San Francisco !!!

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I wrote in some other posts how I feel JKD changed my life in many ways, but not only, Thanks to JKD  a lot of things happenned  and it is going on !

I always dreamed of being able to go to the United States, that´s  a fact but participating in an event celebrating Bruce is something I thought I would never be able to do.

Now I read on the foundation site that there will be a 70th birthday celebration in San Francisco on Nov 27th.

I can tell you I ´ll do everything I can  to be there.

This as a  chance to meet some great people from the JKD family and from anywhere else. A great opportunity that I don´t want to miss.

Micke went to Los Angeles in 1998 and even trained at Ted´s place , talking about a dream ..

TRY AGAIN!

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I am not writing everyday of course but I train everyday .

yesterday´s training was good but I am more and more aware of what´s missing.

I start with footwork and go over to the heavy bag,

 Starting with straight lead, then cross and then hook and then combinations.

I feel I have power ( not enough if you ask Micke , but I feel I gain some everyday )

I go on with all kicks and then work the bag with all combinations I can think of, adding knees and elbows and TRY TO GET SOME FLOW!!!!

After that I went back to footwork

The key is to practise until it feels right , until it comes naturally 

I will get there for sure, am I going on practising seriously everyday.

I spent quite some time on this yesterday and I chose to skip some other things

How hard are you ready to work ?

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The question of the day: How far are you prepared to go to meet your goals ?

Well I already answered that question, I need a kick in the A.. to get up to next level, and I am giving it to myself .

I already train every day but I have changed program to focus on the basics which are not good enough for me to evolve properly.

Yesterdays training:

Footwork

Shadow boxing

Skiping rope-  6minutes

Squats-  1set of 30 on each side x4

Situps- 2 sets 50 each

Wristroller 3 times down and 3 times upp , this burns ! I could actually see the forearms growing,  great !!!

Stretching ..

It feels good, I push myself harder because otherwise I will stay where I am.

Having no limitation as limitation.. I always keep that in mind Bruce.

Quality not quantity – Footwork !

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After my footwork and shadowboxing session yesterday, I went on the net and read some articles from Bruce, Ted and Teri. Bruce said in one of them, it is better to throw 5 good punches than 20 LOUSY ones. 

To Focus on the technique but not think too much is no easy task, at least not for me, even if after 6 years I found it easier not to think too much and practise until I feel it right. Practise is the key there is no other way , it does not come naturally !

The good thing is that I know where my problems are , and  the flow must be the biggest. Everything is related to footwork that is why I am working on it more .

I feel, like Micke says  that  I  reached another level but still, there is something holding me back , I feel I lack something really important which is the key to all my problems.

I already know what it is but I even got a better light on it reading Ted´s article on footwork. And I can tell now that even if I have trained seriously during 5 years, this is far from being enough. More time on footwork is what I am doing now.

Because there is nothing more important to me than being good at JKD.

Sweden 05- Ted talks about footwork

Private Lessons

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Our friend Remy is gone travelling in the USA, our friend Michel  is … well  I don´t know … the Sunday group training is reduced to me.

We really miss our guys but at least Remy will be back in a month or so, during this time, I will get only private and intense sessions,  which is good.

Yesterday we worked hard on the punches and Kicks

. Punches on focus mitts

– Straight lead, I cant remember any comment on this one, must have been good 🙂

if anything I lack power ,that I am sure of…

– Hook, the movement is not deep enough I am retracting the arm too soon..

. Kicks

– hook kick,

– side kick,

 – front kick,

. Moving on to the kicking pad

– side kick

– hook kick

– spinning back kick

We are testing the time of reaction when Micke says which kick or punch I should do.

Working with the brain… and adapt to the distance and situation when hearing the words..

Same drill with the heavy bag, Micke moves it back and forth and says “Kick”  whenever he wants, this means the bag kan be anywhere at that time, the speed in the reaction and the distance adaptation are crutial.

. Kick combinations on heavy bag:

– Hook kick : low , regular and high  1-2-3 fast

changing the position immediately to the left side, same drill- 10 times

I need more speed !!!!

. Punch combinations :

Uppercut , hook, and high straight lead- 10 times fast both sides

. last exercise :

Combination Hook – Cross on focus mitts

Punch until you drop !

