70 Percent

Friday, 31 July 2009

Seventy percent of you reading this won't do it but for the remaining thirty percent consider this.
When you train and you want to bring up your level of intensity in order to maximise your performance you might notice that when you get to 100% full out you may well not perform as well as you'd hoped. Take for example all the guys trying to smash the boxing pad at the amusements park. The harder they try and hit this the lower their scores are compared to the guy that just hits hard for a bit of fun.
Why does this happen? Well it's quite easy to explain really if you think about it. The harder you try the more tense and fatigued you become and this ends up acting like a big brake on your performance. The secret is to go at 70% and you will find you will perform much better. In fact that is probably where you start to peak out.
This can also be applied to rolling as well as striking. Next time you roll hard, go 70% even if the other guy is trying to monster you. You will find you will move more fluidly and will respond and see things quicker.
How do I know this?? Well apart from trying it for myself, Guru Dan Inosanto gets us to do it all the time. He will shout, "Do it at 70%!!" Why?? Well it's not because he doesn't want us to get too tired in his class or seminar but because he wants to get the best out of us.

Jun Fan Class

Wednesday, 29 July 2009

It was a pretty cool Jun Fan Gung Fu class last night. We moved the split entry drill from taking it off the jab to split entry off the jab, cross. This allowed us to change sides without changing stances and threw in a couple more dynamics too.
We've been training this series over a good few weeks now and this has really helped the students recognise and get familiar with it. A good teaching method, I think, is to keep on doing the same techniques in class over several weeks, with only a few variations.

Pat then went on into some kali entries and take downs off the jab cross and incorporated some neck tie up drills as well. We finally went on to look at the various finishing locks once the person was down but with a view to getting up quickly since there is always the possibility of multiple opponents. Pat was looking good whilst he was teaching and demonstrating - you wouldn't think he was in the process of destroying little c as well.

Kids Thai Boxing & Brazillian Jiu Jitsu

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Matt has been running the kids Thai Boxing School for probably close to a year now if not over a year. The classes are great for all the kids and now they can even learn BJJ!!
Two of the older students (14 & 15) even took part in the recent Rodrego Antunes BJJ seminar and I had the pleasure of pairing up with them for part of it. They were both very keen and showed the required respects throughout the seminar. This is testament to themselves and Matt's teaching.

Check out the website below and the blog in the blog roll.

http://thaiboxingkidsacademy.com

UFA Instructors Camp - August 2009

Friday, 24 July 2009

Sat/Sun 8/9th London. Paul Finn www.karasackali.co.uk
10th Bournmouth
11th Aberdeen
12th Newcastle
13th Shildon
14th tbc Krishna Privates
15/16th TBA Camp Northampton

Pre pay price £100. £120 on the door.

Saturday
12 -2pm Bob Spour Ultimate Self Protection
2 - 4pm Marc McFann
4 - 7pm Ajarn Chai

Sunday
10 - 12 Bob Spour Ultimate Self Protection
12 - 2pm Marc McFann
2 - 6pm Ajarn Chai
Any testing requests must be made as per Association requirements.

Rough n Ready Gym, Spring Lane, Northampton.
Nearest Hotel: Ibis

BJJ Gradings

Last night our BJJ Coach Peter Richardson (Brown Belt) gave out some stripes and a blue belt.
Names to follow but the surprise of the night was Stevie 'Headlock'. He has been training consistently with the group for over 3 years now and has competed on a number of occasions. He takes regular privates with Pete and puts in solid work. His blue belt is well deserved and hopefully he will pickup his game further.
Pete mentioned that there are a number of different reasons why he gives out gradings and here are a few of them. Plus he also said that it if you didn't get graded last night not to worry because he is continually watching and will grade you when he thinks it will best benefit you as an individual.

• Attendance at the club
• Attitude on and around the mat
• Rolling ability
• Technical ability
• Ability to help others (teaching/coaching/assisting)

He also mentions that there will be a register for the Jitsudo guys so that he can keep track of grades. Attendance will continue to be logged on the AMAG system. The info you will be asked to provide will be.

Name
Email Address
A Picture of your face
Grade
Contact Number

This information will not be available to anyone else except yourself so don't ask for others phone numbers etc. (Data Protection Act)

Marc McFann

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Sifu McFann is set to come over to the UK for his fall tour. He visits all his UK instructors at their gym then we end the show with a big training camp down in Northhampton, where we are joined also with Ajarn Chai. Head of the Thai Boxing Association USA.
As many of you know, Marc always gives a really great seminar and will teach you cool stuff and crack you up along the way.

Really looking forward to seeing Marc again - this should be a great tour.

Marc McFann Academy of Martial Arts USA

Antunes Seminar

Sunday, 19 July 2009

Rodregos Antunes from Brazillian Top Team came up to Aberdeen to hold a seminar for the Jitsudo boys and girls. It was a 3 hour seminar and it was brilliant. We started with some take downs and then went on to some sweeps and attacks from various positions on the ground. The cool thing is the way Rodregos teaches. All the stuff he shows you relates as options in certain senarios and therefore he shows you attacks and then how to defend and finally how to counter the defence. It's fantastic and really helps you to remember what he has shown you.