http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH31NDIlFIM
So while I’m writing up a review of Intu-flow by Scott Sonnon, I thought I’d share this clip from Choke with you. This is Rickson Gracie doing some of his training for an upcoming full-contact tournament in Japan. As you can see, he has incorporated a lot of yoga into his training, and he is very soft. Look at the flexibility of his arms and elbows. His breathing is great, too. Look at his control. I hear that the Gracies mostly use yoga and swimming to prepare for fights, but I don’t know how true that is.
Choke is an awesome documentary BTW. I highly recommend it if you’re at all interested in jiu-jitsu. It shows more of the above — how the Gracies really train and what it’s like behind the scenes. Regarding that, there’s a funny scene where Rickson is talking about the upcoming fight and he makes a comment in front of his wife. His wife is in the kitchen and she comments back in a way that lets you know the Gracie women aren’t intimidated by their husbands. Wives always know their husbands’ weaknesses, even in the Gracie family. 
4 responses so far ↓
1 james // Jun 17, 2007 at 4:56 am
Nice nauli.
2 Tye // Jun 22, 2007 at 1:04 am
I didn’t see any internal mechanics there. “Soft” is not the same as “internal.”
3 chessman71 // Jun 22, 2007 at 9:46 am
Internal doesn’t always depend on mechanics that you can see.
4 eastpaw // Aug 8, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Flexible =/= internal. You said that in another post yourself, Chessman.
Qi-based training also does not make an art internal. Most external Chinese arts are qi-based. Arguably, even western boxing involves (basic) qigong, though they don’t call it that.
Then again, what defines an internal art? Movements characterized by focussed intent and lack of muscle tension? Blows that damage the qi centres/ meridiens/ internal organs but leave the skin and bones largely unhurt? I have absolutely no idea.
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