Most people do not associate internal martial arts with competition, however both cooperative and competitive practice can be useful for developing skill when it is used appropriately.
Cooperative partner practice is vital for developing skill in internal martial arts throughout all skill levels. Two person forms and push hands are good examples of cooperative partner practice. Two person forms are just like other forms except they are done with a partner. Both practitioners must not only execute their movement properly but must also match the other person's timing and distance in order to properly execute the form. Though both partners are going through set movements this practice can be made more challenging by varying the speed and space in which the form is performed.
Competitive push hands seen at tournaments and various demonstrations in a competitive format can also be done cooperatively. When doing cooperative push hands the partners should give each other enough force to make it challenging but not so much that form degrades. At first, a restricted range of motion is practiced then as each others skill develops more free form push hands can be introduced and eventually moving to light competitive drills. It is important that basic cooperative push hands is practiced and adequate skill has developed before moving onto advanced drills otherwise poor technique and bad habits will develop. If too much force is used, most people will revert to using isolated strength which is the opposite of what internal martial arts is intended to develop.
Competitive push hands is probably the most common competitive practice when it comes to internal martial arts. Many practitioners are anxious to test their skills against others through this drill. This can be detrimental to developing skill in internal martial arts if introduced too early or if done uncontrolled. Those familiar with competitive push hands probably have seen these events turn into simple wrestling or shoving matches without a display of internal martial arts principles. However, it doesn't have to turn into this. Practicing push hands competitively with your training partners can be quite beneficial. It helps you learn to relax when an opponent is pressing against you. Also, it improves your sensitivity skills because you must learn to change and flow with an opponent that is actively trying to off balance you as well. The key to getting the benefit to this is first having a solid foundation built through cooperative practice then gradually introducing more competitive/uncooperative elements into the practice. At first keeping things slow and restricted then progressing to fast and free form. Sparring drills can be used in the same manner. Focus on a few restricted attack/defense patterns then as skill improves progress to more free form sparring.
Cooperative partner practice is vital for developing skill in internal martial arts throughout all skill levels. Two person forms and push hands are good examples of cooperative partner practice. Two person forms are just like other forms except they are done with a partner. Both practitioners must not only execute their movement properly but must also match the other person's timing and distance in order to properly execute the form. Though both partners are going through set movements this practice can be made more challenging by varying the speed and space in which the form is performed.
Competitive push hands seen at tournaments and various demonstrations in a competitive format can also be done cooperatively. When doing cooperative push hands the partners should give each other enough force to make it challenging but not so much that form degrades. At first, a restricted range of motion is practiced then as each others skill develops more free form push hands can be introduced and eventually moving to light competitive drills. It is important that basic cooperative push hands is practiced and adequate skill has developed before moving onto advanced drills otherwise poor technique and bad habits will develop. If too much force is used, most people will revert to using isolated strength which is the opposite of what internal martial arts is intended to develop.
Competitive push hands is probably the most common competitive practice when it comes to internal martial arts. Many practitioners are anxious to test their skills against others through this drill. This can be detrimental to developing skill in internal martial arts if introduced too early or if done uncontrolled. Those familiar with competitive push hands probably have seen these events turn into simple wrestling or shoving matches without a display of internal martial arts principles. However, it doesn't have to turn into this. Practicing push hands competitively with your training partners can be quite beneficial. It helps you learn to relax when an opponent is pressing against you. Also, it improves your sensitivity skills because you must learn to change and flow with an opponent that is actively trying to off balance you as well. The key to getting the benefit to this is first having a solid foundation built through cooperative practice then gradually introducing more competitive/uncooperative elements into the practice. At first keeping things slow and restricted then progressing to fast and free form. Sparring drills can be used in the same manner. Focus on a few restricted attack/defense patterns then as skill improves progress to more free form sparring.
Xin Yi Dao uses two person forms, push hands and sanda/sparring drills to develop skill both cooperatively and competitively. Starting with cooperative and restricted partner drills to develop proper fundamentals then slowly adding speed and removing restrictions until reaching free form competitive practice. These concepts are not unique to internal martial arts but are critical for all martial arts if you find that you cannot maintain proper technique and form when under pressure then take a step back and practice more cooperative/restricted drills to further develop your skill and try again.
No comments:
Post a Comment