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Richard Wilkinson

Elite Team Day 12, 13 and 14

Friday, February 22, 2013

We reviewed the backfist/punch/ridgehand....front kick, axe kick, Slant kick and the blitz attack.

We talked about hitting people and being ok with it.  The reason for this is to remove hesitation from their mindset.  People struggle with the risk of hurting someone.....Which is a good thing.  However, in a self defense situation, you must be willing to possibly cause damage  to the other person in order to survive.  The students need to know exactly what they can handle both by physically taking a hit and by dealing with the emotions of hitting someone to help prepare them for any possible situation.  

What they find by our discussion and practical application of the information is that it takes a much more powerful hit to be hurt or to cause hurt.  All kids beleive they have superhuman strength and can break bones with a single blow.  This just isn't the case.  What I try and accomplish by talking with them about making contact is to see what they can handle and use it as 'frame of reference' to draw from if ever faced with a physcial situation.

We worked on...In tight side kick, upward angle hook kick and dragon tail round kick.

The kids did 800 kicks on the wall.  We did 50 Jump n jacks just to see if they could still do it synchronized.  The did it on their first try with Lizzy Mackenroth as the leader.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

The kids peaked out with kicks on the wall.  We did the equivilant of 5000 kicks each leg.  I allowed some to do the kicks 'off' the wall, which is much more difficult.  The actual number of kicks that some did was 3100 each leg.  That means they did 10,000 on the wall or 6200 off the wall.  That's a new Elite Team record.

We continued our study of the dragon tail round kick and I showed them  the side, round, hook fighting system.

We talked about alternating between the blitz attack and side, round, hook fighting system as a strategy.

We played 'Top Dawg'....Alex Craycraft won.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

The kids did only 400 kicks.  We acheived what we were going for.....a strong core and the muscles required to perform the material with control.  Their hips and stomachs and base leg are now VERY strong.  

We had our 'pain tolerance' day today.  The kids earned a do over.  So, they had to do the drill for 14 minutes.  Pain tolerance is about putting the kids in a stretch and hold it for 7 minutes.  The purpose of this is to give them a 'fram of reference' and method for overcoming pain.  We talk about breathing and thinking of something other than the pain or discomfort.  The kids survived it and passed that evolution.  There are never any injuries during 'pain tolerance'.  

Normally, as parents, we try to avoid hurt or discomfort for our kids.  The Elite Team must be able to deal with pain or discomfort in order to understand how to deal with it and move on.  This relates to self defens in that when you are hit....it hurts.  You have a choice.  You can give in or ignore it and move on.  Pain tolerance is about choosing the latter.

The kids are almost ready to graduate.  They have done outstanding!  It is always MY honor to share this 'higher training' with students. Thanks for the opportunity to work with your kids.
March 11, 2013