Rick Hotton sensei sharing his thoughts at the SMK 2024 Spring Keiko, Petaluma CA. If you would like to support our continued effort and enjoy extended content, join us at: / sundaymorningkeiko
Actually a friend of mine (training Shotokan for decades) sent this video to me here in Germany. I'm training Wing Chun since 1990 and I'm really amazed. So interesting. There are so much similarities here - I see so many movements which are similar to Wing Chun. Also the thought about "movement patterns" is exactly the same. Drilling these patterns over and over again like programming your neuro-muscular-system all the time until these patterns just flow in what ever situation under whatever stressfull situation. Ellbows, chopping hands, the combination of attacks, the flow and the power - I guess in the end that's what we are all aiming at in martial arts. So well demonstrated and performed. Thank you! All the best from Stuttgart, Germany - from a complete different style. 👍🔥 Cord Elsner
Thank you for sharing this knowledge with clarity Hotton Sensei - it is a wonderful video. We also have this similarities with Takemusu Aikido where the body movement create unlimited possibilities at high level and it is achieved when we have assimilated the basics correctly. The body becomes the brain and by moving relax, we create a formidable weapon that is commanded with the centre part of our body. We also incorporate the notion of Control (which you clearly demonstrate in this video), notion of emptiness where UKE is striking nothing, the notion of blending (moving at the right time), which you do so well too, notion of lever, notion of no-resistance etc. It combines many of these notions to work with body movements and once we realise that being soft is much stronger than tensing the muscles, we then truly see the true power of the body movement unleashing powerful techniques...
Excellent clip, Rick-sensei! The way you do the defensive/evasive moves with uchi uke, gedan barai etc. is exactly the same as I learn it from my Koryû (Okinawa) Gôjû-ryû teacher at our University Karate Club! There are always both hands involved in quick succesion or almost simultaneously, a slap or contacting and then go in! Also love the naturalness of your moves, always an inspiration!
"Focus on the rhythm, not the construct." He makes that point in another video about going beyond just trying to make required shapes and calling that executing a technique.
