Archive Results for ' Random Thoughts'
Martial Arts Monthly
Martial Arts Monthly is a website that has just started up that will be running a very simple but highly informative free monthly E-zine. Basically, the whole point of the free E-zine is to distribute a large source of information out to a variety of people in the Martial Arts community to make people more aware about different topics. I like their whole idea and what they’re about, so I decided to write an article for them about The Power of Kicking Low. You can download the current issue by going here.
I believe there needs to be a lot more websites, E-zines, and Magazines out there that are trying to do the same thing as these guys. The more information that gets spread around, the more people will become knowledgeable in a variety of areas. I highly suggest signing up to receive their monthly E-zine by E-mail but you can always simply visit their website to find them.
** By the way, you’ll notice my article is listed by “Drew Kochanowski”. I’ve finally updated my about page, so if you’re interested go ahead and find out a bit about me. It should now explain some things in a detailed but concise manner.
Random Video Friday: Various Kicks
I just happened to find a couple of different videos on kicking that I’ve enjoyed and would like to share them with you. The Bruce Lee video is more about speed demonstrations than kicking but it has some kicking footage within it.
The kick in the third video is just wonderful.
**Update** I didn’t mean to post the third video(“strongest kick”) twice. I’ve fixed it now.
Random Video Friday: Kalaripayattu
I happened to stumble upon a very interesting 4 part series about Kalaripayattu. Check it out!
Now if that isn’t interesting, I don’t know what is.
Random Video Friday: What NOT to Do!
This week’s RVF will be going over a topic that doesn’t get covered too often: What not to do!
The last video is obviously fake but I had to include it because of its greatness.
Sometimes we need to stop and think about how not to do something, rather than how to do it.
Hope you guys enjoyed the videos!
First Aikido Class
This past Saturday, I went to my first Aikido class at a place called Aikido of Cincinnati. I found it to be quite enjoyable and can’t wait to go back again. I was planning on going on Sunday as well, considering they have classes then also, but I wound up getting sick so I couldn’t make it.
I’m usually quite busy during the week days, so I doubt if I’ll be able to make it very often during those days but I’ll be able to attend every Saturday and Sunday(as long as I don’t get sick again
). The great thing is that I can attend multiple classes in the same day, so I’ll probably get a few classes in on the same day. I know it won’t count towards the testing requirements because of the way they count days for the USAF, but that’s not what is important to me anyway. I’m doing this to increase progress in myself, not in rank.
Anyway, because this class was pretty early(9:15 AM, on a Saturday), there was only me and two other students. The Sensei was very helpful in getting me caught up on some of the basics. The thing is that because I have practiced other Martial Arts I can catch on quickly when they show me how to do something, it’s just I’ve never done a lot of the things they do in Aikido. Plus, remembering the names is going to take me some time, but I’m sure it’ll come to be after I continue to do them again and again.
I can’t remember everything we practiced, and some of the things I do remember I don’t really remember the names for them
, so I’ll just list what I do remember. We took turns practicing Shomenuchi Iriminage, since there was three of us. The Sensei was critqueing what we were doing as he watched us. He’d tell us to pause and then he’d point out a few things and correct us. We also practiced a Katatetori technique and a Ryotetori technique. I can’t remember which one’s we practiced. All that I remember is that when we were doing the Ryotetori technique, we would do sit falls instead.
Even though I haven’t got my rolls yet, I’ve already started practicing them at home. To be honest, rolling and breakfalls is one of my weakest points. I mean, I can do them, but I definitely don’t feel comfortable doing them, or rather I don’t feel like I am doing them good enough. As a last note, if you haven’t seen their dojo before, it’s very nice.
Random Video Friday: Martial Art Tricks
I know that a lot of the moves, or tricks, in these kinds of videos aren’t necessarily that great for fighting, but they’re still really neat. The ability to control your body as good as some of these guys is just insane. Watch the videos and you’ll get an idea of what I mean. By the way, most of this is considered “Parkour”. Enjoy!
I especially love the last 1/3 of the last video.



