Yesterday my friend Jim Doan sent me this video…
To quote Jim, “
(Thanks Jim!)
Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Each year we do a fundraiser for the dojo to upgrade our facilities for our students.
Last year we raised enough money to build some changing rooms…
The year before some crash mats, a couple of “Bobs”, and some much needed impact pads.
This year however we went hi-tech.
Thanks to the efforts of many students and families we were able to raise enough money to purchase a dlna wi-fi Sony bravia flat screen tv.
Huh?
Yeah, I know it confused me too until I got my head around it. Basically it’s a new wireless 40 inch flat screen tv with its own I.P address.
That means all you do is plug in the power cord, configure some settings, and *presto!*, it’s online without running any network cables.
Cool!
I mounted the new tv out on the wall of the tatami area (training floor), so now in class we can show video examples of kata, sparring and self defense.
We can connect directly to youtube, or the dojo desktop pc, or any other media sharing device that supports dlna (whatever that means).
So now video content is available when the tv is simply turned on without the need to have a video recorder (a what?) or dvd player.
This is really neat because we now have the ability to quickly take hd video with my phone and then stream it back on the new tv for my students to watch and understand what they can do to improve their technique.
Isn’t that cool?
You can get set up like this too. Assuming you have your own dojo, all you need to do is get a wi-fi enabled tv (although you could run cable if you really want), but the most important thing is to ensure dlna compatibility. Otherwise you’ll have headaches like me trying to get the tv to find your media servers, and have to return your tv to Costco for a dlna compatible one.
But here’s the kicker…
Recently I also bought a new T-mobile MyTouch 4g cell phone, which is also wi-fi enabled. In fact, I can turn my cell phone into a mobile hot-spot, which means it can provide wireless internet access for the dojo.
So now I can do away with my permanent dojo connection/internet provider and simply provide web access to the dojo network from my phone.
So all the media content streamed from the internet to the new tv does it through this very phone, the one from which I’m writing this blog.
You can get set up like this too to provide a better learning environment for your students. There are a few more tricks I learned getting all this together, like what software works and what doesn’t, how to design and implement your network, etc and can expand on this if anyone is interested.
Here’s a simple “ippon kumite” exercise you can do with your students instead of the same old step over punch, step back block and counter exercises you’ve done forever…
This spin on the exercise makes it more dynamic, and a precursor for dojo sparring.
If you’re not sure, “ippon kumite” (one point sparring) basically refers to a single attack (usually prearranged) with the defender making a block and counter attack (also usually prearranged).
However different dojos and teachers make different variations and rules on the attacks and defenses, to the point where both the attack and defense can be completely random.
This method that I’m sharing with you today, shows you how to start off easy so everyone in your class can manage, yet allows you to increase the difficulty with each step.
Step #1 – Do the basics first – get everyone up to speed.
Before you dive in the deep end, do some basic repetitions as a group, 10 times for each technique. The 3 techniques will be oizuki jodan, oizuki chudan, and oizuki gedan (step over punch to the head, chest and stomach respectively).
Now have your class, do basic reps for the blocking portion of the exercise (no counter yet). For 10 reps each, have your class step back, block up, across and down respectively.
Step # 2 – Pair up, and repeat.
Now that the basic attack/defense is familiar, choose one side to attack, the other to defend with the same basics you practiced in Step #1. Eg. Attacker makes oizuki jodan, defender steps back and blocks up. Then immediately switch roles so that the person who just blocked up now makes oizuki jodan and the other person steps back and blocks up.
Don’t “reset” after each attack, but simply switch roles after each attack/defense so your class is going back and forth to your count. Do this 10 times for each different attacking technique.
Step #3 – Randomize it.
Now that your class has done the basic step over punch/step back block and countering with the same attack as they just received, let’s now randomize the attack.
Eg. Attacker might step over punch to the head, while the defender steps back and blocks up. At this point the defender (now becomes the attacker) and steps over punches to the chest, while the new defender steps back and blocks across. At which point roles switch again and the attack might now be step over punch to the stomach and the defense step back block down, countering with step over punch to the chest… and so on and so forth.
So you see it becomes a flowing attack/defense drill (somewhat prearranged, yet somewhat random).
This is a good way to have students learn basics in motion with a partner.
For more advanced grades, increase the variety of attacking techniques. For example you might like to add another 3 attacks which might be mae geri (front kick) using the rear leg and landing forward. Attack # 5 might be rear leg mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) landing forward, and attack #6 might be step over strike to the top of the head tetsui (hammer fist) or “icepick – type” attack. Of course you’ll need 3 basic step back blocking techniques to match, but I’ll let you figure those out.
You could follow this same process, adding another 3 techniques each time until you have 9 or 12 different prearranged attacks and defenses, but when you plug it into this exercise it becomes somewhat random.
It’s good one because you can set it up for whichever level you’re teaching and even the most advanced students will be challenged by it.
Until next time… enjoy!
~ Jason
