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 I
have an understanding of the concept of making the weapon a part of
"me". Although it is
hard to grasp, I have found that, when
you are using the bo at speed and the flow comes, you are not thinking
about the bo itself. That is a start. There are times when you need to
be alone in your studies and there are times when you need support. I am
lucky in that I have a key to our studio and have permission to use it
anytime I wish. That helps when I need to see the bo whilst using it.
The length of one wall is mirrored and seeing the motion helps determine
whether it is right or not, or clean or not. Then there are times when
you need someone to critique you. This isn't just for the bo movements.
In concentrating on the movement of the bo you can sometimes lose track
of your stances etc. A reality check is a must and should be done at
least once a week. I also take time to study others techniques. This can
be for learning new bo techniques, but also for determining whether you
are doing the techniques the best way possible. Now it's time to restart
and rethink the bo ...
 It's time to revitalize the bo staff in my martial arts career. It's
time to get back to the point where the passion was, and build it back
into an art form. I have recently bought a new, hand made bo staff. It
is ultra light and ultra thin and it rocks. It rekindled the original
passion I had for the bo staff and given me new drive towards mastery of
this weapon. I will restart the running commentary but this time I will
put the latest entries at the top so you don't have to scroll too much!
I have
included the original text
here, as a reference to where I am,
from where I was. I know there has been a large gap in time but, as you
may well know, if it isn't there, it isn't there! If you don't have the
drive to learn, the intense, burning desire to excel, then there is no
point wasting your time in trying to carry on.
I am hoping
to get some pictures of me training with the bo staff, as well as some
short video clips, and maybe some pictures of others training with the
bo too! Let's see what transpires. Here we go ...
 Rebirth
The new bo is
awesome. There is no "weight" issue and if it should swipe you on it's
way past, it doesn't hurt too much. Today I got a handle on the one
handed, two rotation spin with a whip. Wow, what a move. I can do the
one handed single rotation spin just fine now ... I didn't realize there
was a two rotation spin, but it looks awesome. If you transition from a
two handed reverse spin to a two handed spin then drop into a single
handed spin the flow looks great and the speed is comfortable yet fast.
It's not easy to explain that one! Anyway, you can end up with the bo in
the rest position under your arm, or you can enter a striking pattern
... or more! Time to practice!
Sunday
03/30/03
There is nothing much to say right now. I tried to catch up today but it
just wasn't in me. I have to accept that sometimes there are times when
my mind and body just don't want to train. That's hard! More later!
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 Sunday 03/16/03
I like
training alone, that's why Sunday's work for me. I concentrated on the
double one handed again and the flow is coming. I also moved around
with various spins to get the flow going and that worked too. I still
hit my head on the overhead strike though, that's driving me nuts, but
that will come back with practice. I feel like I am moving forward
again, and that's a good thing!
Sunday
03/09/03
Another hour at the studio alone and I am still struggling with the
double spin. Sometimes it comes off barely okay, other times it doesn't.
In the end I put in a sparring helmet, I had hit my head too many times.
I honed some of the other spins that I know and got some flow on the
blocking transitions. Now I need to start to piece together some tricks
into the bo moves ... somehow, and get a new form put together. It's
hard training alone on this but that's the way it has to be for now. I
will see how things progress over the weeks, now that I can practice a
little after classes during the week. Enough for now!
 Sunday
03/02/03
I went to the studio today, alone. I am lucky to have a key ... time to
practice the double one handed spin. At first I couldn't get the idea of
what I needed to do. My thumb would not allow the extra half rotation I
needed to complete the double spin. After about forty minutes I realized
that the knuckle on the first finger was actually stopping me from
rotating the bo the extra distance. I got the spin going, albeit awkward
and off center ... but at least I got it going. I practiced the two
handed spin, attempting to get it more centered ... and transitions from
that spin to others. That went well ... and felt good too. I only hit
the ceiling twice on the baseball bat swing ... ahem! Once I get the
transitions comfortable I will try the over the shoulder swing and
around the neck swing. At that point I should be able to add some kicks
to the routine and start building a dynamic form. We will see!
Sunday
04/20/03
Okay, so I haven't written in a while, but I have been training. The
main reason that I have written is because I am doing the same flow
drills over and over again in an attempt to make the bo an extension of
my hand. It seems to be working ... if I am not thinking too much! I am
also working a lot on an open form. I have the honor of being taught by
some of the Next Generation Demo Team, so I can't turn that down! Next
week I am going to the Martial Arts Super Show in Las Vegas so I won't
be training ... well, not with the bo anyways!
Sunday 10/21/03
It's
been a while since I have had time to update this web site. I still
practice every Sunday and I have learnt some new spins from KJN Kevin.
I was going to compete last Saturday but work sent me to Hong Kong for
a week. I have another new bo and this one is just right. I need to
get the balance a little more then I will have a well balanced and
easy to use bo. Now for the form ...
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