“Learn how to stand, then how to walk, then how to kick and then how to jump, so then you will move and be where your opponent least imagines you will stand, walk, kick or jump.”
“Some schools are declaring themselves the ‘house of fighters and champions’, but in that regard we can proudly say that we are the ‘house of Martial Arts writers, thinkers and educators’. Join us!”
“Gorindo is both philosophy in motion and applied philosophic motions.”
“Have you ever heard the expression 'Don’t think!'? Surely, but don’t take it so literally, it is just a quick way to say “Do not distract your mind from what you are doing right now. Keep thinking, but do it so fast that others will perceive you as if you never activated the smallest neuron, including yourself!”
“Sit instead of laying down, stand up instead of sitting, walk instead of standing, kick instead of walking. Be active so you really enjoy your resting time!”
“In order to move well, the martial artist requires a body that is well tuned and in good running order, one in which reflexes, balance, strength, flexibility, and intrinsic energy are responding in harmony. This is not possible without good alignment of the spine.”
from ‘The Secret Art of Health & Fitness’
by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
“If in zenkutsu-dachi you feel tension in your calf muscles then your front knee is flexed more than it needs to be and it will lead to injuries over time.
On the other hand, if you don’t feel the muscle tension in your forward leg quadriceps, then your knee is not flexed enough to provide you with a stable forward stance.”
“Calluses on my knuckles? No, I don’t have any. Why damage my hands when I need them healthy to write, draw, make music and caress my loved ones. I certainly know that self-defence is more than just showing off a pair of rough knuckles!”
“If you are still thinking that you finished your kata in the exact 'same place' that you started it, then you are not in a harmonic dance with our planet around the Sun...”
“In the low light of Sunset just close your eyes, meditate, and when you open them you will see more light around you, even when there is less of it while entering the night.”
“Kime is the maximum expression of your energy in the minimum time.”
“In between days of training do not just stop moving, on the contrary, be energetic and productive... After all that is just one of the many reasons of training.”
“When your teacher wants you to practice and work on something that you have done before, it is not because you were doing it wrong, but the time has come for you to do it better.” from the book ‘The Peaceful Way’ by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer”
“If you want to do something as a martial artist that you will never be tired of it is to exercise courtesy and sincere respect for others.”
“Good technique is important but an unbeatable spirit is vital!”
“A correct mental attitude, a solid expression of respect and a transparent spirit for learning is more important than fitness level or physical ability to start Gorindo. When a new student wants to join my classes I must also ask myself if he/she will be able to add a sincere quota of good camaraderie to the rest of the students, and also if I will be happy teaching or practicing with him/her, after all we will be sharing hours, weeks, months and even years together in the dojo.”
Gorindo Kihon - Studies on Hip Mechanics: basic, intermediate & advanced. Progression samples of different dynamics using basic techniques for a better management of rhythm and speed by Claudio Iedwab
Plus Bonus Material: 'Gorindo Circle', a breathing exercise from the book "The Secret Art of Health & Fitness" by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer.
Morning tennis games are quite a challenge. My body has not moved much since getting out of bed and it takes its time to actually wake up. All my muscles feel stiff and it’s not a feeling I like to have walking onto the courts, especially for a match because it can mean losing the 1st set. I already have to worry about other things in the 1st set like familiarizing with the opponents’ style of play while working out a strategy
with my partner. It wouldn’t work well if my body does not respond when I command it! So this morning I decided to do kihon for 5-10 minutes before leaving the house.
The house has limited space and it’s like an obstacle course, so instead of going back and forth in a straight line I’d go around the island in the kitchen, the dining table, the sofa, going in and out of different rooms without stopping. I’d just turn 90 degrees to change direction like in the basic series, mawate when I hit a wall. I quite enjoyed this exercise. It is also really good because I got to move all my muscles, most importantly my hips. My knees got warmed up without being aggravated, my calf and hamstring got stretched by the zenkutsu-dachi. The whole routine got the blood flowing and awakened my body... I practically felt warmth flowing through my arms to my fingertips. The last combination we did last week included an outside-inside block (soto-uke) which was a good warm up for my service arm. It is particularly hard to lift my arm to serve when my body is still asleep. I had no such problems today and I went on court feeling great!
“Each time I enter the dojo I also bring the teachings of my seniors. Sharing such treasures with my students bring them closer to my heart through distance and time in every class.”
“Focus is the clearest way to take onboard your tasks while avoiding intrusive distractions.”
“Why is it lately that so many martial artists are presenting themselves with such ‘pompous and flowered’ titles and degrees that they themselves did not use to address their own teachers at the same level of experience? Come on people! Didn’t anybody tell you that your students will still respect and love you anyway?”
Making footprints in the sand with Kiito Hachidan for the first time in the Dominican Republic by Joe Pach Sempai!
Kihon (slow) from Gorindo Kata Kiito Shodan for 9th Kyu White Belt by Claudio Iedwab
Bancroft, Ontario, Canada, September 2009
Kihon (dynamic) from Gorindo Kata Kiito Shodan for 9th Kyu White Belt by Claudio Iedwab
Bancroft, Ontario, Canada, September 2009
©2011-2015 Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer