A Little Shii-Cho video

[Darth Nonymous]

I threw this little video together as a lark. Let me know what you think.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr3f28BgBRU" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr3f28BgBRU</a>

[MrJediMan]

Very nice moves! However I detect a hint of Vaapad in it. I may have to refer to this video more then once

[Master Lucien Kane]

I presume the gentleman in the video is you. I am going to post on that presumption correct me if I'm wrong! 

I like the video! Really in depth and a very good description that goes along with it. The camera focus is off, as I am sure that you are aware of... Believe it or not it makes a difference. It's always better if you can see every shift and redistribution of weight in each technique. The fuzzies hide flaws in techniques. At least that is my opinion, I plan to make a video... about posting videos! lol.


Anyways, the techniques themselves...

The likes: I like that you include all target zones, I like your blade work, and I like how decisive your execution is.

The dislikes: I don't like that you lean forward, and overextend your body for some of the techniques. It's an aesthetic choice, and a calculable gambit to try and draw someone in. I use this in sparring, however for Shii Cho you want to teach good fundamentals which means a good posture, a good stance, and evenly distributed weight. This should be the "find your center" form. IMO


Overview: A very informative video with a lot of good stuff, but as is true with all of us, there is room for improvement. I watch my videos and see things all the time that I want to tweak, and need to change.

Also this is only my opinion, and others will have different opinions!

GREAT JOB!!!!

[Master Rel]

Very useful video!

Taking the good with the bad...the good outweighs the bad by far.

Some of the little things that glare after 35yrs+ of doing kata since I was 11...

as noted the leaning forward

a sense of no eye contact with the target

going through the motions

crossing your wrists

lack of movement continuity



Sounds like a lot and it is not...I liked the video...short and concise...to the point...the fuzzies were a bit fun, I figured to protect the innocent 

With the classic karate stances and approach that you are presenting, intentional or not, I would like to see a bit more core focus.

Your core is soft in the video, as if practicing at 10%.

Meaning that you were going from this move to this move to this move, all with the same emotion and intent.

No driving through the target, limited finish to the moves, and overall just a bit of dance rather than martial.

But again, not hating at all...just trying to critique with consideration of improvement.

I liked it!

[Darth Nonymous]

thanks all!

A little note about the techniques:

The lean forward: The lean forward with the shoulder turning all the way to the target is a common longsword practice when working solo. It's like a follow-through in a racket sport. The last 2/3  of the motion is not explicitly done in combat. There are three levels of chopping motion in the form, the full Sai chop (with the lean), the smaller amplitude cho strikes, and the short shiim type stikes. The lean helps train the body motion and balance in 3d space while preserving the centerline.
http://www.hroarr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mair-longsword-c93-1550-08.jpg

It also provide a good techniques for shouldering the opponent after a parry.

[Darth Nonymous]

Very useful video!

Taking the good with the bad...the good outweighs the bad by far.

Some of the little things that glare after 35yrs+ of doing kata since I was 11...

as noted the leaning forward

a sense of no eye contact with the target

going through the motions

crossing your wrists

lack of movement continuity



Sounds like a lot and it is not...I liked the video...short and concise...to the point...the fuzzies were a bit fun, I figured to protect the innocent 

With the classic karate stances and approach that you are presenting, intentional or not, I would like to see a bit more core focus.

Your core is soft in the video, as if practicing at 10%.

Meaning that you were going from this move to this move to this move, all with the same emotion and intent.

No driving through the target, limited finish to the moves, and overall just a bit of dance rather than martial.

But again, not hating at all...just trying to critique with consideration of improvement.

I liked it!

Let me comment on a couple of points for a little clarification:

"With the classic karate stances and approach that you are presenting, intentional or not, I would like to see a bit more core focus."-
These are actually Chinese stances. This form was pretty much taken as-is from the Chinese military Da Dao and Chinese longsword train sets that used to be taught to the armed forces. That might account for the little things you are seeing that don't fit quite right.

"Your core is soft in the video, as if practicing at 10%."
I disagree. It is difficult to impossible to see core activation from outside, much less from a video with lots of effects on it . Core stability should actually be dynamic. I can guarantee you that my core is functioning perfectly in the video. I am of the philosophy that martial arts when done correctly it looks soft and fluid. The core contracts at the beginning and end of each motion. the initial push for the strike and the deceleration at the end of the motion.

"No driving through the target, limited finish to the moves, and overall just a bit of dance rather than martial."
The lean is the follow trough that teaches driving through the target. The crouching strikes as well are powerful downward chops intended to cleave in two. The upward and sideways sweeps of the saber are all traditional longsword tech. I guess you could dance with it, but I doubt you would win any awards. 

[Darth Nonymous]

thanks all!

