Outside

Training inside the school is great.  There are flat, soft mats. The environment is closed and predictable, making it safe for the students who have been training for a while.

Training in the park by the school is a great change of pace.  There is uneven, bumpy grass and slippery wood chips.  There is a play structure with a tire, slide and monkey bars.

So what happens when students do forms outside?  What happens when they do partner drills like reps, street stages and chi-sao?  How is it different from training inside?  With a new space come new options.

With forms, it’s often confusing to do them outside because students become reliant on the orientation of the school.  They get used to starting their forms facing a particular wall, turning and seeing a familiar piece of scenery, etc.  When things change they can become confused.  This is great practice for tournament, where students will find themselves doing forms in an unfamiliar space.  Like all things, if you’ve exposed yourself to it before, it’s easier.

With partner drills, footwork and grounding become much more interesting.  There are all sorts of things to trip and slip on.  It usually makes students more aware of where they are putting their feet.  In addition, there are environmental options that don’t exist inside the school.  You can swing a tire into your partner.  You can jump over a portion of the play structure and create a barrier between you and your partner.  The environment, used properly, can become something that helps you defend yourself.

Get outside and practice your Kung Fu.