Yea, you missed it!!!

[Bill Glasheen]

I held a full class on "The Secret Handshake" at Winterfest. If you were there, remember that this information is only shared with a privileged few. Consider yourself lucky, and don't make me have to come after you because you shared The Secret with others.

Meanwhile...

What a nice affair Winterfest was! This was my first, and it definitely was one of the more memorable camps I've been to. The smaller, more intimate setting allows for some very interesting exchanges.

I particularly enjoyed spending time with Darren and George Schreiffer. The three of us were constantly commenting how our "message" was the same - CORE INVOLVEMENT IS VITAL. No need for chi-sters when you have some amazingly talented people with no claim to magical powers who have considerable skills in spite of their aging bodies.

I owe the class some links to my 38 Special form. George has posted a video of me doing this about 15 years ago. I think he was shocked that I could still kick. But seriously... good times. If we can locate the video, then I'll add in the link to a text description from my own website.

Rumor has it that Bill sang karaoke at The Crazy Gator. And everyone left. (After I was done... ) Rumor also has it that Darren can sing.

So can some of George's students.

I would also like to point out a rediscovery of the lost art of doing Dan Kumite and Seisan Bunkai with someone from another dojo at their test - WITH NO INFORMATION SHARED BEFOREHAND. Yes, it can be done. In fact, I try to do things like this all the time. Not knowing what unexpected nuance is going to come out of this partner you've never seen before is IMO part of the fun.

Apologies to the 4 people who have "Bill owies" from the camp. Nothing serious, mind you. One errant toe kick that hit my ulna (the ulna won). A tweaked back from someone with a weak back who was doing new kicks, and two people who discovered something very sneaky - the art of setting a body up for the coup de gras. Sure wish some of that was on film; the facial expressions were priceless. In any case, no blood no foul.

And remember - payback is a b1tch. I'm not getting any younger.

More later.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

I Googled my own choreography to see if it existed anywhere, and what do you know - it does! I didn't even know this was recorded for public consumption.

This is an older version of my form - one still practiced in many places around the globe now, including (perhaps) in Regensburg, Germany. I've since made a few modifications to the form. But the basic structure is the same.

Although I never knew they recorded this, I recognized the person and setting in a New York second. This one is being performed in Room 120 of Memorial Gym at UVa - probably circa 1993. The person doing the form is David Powell. Great student, and smart kid. He's now an MD somewhere out in the midwest. (See David M. Powell, MD)

Uechi Ryu - 38 Special - Kicking Kata Demonstration

This is "the author" at about the same time performing the same form on the aerobics floor at Raintree Swim and Raquet Club in Richmond. It starts with me doing some warm-up exercises I often do before doing the form. They are designed to warm the legs up to "thrust" kicking (as opposed to snap kicks) and to develop balance. So sorry about the poor quality. Video cameras really suked back then.

Bill Glasheen's "38" Special

To the uninitiated... My 38 Special choreography is a multi-year effort designed to teach my Uechi students the basics of kicking. I made it a requirement for many of my clubs. The folks at UVa in particular loved it, because I could make them sweat up a storm with both the warmups and kicks. All kicks are done in a clean, full range fashion. In other words, these are the Sanchin thrusts of most of the basic kicks of karate. Application very much would be something quite different.

What I wanted from my Uechi students was for them to understand and be able to counter all these basic kicks. A handful of my students really excelled at them. If just a few of my students were "head hunting" with their legs in class and my students were better fighters for it, then my goal was accomplished.

Most students just loved the form because it was fun, and because it made them burn lots of calories. This is no Billy Blanks foo foo martial arts. This is all done with full anaerobic power. I have some stories to share about a few of my better kickers. But... another time.

- Bill

[Glenn]

So sorry about the poor quality. Video cameras really suked back then.

I think that goes beyond poor camera quality, looks like the film itself might have degraded over time. Reportedly video tape is usually only good for about 10 years under normal household storage conditions.

It starts with me doing some warm-up exercises I often do before doing the form. They are designed to warm the legs up to "thrust" kicking (as opposed to snap kicks) and to develop balance.

Am I correct when I see these as resistance exercises that require you to have to use a more explosive thrust to break your hand grip on the leg?

[chef]

Maybe you should start teaching this at Summer Fest, Bill. Everyone should work on these kicks we often don't do but can't benefit from.

Glad you had fun at your first Winterfest. I plan on attending this on a regular basis. I love the intimate group setting and really missed it this year.

Thank you and others for texting me with hellos and such.

Regards,
Vicki

[MikeK]

I think that goes beyond poor camera quality, looks like the film itself might have degraded over time.

Naw, that's just Bill's chi aura. He has that effect on all audio/visual electronics and car ignition systems.

Glad you're bringing this one back out Bill, it's a pretty good coverage drill to practice most of the main kicks out there.

