Legwork question

[Tim Nichols]

Let me say first that I'm not by any means a 'belt collector,' and I'm not particularly looking to train to the tests here.
That said, I'm aware that SiGung Steve strained through a blizzard of material to come up with the structure we have before us in the DLP, and I'm sure that there's a reason it's organized the way it is.  I'd like to honor that structure, and I'm having some trouble understanding it.  To which end, I have some questions about legwork.

It seems fairly obvious to me that when working on Djuru Satu, I ought to be working the movements/attitude of Djuru Satu, applications of same, etc.  Likewise for the other four basic forms.  Even where the movements are common to more than one form, the attitude the form teaches will call forth a unique set of applications.  That part makes sense.

But the initial legwork all comes out of the five forms, too.  Now obviously, if I can't do the entire legwork warm-up set without falling on my can -- which, unfortunately, is presently the case -- then I need to train up to that.  The only way I could use Sweeping Dragon to take someone off-balance right now would be to muckle onto the guy as I'm falling over, and drag him down with me.  Pretty sure it would work -- who trains to fend off my deadly Narcoleptic Dragon Attack? -- but I'm shooting for better...  So that much is obvious: I need to get on top of the choreography.

My question is, how much should I be looking to grasp applications of the legwork at this point?  Should I not be worrying about applications of, say, Walking Dragon (which I can do easily) until I get to Ling Sing Toy, or should I be looking into apps at this point? 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Art Kidwell]

Ha ha, you have quite a foundation in the history of the system!

Yes, the LegWork warmup came from the forms.  It was Sigung's way of creating a *useful* warm up, so that people would be developing the hardest thing to develop, legwork, from the beginning.

I wouldn't worry about the things that are presently difficult to do, just do them until they become "first nature" and they won't be difficult anymore.

This is a journey, we can't expect to reach the peak in a day, or a month and maybe not even in a year or ten.  But the joy is in the journey.  No need to hurry.  Especially on some of those things that are not particularly designed for those of us who might be referred to as "mature."  Sigung included another form in the program for those "mature" individuals who can't make dragon tails work.  It is called Ishing Po, or the Laughing Joyful Waters form.  I'll try to find it for you Tim.

The applications will come to you in the middle of the night, or driving down the freeway, or at the beach. Don't worry, they will come.  At some point, you might even feel a little obsessed with application, but let it take its own time; no need to force it.

Peace,
Art

[Tim Nichols]

Art,

No rush on that form -- you've certainly given me plenty to work with.  I'll just keep on truckin'.   

In my particular case, it isn't that I can't get low -- that's just a matter of strength in the posture, and I'll develop it in time.  It's that too much time working low *really* wrecks me, courtesy of a knee deformity that developed in my early teens and never quite went away.   (I ain't old yet!  Honest!)    

I can do a siloh (walking dragon) without pain, fast, hanging on to some unfortunate's head -- no sweat.  But the three solid weeks of Djurusan Sepak practice that it took me to learn to do siloh that way -- I was limping for months.  It was like being 13 again, and not in a good way.

At a healthier pace, turning my Narcoleptic Dragon Attack into an honest-to-gosh Sweeping Dragon may take some time, but I ain't going anywhere.  Who knows, but the time I get to Ling Sing Toy, I might actually be ready...

[Art Kidwell]

One of the things that I've noticed in observing Sigung Steve, is that his legs and feet are always in the right place to make the opponent's balance wrong; it's like magic, just watch the videos. Same with BaPak Willem and Pak Vic and epitomized in Pendekar Paul.  It makes KunTao Silat appear effortless . . . people just fall down.

But, I think the lesson Sigung is trying to teach us is that the payoff comes from the training.  Doing the legset everyday, at least, and at every class and all day whenever you think to "take a stance" will ultimately pay dividends far in excess of anything that can be described in words. 

Naturally, you and I will practice some stances more than others; I mean, imagine doing dragon-tail sweeps down the supermarket isles; careful with the eggs.   But the stances we practice constantly are the ones that kick in like auto-pilot when "punch/kick comes."

It is pure genius; using the LegWork set for warm-up.  It is beyond me that people don't get it; and use it.
Guess the concept is too simple.  People are always looking for the complex answers or the magic pill.

I think one of the things I've heard Sigung Steve say to more people, on more occasions, more repeatedly, than anything else is: "your legwork sucks."  He has also often said that that is the very reason he developed the LegSet Training WarmUp . . . so. . . 

My $.02
Art 

[Tim Nichols]

I made dragon-tail work!!!! 
(sort of)

It wasn't a sweep per se; I still can't imagine pulling off the circular sweep.  But I was in a clinch and going nowhere; thought 'wonder what dragontail would look like here?'  I dropped into it -- kind of a 'rocking' motion where my feet moved to bracket his feet, but my trunk dropped straight down -- broke his posture something wicked.  From there up into stance #3, hanging onto his far leg -- it worked so darned well he went horizontal at about chest-high, and I had to work pretty fast to keep from dropping my partner on his head.

I think it surprised me more than it did him...   

Funny how the 'right' situation seems to call forth some interesting things.

[Art Kidwell]

Congratulations! 

The value of a good training partner is inestimable in this system! 

I was just watching the video "Steve" on the Distance Learning Site and noticed where his feet always are.  Even when he is more erect, his entries are always a variation of that dragon tail sweep.  I'm thinking that as a training method, that position gives you the deepest penetration into your opponent's balance framework.  Add the dropping and rising to that and there may be a key formula to consider and practice.

Good to hear that the training is going well! 

Peace,
Art