Deconstruction, Reconstruction

There are a few factors of mine that define me as a martial artist. A major one is that I operate pretty solely on visualizations and “does it feel right”, as opposed to breaking a sequence down and understanding the mechanics behind it. Another is bold, brash, and maybe borderline arrogant confidence. This is probably fueled by the fact that I think that if something feels right, it must be right. Alas, not always the case. 

Recently when reviewing a chunk of Mlon Kuon, it was discovered I was entering a technique from the wrong lead. According to Sifu Rybak, trying to enter the technique from the wrong lead should typically cause a disruption in six harmonies. So why do I do it the way I do, the way that instinctively feels right, when it messes up my harmonies? Easy answer. It doesn’t. 

Apparently, before I launch into the technique, I perform a little hop shuffle adjustment thingy that aligns my weight and timing and harmonies juuuuuust right and bada boom. It’s golden. Apparently, at least. Frankly, I have no idea what I’m doing that makes it work (I’m just trying to reiterate what Sifu Rybak said, but I still haven’t really figured it out myself yet) (she also called me ingenious by the way, thought you all should know) (no take backsies). 

At some point, to compensate for an incorrect habit, I subconsciously deconstructed a move and reconstructed it with a calibration to correct it. I think there are some pretty obvious pros and cons with this, but I’ll talk about them anyway (I am a genuis after all). 

Pros are that my six harmonies are in a state where I both consciously and subconsciously try to achieve them. I am knowledgeable about my body and the way it needs to move. Heck yeah. Thumbs up. 

Cons? I do things wrong and don’t realize it, I guess. I think I need to have more confidence in this aspect, because I do things right. I know what I’m doing. I think. It know what feels right, at least. And hey, feeling right is the first step?