3/6/2010 What we learned in Saturday class and what we practiced:
Five criteria for judging forms or for perfect technique--
1. Hands/Shou (pronounced "so")
2. Eyes/Yan (pron. "yen")--line of sight
3. Posture/Shen (pron. "shun")--literal translation "body"
4. Coordination/Fa--literal translation "method"; transitions, movement in a coordinated way
5. Stance/Bu--"step"; foot placement, joint alignment from hips down, timing of step
We need to work on our basics. If you (think you) know the basics but can't apply them, you don't own them.
----
Static drills completed: Brush knee, single whip.
We practiced walking drills while intently focusing on a point ahead of us. If you can focus on a point, with practice, you start placing the intent in your movements without trying. You get tall, strong, and in applications, hands get very heavy. It's difficult to do and can be mentally exhausting.
Keep your head level when doing statics (e.g. while shifting back and forward during brush knee). Push yourself on you back leg as you're shifting back--it should fee spring-loaded.
Stay as low as possible. The lower your transition is, the lighter your step (outward) will be, such as while doing "single whip."
That's all for now. Focus, focus, focus. Perhaps Sifu has additional pointers.
