Shadow

Jon Purton
Oct 12, 2017
2 min read

Shadow is the imagining of opponents around you, imagining scenarios and most importantly imagining how you would deal with those scenarios.

The important thing about shadow is that unlike Katas in Karate or Patterns in Tae Quon Do they are not pre-formulated. It is made up on the spot by the practitioner.

It allows you to practice the movements with a full striking power as you don't have any worries about your partners hardiness or experience with the pads.

It is important that the practitioner practices a full range of skills and that means that they will be knocked to the floor, practice a break fall a climb or a fight to the feet technique. They can practice anything but as long as it flows.

The imagination and dynamic visualisation techniques employed by drilling shadow cement the neural pathways in the brain that link the movements together. It improves the freedom of the brain and helps them make their own decisions rather than following a dogma which states you should do what you're told it provokes creativity and dynamic thinking.

The act of shadow improves the practitioners body mechanics immensely. This allows for more fluid movement and increased power. Essential for tackling a predator or an encounter with more than one opponent. It also helps them understand the dynamism of the drills and for them to come up with their own scenarios and combinations.

Most of all it allows us all to create our own style with and what works for us as individuals.

Have a look at this shadow video from a couple of years ago when I was very sweaty.