Modern Arnis Class Notes, 07.01.2015

Luke, Rob, Colleen and Phil


I attempted to build off the material we went over on Monday.

Using block check counter as the foundation drill.

Warmed up with standard high, low then punyo strike counters.

Next round of counters were:

1. Pick a striking style for each counter
2. Same drill, but notice if technique is corto or largo
3. All counters largo
4. All counters corto
(round 2-4 we had an emphasis on really trying to tune into where the movement of the technique was coming from)
5. Counter Technique focus on abanico double action (emphasis on 4 sides of the stick)
6. Followup techniques after abanico double action-
              Use punyo to attach to partners weapon hand/wrist and apply arm bar
              Use punyo control to do reversal backwards throw from arm bar.
(stance work emphasis on this technique was shuffle step modern stance for block check and abanico counter, followed by change step back to horse stance, then change step forward, 180 degree turn and step back/down for backward throw) [building off of empty hand stance work from the prior week]

~Phil

2 Person Practice Notes 05.27.2015

Lenny, Bob, Phil, Read.

Started with some conversation on some pointers from my work with Sifu on the dance. Timing of roll back for disappearing, and not actually showing the line; Shift to left foot on receiving side of dance in part one instead of shift to right foot when receiving first push; empty stance instead of bow stance after golden rooster in part 7.

Shifted topics to the energy of the different moves/techniques and the correlation of cardinal and cross cardinal directions of the techniques, how the concepts may or may not translate to the body mechanics and how it all ties in to the 8 tri-grams and elements.

I think we all developed some curiosity about the classic philosophy and texts and how that may impact our physical observations/awareness when applying any of the techniques.

Shifted back to working on the dance at different levels, and then settled in to some work on the press energy using part 4 of the dance as the platform.


The last several Wednesdays have been a good mix of analytical conversation mixed with physical experiments using the dance as technique sequences as the lab.

It has been very rewarding for me to take on this depth of practice and push past my current comfort zones with the material.


Thanks all.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 10.13.2014

Phil, Luke, Jason, Jack, Colleen, Rob

Started with a speedy warm up, then when into some single and double stick twirling. Moved on to Stick and Empty hand anyos.

After stick anyo 1, I broke off and worked with Rob, while Jason and Luke continued to work with Jack and Colleen.

J&C worked on performance level forms 1-8 solo with comments afterwards. then went into some applications and other material.

I focused mainly on form adjustments and practice tips with Rob. We also reviewed the first 5 in the handshake series, and spent a little time on basic trapping.

Great to have Jason and Luke in the room to work on the more advanced materials for J & C.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 09.22.2014

Rob, Jack and myself

With an eye towards reviewing materials for testing in November we started with some stick twirling, moved on to stick and empty hands forms, then to block check counter.  For Rob the focus was on the angles of attack and working on the coordination of the lower counter strikes. For Jack, we worked on review the obstruction removal drill/Slap off drill which was rather rusty. We ended with an introduction to the 6 count drill.

Prior to class starting Colleen made a brief practice appearance with Jack. It was great to see them working on the disarm counters. If we have the right mix of people tonight it would be good for them to get some more time in on the counters.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 01.27.2014

Luke, Jack, Colleen, Hannah, Phil

Quick warm up with emphasis on the importance of the basic circle up and down training for personal practice. Extra time spent on basic switching, Then on to single stick twirling with Luke and I calling out different techniques and stance changes that folks should be trying to incorporate. Then the same with double stick twirling.

Moved onto to forms. Had Hannah follow along with the group on stick anyo 1, then Luke spent the rest of the class working with her on the form.

For Colleen and Jack it was a review of the stick anyos with control and then an emphasis on flow. Also reviewed the short cane form a couple times.

Moved on to review of empty hand anyos. For Colleen 1-6, for Jack 1-8. Extra time on 5 and 6. Once we we are clear on technique and sequence, the emphasis was again on trying to perform the anyos with flow. Not necessarily fast, but smooth.

After form review Jack and Colleen reviewed disarm counters.

By the end of class, Hannah was making it all the way through the sequencing of the first stick anyo thanks to some focused work and great coaching by Luke.

We very quickly ran out of time.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Notes 01.13.2014

(Jason, Ron, Jack, Thomas, Colleen, Teryn, Phil)

Jumped right into form review. empty hand 1-8

Teryn 1-4, Colleen 1-6/7, Thomas 1-7, Jack 1-8

Stick forms 1-4 right side with flow.

Short Cane form review several times. Then worked the 2 person cane form drill. Jason talked with folks about comparing and contrasting the movements and awareness between the Arnis style and the Tai Chi style.

Worked sequence, distancing, awareness of weapon energy directions, tip management and weapon interaction points.

Great energy in the room, and it was nice to have Ron join us for half the class with the cane work.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 01.06.2013

(Jason, Luke, Jack, Colleen, Hannah, Thomas, Phil)

Quick warm up

Unfriendly handshake

trapping hands: couple minutes sets (basic, right forward, left forward, to backward throw, to center lock, to straight arm gooseneck, to mobility throw, free style)

Block check counter with striking styles.

Group circling awareness exercise.  feed to center from outside moving circle, center intercepts and tries to use clean striking styles and re-position to best effect.

great group.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 12.16.2013

(Luke, Scott, Jack, Colleen, Hanah, Max, Phil)

Basic Warm up

Warmed up some more with locking series.

paired up to work on 12 angles of attack. Depending on level, worked basic angles with control, follow through and ballente.

