We began with a new comer Marcus who has shown strong Sanchin for just a few months. Clearly his previous training is adding strength to what he is doing. At the same time he is conflicted by that previous training and the new areas he is entering into.
Laird is also shifting from training on his own for many years (something we all should be amazed by and admire – could we keep our Uechi up all alone?). He is revising his approach and playing with different body mechanics and all the other crap I am throwing his way. His natural “predator” mindset clearly evident in his approach. However, that predator mindset can lead him a little too forward breaking his ground path. Doing much better though in maintaining his posture so that he is beginning to connect with his lower dantian. (But watch when the two predators meet right Laird?
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Carlos linked us to a great site and when it loads properly we can only be amazed by the Toyama Sensei’s version of Sanseirui and the magnificently evident power.
Robb posted a link to his Kata and we see an excellent example of the Uechi Kata performance most might expect to see (that is when it is performed as well as Robb does it.) His ground path is very clear in his strikes making them nice and connected. I like the speed of his Seisan. A very nice calmness to his Sanchin. Not the body mechanics I follow but again that is the strength of Uechi Ryu.
Ben posted a nice Seisan showing good speed and power. If I would offer any comments I would look at the initial rooting as it is stays at waist height and the movements of the waist are horizontal allowing the hip to occasionally slip back too far into a weaker state. Look to coiling and sinking into and with the knees.
Next we have the first Guest of the WKS site, Alan. Another strong Kata performer showing strong body mechanics using knees and “waist” for the draw back, release and the return to Sanchin. Again offering comments I would look at the knees slipping off the base of the feet (ie. Front knee slips inward off its base of the foot on the draw back of the strike.) This cause the slight shift of the body over the rear leg that we see and a momentary weakening of balance. By pressing the knee forward over the big toe on the draw back this strengthens the movement and enhances the opening and closing of the Qwa we see Alan performing. Again good strong Katas.
Mark’s Kata shows power generated by the loosening of the strikes at the moment of release allowing a strong clear delivery of power. (I have had the pleasure of working with Mark so I know how much power he can generate.) His body toughening is beyond question after that testing. Mark’s Uechi moves at a different pace and form that I have currently chosen to follow but the effectiveness of his path is evident. It was Mark who first introduced me to a slightly wider Sanchin and that has worked very well for me.
Finally was able to load Diego’s Kata and we see another strong performance. Nice speed and pacing. Good release of power. To comment I would offer that the draw back and the release of the strike have good mechanics behind them but the return of the arm to Sanchin is missing them. This draw back of the arm with the body is a powerful application gold mine. Think of the elbow and knee harmony.
I am very pleased at the quality of the Katas being posted. It would be great if some more of the Seniors put their Kata out there for people to see.
George has a number of excellent Kata on the video portion of this site but we are missing the three big Kata from more of the Seniors (like David Mott, and George himself – I loved Sanchin on the beach with George at his camp.
) There is a great Konchin performed by George there, as well as Sanseirui by Jim Maloney.Keep them coming folks – I have lots of space if you can get them to me.
