What to do...

[Kamatara]

Hi all,



About a year ago I took JKD for about 7 months (My instructors name was Kenny Jezek). And about 5 months ago my mom got in a fight with my instructor and took me out (I was 15 then). So for the past 5 months I've been practacing what I learned in JKD by myself. It seems to be working, I haven't lost all my flexability so I'd say im doing pretty good . Well I was wondering if this is a good concept to not lose my skills? Or would I need someone to practice on to "Progress" and/or to not lose my "skills"? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[doubleouch]

Well, to get any real usable skills you need a partner. If you have some basics you can practice with resistance with a willing partner doing some focuss mit work and light sparring. I would suggest though that you look into finding another gym. If you can't find one try wrestling or boxing, they will go a long way towards getting you a good foundation for when you can get back to jkd.

[Brokenmace]

Doubleouch is right. I would add that timing, distancing, and footwork are key attributes to develop. Of course boxing will do this, but don't forget to practice everything you've learned so far. You'll need to do this at least three times a week at your level, preferrably four.

Keep with me, now . . .

Think about physical confrontations for at least twenty minutes each night before you fall asleep. When you get back to training the next day SLOWLY go over your responses to those confrontations with your partner. It's amazing how much you can pick up on your own with deep concentration. Be careful and mindful of your partner's health. Don't be fancy, be functional: you'll be surprised how much it will look just like JKD when/if you start back.

If you made any friends at the school, go back to them for advice on your findings. Reduce your findings to the least complex way of doing the same thing, and check yourself against books and school friends and boxing instructors. Get your friends to SLOWLY resist your movements. Don't give up.

P.S. this will sound cheesy and trite, but don't forget your school work. I know, I know. I'm serious. Math helps develop logic, and history helps the understanding of human motivation and influence. English will help you absorb martial arts books more fluidly. Learning government may keep you from having to use any of your knowledge and risk getting yourself killed. Bruce Lee took education seriously.

Train hard!

[auto]

Kamatara, you may want to look for another instructor. I doubt that at only 7 months of training that you were introduced to such concepts as lop sau, pak sau chi sau etc. In the meantime find a friend to practice with. Here are some sugestions. Practice footwork with your buddy. Learn how to move smoothly, sidestepping, circling left/right, lunges(later add kicking and striking). Have him back you into a corner and without hitting him back have him try to hit you(of course you are wearing safety equiptment right?). See if you can evade his blows with body movement head movement and parries. Later try two walls and then three walls around you. Distance? developing a sense of distance is somewhat more difficult. You can improve it but for the most part you either have it or you don't. Like driving a car, some people can judge distance and some are horrible at it. Just practice maintaning a "fighting measure" between yourself and your partner. Timing? or more specifically, broken timing is also not so easy. Practice this slowly at first. Example-- have your partner jab slowly at you. Try to hit him before he moves. Then try to him before he is extended(this may require some slipping/body angling on your part). Try hitting him after he's extended and returning his arm back(this will help learn proper distancing too). Practice non telegraphic hitting also. Tell your partner where you are going to hit him and see if he can stop you. As far as when you are alone, if you have a full size mirror look at yourself while you punch/kick. Try to develop non telegraphic hitting. Pay close attention. A twitch of the shoulder before you punch has already telegraphed your move-try relaxing as you punch(not lax though-relaxed- not tensed). Also, nothing is better than shadowboxing to develop skill in fighting. You have to be realisitic though. Imagine someone in front of you trying to "kick your ass as hard as he can"--be real -- stop kick his forward movement--beat him to the punch--slip and hit under his swings--make him pay for his mistakes and just as quickly move out of distance--not completely though, just enough so he can't hit you without a step forward-- imagine him shooting for your legs/hips--try to evade him--or better make him pay for offering you his moment of weakness. You get the picture--this will also help improve your endurance a whole lot. Just don't stop practicing. If you can, try learning a little grappling/counter grappling also, it goes a long way towards getting you out of situations that end up on the ground. Find another JKD instructor as fast as possible too so that your learning does not stagnate. Hope this helps at least a little;--))

[auto]

P.S. Brokenmace is correct about the schoolwork. My IQ is 145 in the European test and 150 in the american version but at the same time I was etremely athletic(I have the trophies to proove it). Most people at my level are either total nerds physically "goofy" or total "jocks"(dumb as a bag of rocks). You need both. If you don't believe me try reading the Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce. Very few people can actually grasp it and then apply it's concepts. Even Bruce himself said " maybe one in ten thousand can do JKD". I think it was ten thousand, memory starts slippin' when you get my age. Take care.

[Brokenmace]

auto is right about finding an instructor. I was just suggesting "maintenance" training, if you are in a tight spot (as it seems) and you can't train with others readily. Sneaking info from former classmates is a must.