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Now footwork means more than just tenkan, idimi, rolling back, and moving forward. It means controlling the other person to make them step where you want them to step.
If you can push them to move a certain direction with only using footwork, then you have taken control of the footwork game. Of course this goes back and forth in most fights or competitions. Now, to learn how to do this, you must learn the basic steps for sparring. Then you must learn how to do them freely without thinking. Then you must learn how to do them to control your opponents walk. Then you must learn how to do all of the above, defend, attack, and close the distance.
Now to me, this all falls under ma-ai. Mai-ai is the distance between two opponents. The differences and knowing how far you are in danger of a kick, throw, strike, etc.
So now, you must learn how to control ma-ai. Knowing ma-ai is great, but learning to control that means much more.
Today we worked on controlling ma-ai. I had Baylen receive combos 1-4 while I controlled his footwork. I noticed that he is decent when there is no attack, and pauses when an attack comes at him. This just means that he needs to continue free movement even when an attack comes in. He will get better, and he is not bad. I also did not tell him what I was looking for? Why? Because I must not put the pressure of footwork into the mix at first, even though it IS the basic root of fighting. I must let him concentrate on blocking first and when he is comfortable with that, I will mention ma-ai, and then we will go from there.
He is getting better, but he lacks one thing; confidence. He thinks he is not good on his feet, which means he therefore is not good on his feet. Confidence means a lot. It makes you more aggressive, it makes you unafraid to control the fight. He will gain confidence in time, this is what I am here for too. I will make him confident.
I wish Kyle had more time with me. They both have a lot of heart and training together, would bring out the best in both of them.
Well I am off once again.
It seems like I am always writing in my journal, but I have been training every single day for quite awhile now. I am loving it.
11-22-2005 12:34 PM 