by LaoDan on Mon Nov 27, 2017 12:20 pm
For the way that I teach, I find it to be much more useful than a solo form. However, I want students to be feeling, responding to, and controlling their partner, rather than doing a more “formal” (or “cooperative”) choreography as is shown in the video.
I want them to learn both sides and in both the regular manner and in mirror image so that they can jump from A to B, right style to left style, forward or backward in the form sequence...
With the ability to jump around in the form, they cannot rely on anticipating what move will come next, and they should be trying to control their partner in order to make moves more effective while making it difficult for their partner to respond. This includes making the partner lose their balance, locking them, penetrating their defenses for landing strikes, etc.
I learned two different versions of this form, one more structured (formal/cooperative) and the other version more free, more testing. I find that I can have them learn, feel and practice numerous principles using this approach to practicing the sanshou partner form.