Stick sinawali and rendonda work

Empty hand sinawali translations


Nice mix of experience in the room.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 11.04.2013

(Jason K, Jack, Hannah, Phil)

Jason and Hannah worked on angles of attack and few other items while I worked with jack on counters to disarms.

Then we spent the rest of the class working reps of striking styles.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 10.21.2013

Jack, Colleen, Hannah , Phil

It was great to have Hannah join us. We went over some basic warm up/developmental drills, the 12 attacks, block check counter, single stick single sinawali and a couple minutes of 2 stick single sinawali.

Hannah worked with all three of us on the above basics and I spent some time with Colleen and Jack on disarms, counters, slap off drill and the counts. Colleen and Jack spent a little time on some tapi tapi at the end of class.

Never enough time on Monday, especially when we have a new student with a high capacity for new material.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 08.12.2013

Small Class (Jeff, Jack, Phil)

Short warm-up followup by some review.

Stick and cane forms, empty hand 1-7 with Jack leading, then went through through 8 once with Jack following.

Round robin of the disarms and the counters to the disarms. Round robin of some tap tapi with let to right, right to left, left to left and right to right. We added a little extra brain work by organizing the exit to position for interacting with the 3 person in the round robin.

Round robin of trapping hands with the same multiple engagement awareness.

Fun class.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 06.24.2013

Private lesson (Phil & Ron)

87 degrees
40 minutes of trapping
some back and forth knife disarm work.

Small, but high quality. :-)

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 06.10.2013

Private Lesson (Phil, Colleen, Ron)

Worked form 6 a bunch. then reviewed empty hand forms in reverse order with some extra time on 5 and 3.

Ron Joined us for some work on the cane form, and the 2 cane form drill.

Wrapped up with 5 minutes of tapi tapi review.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 04.22.2013

Small high quality class (Phil, Colleen, Jack, Ron)

Quick warm up.

Review of the locking series right and left and the Counter for counter locking series.

Then moved on to sensitivity training with tip inserts.

Partner fed 1 and 2 strikes with right and left sides. Recipient block, insert tip, circle, disarm. Worked accuracy of the block using a controlled strike to the hand.experimented with the affect of different insertion depths.

It took some time for people to get the "feel" of the drill on both sides. eventually we switched over to an empty hand translation. Partner still feeding the same strikes with the sticks, but the receiving side intercepting and disarming empty hand.

Good progress made by all.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 04.08.2013

Small Class - (Phil, Colleen, Jack, Tim)

Did a short warm up with emphasis on wrist stretching.

Had Jack and Colleen work on sinawalis. (stationary, back and forth footwork, then circling around the dojo)

I worked with Tim on single stick sinawali alternating right and left sides. then we spent some time on two stick single sinawali.

Had jack and Colleen move on to disarms and counters followed by 6-8-10-12 count

I worked with Tim on block check counter, stance work and the first 5 moves of the stick anyo.

Class was over before I knew it.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 04.01.2013

Small class/private lesson (Phil, Scott, Tim)

Started with a quick walking warm-up.

With everyone facing the mirror we reviewed the 12 angles of attack with control first, then with flow.

To the mirror we then worked through striking styles.

Last we worked through the striking styles with a partner holding out their stick as a stationary target. Extra emphasis on slow and relaxed in order to work on angles and accuracy.

Great basics review. I can never get enough reps/time in on this material.

Scott did a great job at making observations and sharing them with Tim throughout the two person work.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 03.27.2013

Small class, a lot of call outs. Phil, Justin, Thomas, Tim

Short warm up.

Started with some basic tapi tapi enter and exit work. Then worked the "rolling punyo" drill as a build up for actual punyo passing work.   I had Justin and Thomas spend the rest of the class working on punyo entrance tapi tapi techniques.

I spent most of the class working with Tim going back and forth between basic entrance and exit tapi tapi (with Tim just doing the following) and working the 12 angles of attack through block check counter.

Also worked a few minutes with Tim on the first 3 moves of the stick form.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 03.11.2013

Phil, Luke, Jeff, Scott, Thomas, Colleen, Teryn, Tim

Great group in the room.

After a brief warm up and some single and double stick twirling we reviewed block check counter (high, low, punyo) right and left sides. Moved on to disarms and counters right and left side. Obstruction removal/slap off drill right and left.

Ended with a short burst of punyo passing.

The class time just disappeared.

-Phil

Luke and I talked about building up to a review of some knife/gun SD disarms. later in the month.

Modern Arnis Class Notes 02.18.2013

(Phil, Luke, Jason, Jeff, Scott, Colleen, Jack, Justice)

Quick warm up with some single and double stick twirling.

Unfriendly handshake locking series right and left side, followed by Rolland Rivera locking series.

Then spent the rest of the class on trapping hands, trapping hands with transition through locks, then trapping with locks to throws to limited ground work.

Worked a bit with Justic on backwards throw, center lock and arm bar. Then moved on with him to review the angels of attack.

Sense Kratz spent additional time with Justice on basic stick work.

Great to be back in the room with such great people.

-Phil

Modern Arnis Class Notes 01.28.2013

(Luke, Jason, Scott, Thomas, Jack, Lance, Phil)

Short warm-up.

right and left sides.

Angles of attack practice with control, with flow, ballente

Block check counter with control and ballente walk block check counter

6, 8, 10, 12 drill.

Good class.

~Phil