星期六的课

I was reading a blog I recently found here and was leaving a comment that turned out to be quite long, so I decided to leave it here and link there.

星期六课
This is an exercise that I taught today to help some of my students keep their body in balance when moving.
Stand at least an arm's length from a solid wall (or something that can take your full body weight) bend you knees to lower your weight as far as you can keeping your body straight* and balanced extend one foot forward as if stepping down onto it but stop yourself with your arm your body should be as straight as if you were standing normally, your head should feel like you are standing completely normally. Then bend your arm to let you go forward, but don't let you shoulders go forward or backward without being matched by your hips (don't lean). Then increase the amount that you push with your legs to increase the load on your arms you should be able to go all the way forward, pushing as hard as you like with you legs without going up or down. Repeat for an equal number or reps each arm each leg (4 sets). Holding your body straight with right arm and left leg will give different affects as will using both arms (a 5th and 6th set) if you want. The latter may also be done as a shorter version, it will be easier on your arms and body but legs will still get the same sensation. This is a good finishing set because your legs may require longer to get a proper work out.




*Be aware of your back, to stop it getting pushed in the wrong direction, tuck up your pelvis and sink when you lower you weight, if you don't know what this means then ask me or another martial arts instructor who should be able to tell you (in my experience it is a very common practice).