Connection Game (Patreon)

• LMA Table of Contents

This game naturally teaches practitioners to stay oriented to their opponents and move their feet while maintaining the same staggered stance. Not just facing their opponents but maintaining a consistent distance.

The conditions are to stay staggered and not to allow the foam noodle to drop. It's not just about seeing where I am but feeling where I am through connection. It fosters game sense. One cue I give practitioners is to imagine they're cradling a soap bubble between their legs and not letting it pop by bringing their legs together or letting it fly away by crossing their legs.

In this demonstration, I act as the Lead, guiding the practitioner in developing their stance and movement. This game works best with one person as the guide and the other as the follower. This practitioner is learning through my movements. I am acting as their second body, and they are trying to stay tethered to me.

The practitioner in the demonstration is post-op, and today was the first day they were cleared for exercise. This practitioner deals with chronic pain, hasn't exercised in months, and has never done martial arts. However, after several rounds of playing this game, they attuned to me and their body, maintained stance, and naturally developed footwork with no crossing of the feet or breaking of stance.

You can also modify this game by adding speed, replacing the foam noodle with gloves, having both players attempt to lead, or any other modifications based on the skill you are trying to achieve.

– Sam