Mind intent

[benzocaine]

It was nice to meet you at the Philly workout with Master Thompson last saturday Dana.

One thing I'll remember is how Master Thompson demonstrated Mind Intent.

For those who were not there, Master Thompson had someone put him into an "s" armlock. The demonstrator was able to bring Sensei down... but then one time he wasn't. Why?? Master Thompson smiled What happened?? He changed the attackers mind intent .. or him visualizing Sensei following the lock.

For me personally I learned about mind intent having Dana as a partner practicing the "s" lock. I had problems when I didn't visualise it working. When I visualised the lock working sure enough it worked.... except for the time she smiled at me

[Dana Sheets]

Hi Ben!!!

It was really great to meet you and to put a face with a name. And it was also a treat to finally meet your teacher. I've seen his name on email for the last several years and this was the first time I'd gotten to meet him.

You are right on the money on intent. I'm still writing up my notes from the seminar and will send them along once they're done.

Later on it was mentioned to me that not only do you need the intent, and not only should all your techniques start from your center (with the corresponding body shift) but you should also try to visualize that your strikes are actually pulled out out to their targets instead of you pushing them forward.

I haven't played much with this yet - but it's really an intriguing idea. Since we don't know exactly how our brains translate intention into action I'm not surprised that various imaging techniques would result in differing body mechanics.

[Rick Wilson]

[benzocaine]

but you should also try to visualize that your strikes are actually pullout out to their targets instead of you pushing them forward.

By this do you mean that your stikes should hit explosively while pulling back ? I'm imagining the power behind it now.

Is it basically staying loose until impact and then on retration geting loose again?

How do I explain this

[Dana Sheets]

The retraction isn't part of what was mentioned. Just the idea that your strike is being pull forward into the void - rather than being pushed forward by you. This is something I think you need a target in mind for - either one you visualize or one on your uke.

[Stryke]

Another Mind intent thing I`m playing with , but instead of imagining it drawn into your opponent imagine it being drawn into the infinity ....

[Van Canna]

Great stuff, Dana.


Sensei Thompson is a genius..

[Rick Wilson]

Mind intent progresses in stages. The door opened by Thompson Sensei is an excellent one.

In the beginning we always see people pushing with their mind/intent. Watch most Katas and this is what you see.

Pushing is a very tactile rewarding feedback way of performing Kata because we can “feel” the power of each strike. Most of the time the actions are all yang. When people begin to discover the other half of the circle and add in the yin this opens another door for them.

The thought of have your strike “pulled” out is an excellent way to take the mind intent forward in development. It immediately breaks you from “pushing.” By breaking the pushing of the mind intent you allow the person to become comfortable with a different “feedback.”

This is important because it will not feel as powerful to the practitioner at first. Often you see a person doing well at this and then ask them to do a Kata in front of the class and all of a sudden they go back to pushing because they do not want to appear weak.

Being drawn to the target also begins to tap into an increase responsiveness.


(And Van is so right abotu ThompsonSensei. )