What is a martial arts class like?
A nature question to wonder what one will be learning and
the methods used to teach it.
Of course, the best answer would be to come and watch a
class- new martial arts friends are always welcome.
Certain skills are practiced in every class, these are the
kihon- the foundations of our movement, so all students, no matter where we are
in the art, are always practicing and polishing these methods of movement.
Martial arts postures of movement- kyu kamae, nine of them
are a good example to explore in what a class is like.
We start with selecting on of the postures- ichimonji nokamae.
Standing across from a training partner, you practice
entering and holding the posture for a few moments, before returning to a
standing posture, practicing back and forth for a bit. The focus here is just
learning the base mechanics of how to hold the posture.
Where are your arms?
What directions are your feet facing?
Is your back straight?
Are you relaxed?
Most important, are you low enough in the posture?
A chance to figure out how to hold a good posture.
From here, we begin to add a little movement, since these
are *not* static postures. We may initially learn them this way, as one has to
start somewhere, but they are methods of moving the body.
Using the space we have, one walks around, switching
naturally to the posture. Stepping forward, back, and rear.
Can you move in the posture without falling over, or losing
your balance?
Are you smooth and relaxed while doing this?
Building on this, we now add in ukemi taihenjutsu- body
changing skills.
The ability to use the posture in a way to receive an
attack, or counter another person’s movement.
Skills building on skills, confidence and proficiency building
on confidence and proficiency.
See you on the mat!