multi-opponents as one organism. MP (Hack away at its parts, until you kill the beast.)

I do not teach knife fighting. I use the knife to build certain skills. MP

KOs happen more when the Heart Rate is Up! Kip Tietsort

Knife attacks we practiced Grandmaster Jerson Nene Tortals 12 Sak-sak (thrusting) attacks

Theres nothing pretty about it. Theres nothing honorable about it you may practice for an honorable cause

Dont think system. Think Environment. Environment can be based on cultural ways. Train for different environments!

Controlling Ground Footwork (Nene):
Forward Right
Step Back Left
Switch Back
Forward Right
Back to Center
Repeat

Philosophy behind footwork:
1) meet problems head on
2) back off to get new perspective (find the opportunity)
3) switch back to the action with the new plan
4) progress forward to resolution

Application of footwork:
1) Stop it
2) Pass it
3) Control it
4) Finish it

The Science is to be able to Answer Each Attack with Each attack.