Internal and External Feedback

Tonight we looked at two kinds of feedback: the kind we can give ourselves and the kind we can only get from a partner.

For the “internal” feedback, we used forms.  For the “external” feedback, we used chi sao stage 3.  Both drills have their strength and weaknesses.

Forms, as a way of getting feedback rely on the practitioner being aware of their body and  knowing what good structure is.  Our attempt to remedy this problem was to select a couple of basic moves (stances and strikes) that crop up frequently in our forms and look at what makes them good.  The burden of proof (so to speak) as to the rest of the quality of the form is up to the individual practitioner (and the eye of the teacher as they walk by, of course).

Chi Sao stage 3 as a way of getting feedback relies on partners agreeing on speed and intensity.  Our attempt to remedy this possible problem was to encourage reaching with strikes (so as to give your partner opportunities) and to welcome (as in fight back but don’t amp up the speed or intensity to do so) any counters (throws, submissions or strikes) that your parter might come up with.