by Iskendar on Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:48 am
Well, what do people think it is we are talking about when discussing IP, other than exactly those foundational exercises? The entire aunkai system is nothing but foundational exercises (and they're as grueling as they come, I've seen fit people nearly black out from them). Dan Harden's exercises are more specialized, but certainly fit the bill as well. I'm really surprised that the call to discuss this thing begets such hostile response, when Dr. Fish' post basically hits the nail on the head: this stuff is NOT being taught for the most part! Why do you think it is people like us try to find out people who DO teach these things? The indoor system at my former school was described as consisting mostly of simple, repetitive foundational exercises no one really wants to do. Oh but I want to do them - *no*. Ten years of diligent study later - still *no* or *later*. The system is being taught like a sportscar with no engine, where you should get the engine right at the beginning. That is provided there is an engine in the first place, which is far from a given in the current sorry state of CMA's.
So stating 'just do your basics and quit whining about IP' is missing the point entirely. For most of us, there are no such basics! We need to find them, identify them, find out how they work and then train the shit out of them to get them ingrained in our bodies, and THEN CMA might be returned to it's rightful state. You know, the reason I stuck with CMA, even when noticing its flaws, is because it contains such tremendous potential. When done right, it is absolutely beautiful.
I.