Speed Power and Stability , let´s start with that, then add calculation of the distance, FOOTWORK!!!!! isn´t that the essence of JKD ? 

Micke´s Art

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While we are waiting for the man to write something I thought I would share a little part of his art, Micke is very creative, he used to write, draw and paint. Here are the Bruce Lee paintings that he made.

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this last one is hanging in my training room, I am so jealous about the ones that are actually in Stefan´s possession..  and he told me he has some more at home. But I can say I have a big  one that no one has ever seen just because it is not finished, the outline is done and some shadow and coulour need to be added,  it is the full size Bruce Lee  figure and it is GREAT … I  will actually finish it someday.

Summer training schedule

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I just got a new training schedule from Micke.

He says I need to increase the level now and the main focus it to get stronger. I need to get some strenght in my legs and arms, apparently the technique is better now and  I need to stand longer and stronger in the fights.

– Footwork and shadow boxing everyday as usual,

– More intense exercises with the JKD pole and  the Heavy bag.

– Heavier Weight lifting, more stomach exercises and special attention to leg press and squats.

– Runing and  biking a couple of times a week as usual but with more intensity.

– Stretching everyday is also a must, this is my biggest weakness I just cannot understand why my body does not get more flexible, but I don´t say that too loud because the answer I get is   ” It is because you don´t stretch hard enough !!! ”  that must be true, even if it hurts like hell it is not enough , but I try anyway  and this will have to pay off someday  ..

– Plus the sunday training as usual where the main focus right now is on the technique.

Words From Micke

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Micke and Stefan are training partners and also close friends. Please check earlier post under “the team members” for more info about Micke.

I asked him to write something here , his comments are coming soon..

Words from Stefan

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As I explained in an earlier post I started training JKD in 2004 at Stefan´s School in Stockholm. Stefan Nikander is the Head instructor for Ted wong JKD in Scandinavia, one of only four people certified by Ted Wong  JKd in Europe. After he read my blog I asked him if he would like to write something and here is what he sent to me:

Stefan Nikander on the Internet and on a blog, that is a controversy. I am a person who is so far away from the Intenet & the Mobile world as you can imagine. I haven’t even sent an SMS yet. I don’t know if this has to do with me growing up before the Computer age. Being 42 years old I spend my childhood playing football, Icehockey and any sport I could find. when I was not doing sport I was busy climbing tress. rocks and anything you could find.
Today I would probably have one of those “letter combination” like ADHD or something. But actually I did very well in school, I have never bullied anyone, never ventured into criminality, drugs etc. I am actually really proud of the fact that I have never done drugs, not even coffee, obviously I have never smoked, never took any steroids even though I have lifted weights since I was 13 years old and consider myself a dedicated weight trainer.
My passion for martial arts started at early age with the Karate Kid movies and here I am today, father of three wonderful children, happily married with my girlfriend from 20 years back, Head instructor for Ted Wong JKD in Scandinavia, One of only four people certified by Ted Wong in JKd in europe.
JKD is all about self knowledge and when I ask myself who really is Stefan Nikander I can only come to the conclusion that he is a very fortunate person  since he has a wonderful family, good friends and if immortality truly lies in first living a life worth remembering I would have no regrets if  my Braintumour would decide another destiny for me than I have and My journey towards perfection would continue somewhere else than on this beautiful planet we call Earth.
Thank you Stefan for your participation in my Blog.
😦

Sadly I have to add that Stefan Nikander passed away on Oct. 5th 2011. He will be  greatly missed , Rest in Peace Stefan.

Summer Run in Sweden…

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I just HATE mosquitos , in Sweden in the summer there is a ” Mosquito invasion ” . You can´t ride your bike or run or even go nearby the lakes without crossing mosquito clouds, most of the swedish don´t mind and aren´t bothered but my french blood must be more tasty or warmer I don´t know,  but I am in hell. 

if you run in the streets it is Ok but if like me,  you like to run in the forest or tracks nearby the lakes , well you have to be prepared to get started with a real fight , this is a new way to practise the shadow boxing , trying to kill as many  flying blood suckers as possible while running, it is very challenging, believe me !