Monday, 21 January 2013

90 degree turn to uselessness


Ernest Shackleton had it, Ferdinand Magellan likely, Anthony Henday, certainly had it.  This uncanny ability to navigate; likely the result of a process of land-marking, memory and visualization.  These are the fellas you hope to have on your soccer team when your plane crashes in the Andes.  Well maybe not Shackleton, I heard he could eat like a horse.

Following the tournament and a noticeable struggle with my hand forms as of late, I have realized that I am a very directionally oriented individual.  While this is great when finding your way out of the woods by compass, stars, or sun, it isn’t a favourable trait when learning a form such as Lao Gar.  I am currently working on my visualization when performing the form in my head, trying to concentrate on the feel of the body and its harmonization rather than land-marking.  We will see where this takes me.

2 comments:

  1. I know!!!! Turn in a different direction each time, soon it will stop having an impact! Just a thought :)

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  2. I use visualization all the time, it works!! Many studies done of the effectiveness of it. Very powerful.
    Practice your forms with your eyes closed. You'll get centered right quick. :) I had a riding instructor ground me very quick when I was in a flap. She had me get on a horse bareback, blindfolded, no hands. Worked like a charm.

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