BTW, I guess folks will stop complaining that you never post video of yourself.

[Joe Bellone]

Bill,

Glenn asks a great question:

"Am I correct when I see these as resistance exercises that require you to have to use a more explosive thrust to break your hand grip on the leg?"

Or

Is it more to "load the leg" before thrusting?

thanks,
Joe

[Glenn]

BTW, I guess folks will stop complaining that you never post video of yourself.

I don't know Mike, I'm not convinced it's him. Kinda like trying to ID suspects from most early security cameras.

[chef]

That's not Bill, but it is his 38 Special being done by someone...maybe one of his students. It looks like Arn Abadines, one of his BB from UVa.

Chef

[gmattson]

Bill did an excellent job with his "38 Special" drill. I especially liked the warm-ups that preceded the drill. Perhaps Bill can go over these and explain the importance of the resistance stretches and extensions.

I have the drill as performed by Bill on DVD. I'll post it this week.

Bill also promised me he would work on a Superempi project that began at the WinterFest. I promise this project will promote a bit of controversy and perhaps even more appreciation. . .

[Bill Glasheen]

Bill,

Glenn asks a great question:

"Am I correct when I see these as resistance exercises that require you to have to use a more explosive thrust to break your hand grip on the leg?"

Or

Is it more to "load the leg" before thrusting?

thanks,
Joe

Glenn and Joe:

The exercises in question are the front and then side thrusts where the practitioner starts by holding the knee flush to the chest. The goals of the exercises were:

• To create the Platonic ideal of a straight, orthogonal thrust to the target (as in Sanchin).
• To force the practitioner to work on a complete range of motion (as in Sanchin).
• To work on the the person's balance by requiring that they not touch the foot to the floor until the exercise was done.

It is possible to experiment with the two exercises shown (front and side thrust) By creating a kind of "action potential" for the technique. (I'm using chemistry terminology.) However that's a feature layered on to an otherwise more simple exercise.

I hope that helps.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

These are the two changes to the form as filmed about 17 years ago. But before I mention the changes, I want to point out that the exercise is one form done twice. The first 19 techniques are in regular orientation; the second 19 techniques are mirror images to the first 19. It is a symmetrical, ambidextrous form. With that in mind...

• Within the original 38 special form, there were 8 stepping side thrust kicks (my Ray Berry influence).
  • 1) R side thrust kick to NE
    2) L side thrust kick to SW
    3) R side thrust kick to NW
    4) L side thrust kick to SE
    5) L side thrust kick to NW
    6) R side thrust kick to SE
    7) L side thrust kick to NE
    8) R side thrust kick to SW
  For the new form, substitute a stepping hook kick for techniques 3, 4, 7, and 8. The kick is very much the same, except one takes advantage of the dynamic stretch reflex of the hamstring upon extension of the leg.
• After the crescent and spinning side kick, the practitioner spins 180 degrees into a crane stance. Now the practitioner spins 180 degrees into a full crane-on-rock posture (the jump-back posture in Seisan kata).
• Before the fake/ax kick in the middle and the end, I have added in two complete reverse crescent kicks, one on each leg. The third is a fake, and morphs into an ax kick to hit a partner leaning away from it. That ends up making the form 42 rather than 38 techniques long. Unless I come up with a better name, the new form will keep the same name.

I also want to point out that the name was chosen (at my request) by my UVa students. I asked that they pick something that was in a language similar to that spoken at Mr. Jefferson's University. The (original) form has 38 techniques in it (it now has 42). They named the form not after the weapon (although it's a clever name as such) but after a band popular at the time.

..... Hold on loosely,
..... but don't let go
..... If you cling too tight babe,
..... you're gonna lose control

A much older version of this form with only 25 techniques was called "two bits" - an old slang expression for 25 cents.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

That's not Bill, but it is his 38 Special being done by someone...maybe one of his students. It looks like Arn Abadines, one of his BB from UVa.

Nope... Arn Abadines was a good kicker, but was shorter, darker, and thicker.

As I stated above, the first more-clear video is David M. Powell, MD and the second fuzzy one is me.

David Powell and I have very similar builds. If you didn't know better, you might think both were of me. Nope... I wish I could do a lateral split like David. Almost, but not quite. Meanwhile... I'm kicking higher in my video. That's for the camera you know...

- Bill

[chef]

I missed that second one your referred to, Bill.

Plus, until recently Bill has always sported a mustache and the guy in the first not only has lower kicks (I know your kicks, Bill, and knew they weren't yours), but has no 'Bill' mustache.

Chef

[Joe Bellone]

Thanks for sharing Bill -
It's quite a great drill. My version if ever viewed would be titled, "4.5 indistinctive..." Your version isn't for the faint hearted. It's tough!

Good training,
Joe

[chef]

I feel left out. I never did learn the 'secret' hand shake or is that only for men?

Chef