Last week I had my 1-1 with Vladimir and as always the conversation was light, illuminating and insightful.
Vladimir shared his insights into movement, how it should feel and how that can enhance your skills and quality of life.
As we gear up for his upcoming Movement Masterclass in September, I wanted to share some of these thoughts and ideas with you.
Three stages of Movement Mastery
1. Internal Freedom: The Breath
The journey to free movement begins internally, with the breath. Vladimir emphasized the importance of checking if you feel freedom inside yourself. Are you already experiencing tension that locks you up? Start in a static position by observing the free movement of your breath in and out of your body. Notice if it flows effortlessly or feels forced and restricted. The key here is simple: if your breath doesn’t feel free, it will be challenging to find freedom in your movement.
2. Freedom in Body Parts
Once you’ve assessed your breath, the next step is to examine the different parts of your body. Vladimir explained that you need to check if there is freedom in the movement of your head and neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, torso, waist, hips, knees, and ankles. Do any areas feel restricted or painful? The goal is to move these parts in a way that creates space rather than restriction, just like the ‘play’ in a gearstick.
This is also the way to move to begin the healing process around injuries.
3. Freedom in Action
The third stage is to test that freedom of movement when the “tires hit the tarmac.” This involves maintaining that feeling of internal freedom during progressively more challenging movements, such as walking, running, push-ups, squats, leg raises, and ground movements at various speeds. Can you sustain that freedom when performing these activities?
But it doesn’t stop there. Vladimir challenges us to maintain this freedom when interacting with others, such as when someone grabs you or during sparring. Do fast, aggressive movements bring tension to your body, whether they come from yourself or another person? Does aggression or confrtontation itself make you tense? This emotion will take away your freedom.
The Lens of Movement
Our body and movements are the lens through which we see and experience the world. If your movement is free, relaxed, easy and calm , that is how you will experience life. Conversely, if your movements are tense, effortful, choppy, erratic, and restricted, that will colour your perception of the world.
Join the Journey: Movement Masterclass
In the upcoming Movement Masterclass, Vladimir will guide us through finding freedom inside our movements. We will begin with solo drills, progress to partner drills, and then test our skills in more dynamic scenarios such as grabs, multiple opponents and knife work. This holistic approach ensures that we not only understand the principles intellectually but also embody them physically.
This week at the Academy, I will be incorporating these concepts into our classes. I invite you to explore these ideas and begin your journey towards freer movement. Together, let’s prepare for the profound experiences that await us in September.
To secure your spot in Vladimir’s Movement Masterclass and embark on this transformative journey, click here to register.
By integrating these insights and practices into daily life, you can unlock a more optimal level of movement and life experience. I look forward to seeing you in class and at the masterclass in September.
Here’s to moving freely, living fully, and see the world through the lens of freedom and calm.
Click the image below to find out more and register
All my best as always,
Matt.
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