After 2 new-borns and a house move I can now turn thoughts back to MA. All I have been doing in MA terms is having an occasional visit to Romsey Kyushindo. I have also been training with James Allenby and some of his students, though when I mean training I mean inflicting and receiving continuous random attacks and defences for an hour!!. The hard part is trying not to do the same thing time after time. Those beginners are tricky, it’s real easy to manipulate their body movement and balance but sheesh - are their attacks unpredictable. I always find it more difficult sparring with beginners than black belts due to the unpredictability – which is good.
Last time I was there, James told me that one of his private students – Alan – has now decided to give up MA completely due to a recurring shoulder injury that hasn’t improved, even after surgery. Alan was a 1st Dan at Romsey Kyushindo after joining the club as a brown belt from Shotokai many years ago. I remember comparing the Katas with him so I was able to see where the ‘5 main’ Kyushindo katas came from. He also learnt half the Bagua form and once had a Kyushindo ‘history lesson’ with me regarding techniques. Shame really – he was just starting to flow and didn’t look like a Shotokai practitioner any more.
Luckily my new patio is large enough to do the Kata’s and the Bagua Form.
Last time I had a period off from Kyushindo, 1994-1997, it didn’t take long for it all to come back. What I have noticed is that those striking bags in James’s Dojo seem a little harder as the alignment of bones, tendons and muscles is not correct due to lack of muscle and tendon conditioning.
