The Power of Forms

There is a lot going on in Da Mu Hsing 1 that allows for feeling and reflection.  During the kick sequence of roundhouse/spinning back kick, I was feeling my power coming from my lower back and I was sure this wasn't right.  Sifu Brinker helped me break down the spinning back kick so I could try to feel the engagement and power within the hip.  So I went back to the roundhouse, spin, sideheel and within that sideheel I could feel the engagement in the hip instead of my back.

Breaking apart a form helps to fix the big disconnect but now I need to tie it all back together so the pieces that I break apart not only flow together but they support each other as well.  My normal process is to identify the problem area, fix it and then expand in either direction to bring it together but in some cases that does not support the technique like this spinning back kick.  

When I add the spin, the engagement of my hip must come sooner but to get that I need to feel stable in that spin.  So for this fix, I need to work on two areas and bring them together.  I need to get that spin and feel the loading of my hip and bring it together with actually throwing the kick, still keeping the hip engaged.  I would like to blame it on my decreased balance since my transplant, but that is not the truth.  As I pick apart this kick, I have realized that I have never had a good "feel" for the spinning back kick.  It's just now I can't hide it like I could before and this is something that I am rejoicing.  Now I get to work on something that has always been broken and it became apparent in my form.  I love the power of forms!

Numbers

Pushups (equivalent) - 10,180

Sit-ups (equivalent) - 4,730

Kilometers - 1535.53

Weapons form - 289

Hand form - 353

Sparring - 83

AOK - 2205

Piano - 1/50

Tai Chi - 51.1/50

Yoga - 47/50

Meditation - 25/50