A little note about the techniques:

The lean forward: The lean forward with the shoulder turning all the way to the target is a common longsword practice when working solo. It's like a follow-through in a racket sport. The last 2/3  of the motion is not explicitly done in combat. There are three levels of chopping motion in the form, the full Sai chop (with the lean), the smaller amplitude cho strikes, and the short shiim type stikes. The lean helps train the body motion and balance in 3d space while preserving the centerline.
http://www.hroarr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mair-longsword-c93-1550-08.jpg

It also provide a good techniques for shouldering the opponent after a parry.

oops! other pics I wanted to post:
http://www.cordens.be/japan/katana_bestanden/tameshigiri_mei[1].jpg
http://www.st-max.org/FechtWeb/Images/Mlongsword/meyerD.jpg

Thanks for the feedback!

[Master Rel]

Great rebuttals!

Your thoughts and comments go a long way to cover many of the bases noted above by myself and Lucien.

I completely get that your intent was to be focused and fluid...the reed bends in the wind 

As for the technique looking or not looking like a Karate form, I was speaking more of the footwork, hips, and shoulders.

Interesting that you mention that the form was based upon a dadao form; the dadao being one of my favorite weapons.  I have competed in weapon forms using the same. 

Again, I liked the video.

By soft core and dancing, taking in what you have said, I would say that the technique is slightly out of alignment or time...in my eye, which is not a point of perfection lol...just a note of observation.

I can barely watch myself on video, because I see all fault and misstep lol.

[Master Lucien Kane]

thanks all!

A little note about the techniques:

The lean forward: The lean forward with the shoulder turning all the way to the target is a common longsword practice when working solo. It's like a follow-through in a racket sport. The last 2/3  of the motion is not explicitly done in combat. There are three levels of chopping motion in the form, the full Sai chop (with the lean), the smaller amplitude cho strikes, and the short shiim type stikes. The lean helps train the body motion and balance in 3d space while preserving the centerline.
http://www.hroarr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mair-longsword-c93-1550-08.jpg

It also provide a good techniques for shouldering the opponent after a parry.

I thought this might be the case, I could tell the lean was every intentional. As I said, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just personally for my tastes I don't like them in katas.

All my critiques were mainly from an aesthetic point of view, not a tactical point of view.

[Darth Nonymous]

I thought this might be the case, I could tell the lean was every intentional. As I said, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just personally for my tastes I don't like them in katas.

All my critiques were mainly from an aesthetic point of view, not a tactical point of view.

I understand. For me, the lean adds extra drama to the movement and translates well to live performance being large and easy to see.

Also, keep in mind, I merely threw this together one afternoon. The effects help cover that fact up a little. The performance is by no means a show piece. But I have students who like to have visual references so i put it together for sequencing. I hope to put a more complete tutorial with basics and walk throughs.

[Master Rel]

I understand. For me, the lean adds extra drama to the movement and translates well to live performance being large and easy to see.

Also, keep in mind, I merely threw this together one afternoon. The effects help cover that fact up a little. The performance is by no means a show piece. But I have students who like to have visual references so i put it together for sequencing. I hope to put a more complete tutorial with basics and walk throughs.

All this...quite valid my friend.

Your video was most welcome and appreciated.

[Darth Nonymous]

Very nice moves! However I detect a hint of Vaapad in it. I may have to refer to this video more then once

Interesting....

[Master Nero Attoru]

Very nice moves! However I detect a hint of Vaapad in it. I may have to refer to this video more then once

I can see what you're talking about!  I think it has to do with the leaning and follow through that Lucien and Relmeob were pointing out above - it gives the kata something of an aggressive edge which is reminiscent of the more offensive styles (Vaapad, Djem So, etc).

Of course, I love to see a different variant of Shii-Cho... seeing different people's interpretations of these forms is very interesting to me!  Especially the fact that it was rooted in an entirely different philosophy - using longsword ideas rather than the traditional katana work that you see in most Shii-Cho forms (NYJ, etc).  It definitely gives it a unique flavor, while still covering the main points of the Form.

Great video man, thanks for sharing.

[Master Uilos]

I really like this version. I do see what people are talking about in the critque section, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I was a little thrown off by the footwork, though. It wasn't as clear (my main weakness is footwork, so I look directly for that.) as I would have liked. It was more walking than striking, and I saw locking them straight as well. That's my one and only snit, I'd love to do this one for group. Thank you!

[Darth Nonymous]

Wow, i am humbled by the response. Thanks.

Let me respond to a couple of things.

The aggressive nature of the techniques is something I actually am trying to tone down in this form, concentrating on simplicity and proper form. That might account for a bit of the footwork issues. And I do believe I screwed it up at the end. "Threw it together" 

The knees being "locked" or brought to full extension: yes, you probably did see that. I assure you it is intentional. By snapping the knee back into extension you activate the posterior chain and create more stability and power through your strike. It is the same mechanics in a lift or kettle bell swing. The focus, however is not the knee, and in the movement, there is not much tension anther than stability happening in knee, but higher in the hip. full hip extension and driving the heel into the ground creates a strong base and root.

Again thanks fort the feedback and responses. It is much appreciated.