| I've known Helen for years and she's been in | | | | martial arts drills. People get bored with just a set |
| charge of a Kuk Sool Won class for the past two. | | | | that they do every time they come in, and after |
| Helen's great, she's tough, she's smart, and her | | | | a while, doing the same repetitive exercises will |
| school turns out responsible martial artists that | | | | stop having the effect that it had at the |
| can throw one of heck of a punch. I was in the | | | | beginning." "Makes sense," I agreed. "So what |
| area and due to take Helen out for lunch, so I | | | | other drills do you like to use with your students?" |
| showed up early and attended one of her late | | | | "I like pulling drills from a bunch of different |
| morning classes. I was a little surprised; it's been a | | | | places," she replied. "Ones that make you travel |
| while since I've done any Kuk Sool Won training | | | | are good, because you know everyone's exerting |
| and I certainly didn't remember some of the drills | | | | themselves the same amount. Crocodile walks, |
| we were using. After we'd showered and settled | | | | where you lie face down and move across the |
| down at our favorite Thai place, I inquired about it. | | | | floor without letting your torso touch the ground, |
| "So what's up with the machine gun sidekicks?" I | | | | help with body control and general strength |
| asked. "Isn't that usually more of a Tae Kwon Do | | | | training. Don't underestimate basic exercises like |
| exercise?" With machine gun sidekicks, you stand | | | | lunges to get you warmed up. "One of my |
| on one leg and throw a kick while jumping up just | | | | favorites is having everyone stand up straight, |
| enough to let the force drag your standing leg | | | | put their hands behind their head and lift up one |
| forward. This makes you move in the direction of | | | | knee to touch their chest before lowering and |
| your kick, though it's not a traveling move, like | | | | doing the other, sort of like you're marching. Doing |
| jump kick. Helen had started us on one side of | | | | about 25 reps of each leg gets you warmed up |
| the dojo and made us move across the floor. If | | | | and is terrific for developing kicks." I winced, |
| you're not used to them, they can take a real toll | | | | rubbing my sore muscles. "All that and you still run |
| and even sitting in the air-conditioned restaurant, I | | | | a class afterwards." "You bet." She grinned. "Trust |
| could feel the burn up my thighs. "It keeps things | | | | me, it makes for much more entertaining |
| interesting," she smiled and when I confirmed that | | | | practices." |
| she just wasn't being a sadist, she continued. "If | | | | Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He |
| you want keep your students interested, you | | | | covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free |
| need more than just the normal or traditional | | | | report on Martial Arts drills visit his blog. |