Awareness Training

Try and add another perspective to your training. Awareness…, in particular, your partner.


A lot of times during applications, defence techniques or sparring we concentrate on what we are doing as an individual. Over and over again trying to improve the way we move or attack while not paying much attention to our training partner’s movements.
Its normal, especially when you are new to the marital arts and even as a seasoned practitioner, you find yourself (myself!) focused on your own form when faced with something unfamiliar.
Try watching and feeling how the other person works with you. If the attack is not executed in the manner the drill was meant to be it changes everything for you, but this is not to say it is a negative thing, when you recognize a difference in their body movements you can also work on adjusting your reaction to compensate or if too far of the mark it may be a time to correct.
Very often when we start to become aware of how our training partner moves its visual.
To compliment the visual aspect you want to seek another level of awareness by feel. This takes some practice but when you start to use more than one of your senses you begin to improve your timing a lot faster.

Here's something you might want to try for fun, if you are practicing your applications try working with your partner and close your eyes. Carefully of course, this means a clear area and move slowly to allow for balance issues.

Once the distraction of vision is removed you will be surprised at how much you can read from the other person when you make contact. It’s a fun drill and done safely it gives you a new perspective.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta,Canada