Concentration Drill

[amylong]

Tara and I had a great class last night. I pulled out the tennis balls again.

Man, I love those tennis balls.

I had them all doing their katas and Tara and I lobbed tennis balls at them while they were going through it. It tested their concentration.

Only those with children were able to do it without a problem.

By the third time through, a little more than half could get through without stopping.

Anyone else try that?

--Amy

[gixxershane]

no, but sounds really cool

[jfarnsworth]

Nope, never done it.

[amylong]

Nope, never done it.

Try it. Brings you some amusement, the students think it's funny and it really does help with concentration.

And don't worry, they'll still think you're a tough SOB.

--Amy

[Shodan]

Indeed!! It was a blast getting to randomly throw tennis balls at students. I'd never had the opportunity to do such a thing before.....thanks Amy!!

[dcastiglione]

I had them all doing their katas and Tara and I lobbed tennis balls at them while they were going through it. It tested their concentration.

Is the end point to complete the kata without breaking their concentration or to also dodge the tennis balls as you preform the kata?

I might run this past Bill, but we're poor folk so we'll have to use rocks..

[Takai]

I might run this past Bill, but we're poor folk so we'll have to use rocks..

Ouch! Well........ just use small ones.

[gixxershane]

now, can you winde up and whipe the tennis balls at them, and pelt the students, or do you toss them at the students?????

i think that would be really awsome with dodge balls

[mrthunder29]

I think baseballs would work best

[Celtic_Crippler]

We use throwing knives.

[gakusei]

After I have them do their kata a few times, I make them face another direction. It is amazing how something so simple can cause so many problems.

[Celtic_Crippler]

After I have them do their kata a few times, I make them face another direction. It is amazing how something so simple can cause so many problems.

Now that's true! I've never understood it though. Why does facing a different dirction affect how you execute a form!?! LOL

[Shodan]

Now that's true! I've never understood it though. Why does facing a different dirction affect how you execute a form!?! LOL

I think it has to do with what we see when we do the form. We are used to facing a certain thing/wall, etc. while doing a certain part of the form- so doing them elsewhere or from a different direction messes all that up. Although......I can do my forms outside and feel which direction I usually start from in the studio......so that blows my theory out of the water......interesting....

[amylong]

now, can you winde up and whipe the tennis balls at them, and pelt the students, or do you toss them at the students?????

i think that would be really awsome with dodge balls

The object is the not break your concentration, not to dodge the balls. We throw them underhand and lobbed.

And crippler, nobody can be as though as you with the knives. Some of us still bleed, you know.

It's good for concentration and it's generally just amusing to watch them try and do the katas around the balls.

--Amy

[Celtic_Crippler]

I think it has to do with what we see when we do the form. We are used to facing a certain thing/wall, etc. while doing a certain part of the form- so doing them elsewhere or from a different direction messes all that up. Although......I can do my forms outside and feel which direction I usually start from in the studio......so that blows my theory out of the water......interesting....

Actually, no. I think you're right. People use objects in their environment as "reference points." When I first started studying Kenpo my instructor taught me the clock principle and the importance of visualization before I ever learned a "traveling" form. (You don't travel doing "star set"). And when I was taught Parker Short 1, I was taught using these principles. So I focused on what direction based on where I started. Which ever way I was facing in the beginning, regardless of surroundings, was 12:00 and I would just go from there.

.....I wonder if I started stressing those principles from the beginning prior to teaching forms what affect it would have? I will have to expirement! LOL.

[cpuraramos50]

I just happen to be one of them tennis ball victims

[John Brewer]

Be glad you are not dealing with the Celtic Crippler, she uses knives!

[amylong]

Be glad you are not dealing with the Celtic Crippler, she uses knives!

Although clearly Crippler has many fine feminine qualities (cough), Crippler is actually male.

And he's vicious. Mean and vicious. Those are his fine feminine qualities I spoke of. (ROFLMAO)

--Amy

[John Brewer]

My sincerest apologies! I guess that's what the public profiles are for!

Respectfully,

John