last class in 2009

Yellow belt gradings – Saturday 5th December 2009

Congratulations to our latest successful grading candidates, who completed the testing for Yellow belt, 1 tag and 2 tags. We were delighted to have a 100% pass rate, with all students displaying sound technique and plenty of heart. It was especially pleasing to award first class passes to 4 students for exceptional technique.

Yellow - 1 tag

• Levine Smith (First Class)
• Tilly Driscoll-Smith (First Class)
• Chaiya Walker
• Zak Walker

Yellow – 2 tags

• Asher Dunn (First Class)
• Aaron Sweeney (First Class)
• Levi Walters
• Joe Selley
• Sonam Tobgyal
• Noe Buttersey
• Anthony Evans

The Yellow belt syllabus represents the core of our Kickboxing syllabus and the completion of which (Yellow 3 tags) the point at which we move on to introduce some of the other martial arts that we teach at Phoenix. However, our core techniques continue to be taught and refined over a period of years and something that we should all continue to review.

This grading was exceptional also, since it was the first as the Phoenix Martial Arts Club. A new name perhaps, but the same high standards and expectations of our students.

Once again, congratulations to all our successful students. It is a pleasure to teach you and see you develop as future black belts!

Evasion

Q - What's better than getting hit?

A- Not getting hit.

Now, try to remember this the next time Alex, Lloyd or I happen to be breaking it down and making you repeat footwork or body movement patterns. We want to you be able to move yourself out of the way to not get hit, but equally importantly, to be able to bring yourself back into position quickly in order to be able to unload your own techniques.

Guro Bob had us tick-tocking (if you're not sure ask about this), bob & weaving and practising footwork last night. It's fair to say that these aren't always our favourite drills to practice (we all want to be doing the Ninja stuff) but this works at a high percentage. As Bob says: "There is no easy way to do this. You just have to drill it. The other way is to just get bashed up."

To have a look at what it's all about there are 3 videos currently available on YouTube, featuring the man himself. Check them out.

1. Evasion basics

"Before you can evade and hit, first you need to evade".

Covers basic footwork that we've done in class: slide & step, L-step, pivot, curve left, curve right.

2. Evasion - Snap-back
Demonstrates the snap-back to get distance and get back in.

3. Evasion - Bob & Weave

Covers the basics of the bob & weave (and my favourite part, how to get the body and head hooks in).

3. Evasion part 3

More advanced concepts for the bob & weave - making it part of your normal movement, rather than a reactive technique. Sounds easy, but it isn't.

Next time I see you, you'll all be moving like Muhammed Ali, right?