Groundwork: fundamental integrations
THE WHAT:
Whilst ‘integrations’ are present in both areas of ‘Locomotion’ and ‘Floorwork’ aspects of the greater ‘Floor-communication’ category, in the practice of ‘Groundwork’ they are deserving of a collection entirely to themselves. This is because, unlike their aforementioned counterparts, the foundational ‘Groundwork’ patterns generally require much greater SKILL-DEVELOPMENT (and also capacity-requirement) than, for example, those in ‘Bi-/Quadrupedal locomotion’.
Whilst any able-bodied individual can perform a ‘Bear-crawl’ or ‘Travelling pu-bu’ pattern with little prerequisite capacity or general movement awareness, for example, for some it may be weeks or months months of practice before even the first progression of a ‘QDR static’ hold begins to feel efficient, or for the structural awareness and confidence to develop toward performing a full ‘AU cortado’.
Likewise, progression in the foundational ‘High/low-bridge rotation’ (H/LBR) patterns relies BOTH on range-development, which simply takes the time it needs (it may be years before the mobility to perform a full ‘HBR’ is available, and this cannot be rushed), as well as the cultivation of STRUCTURAL-AWARENESS, which must be understood in the ISOALTED form, before being “plugged into” any developmental integration.
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QDR Entry Variations 1
THE WHAT:
In these initial entries to QDR, the elbow-support position is used only momentary for the weight of the body to pass over it. Regardless, for this quick transition to feel stable & controlled, the elbow-positioning must be optimal and available for IMMEDIATE use in a dynamic context....
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‘Role’ to ‘Box-turn’
THE WHAT & HOW:
A fundamental locomotion transition used for both transmitting and generating kinetic potential. This means that the rotational momentum from the fundamental 'Role' is carried directly into a 'Box-turn' transition (also seen in the 'Box-turn to knee-slide' floor-entrance pattern),... -
'Scorpion-tail' to half Role
THE WHAT & HOW:
A simple integration between the fundamental 'Role' and 'Scorpion-tail' patterns. In order to lead direction into the 'Scorpion', the 'Role' is performed in only half of its full pattern, with the first arc being "drawn" only.In "touching down" after the scorpion, note that the ...
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Sissy 'touchdown'/ to Role
THE WHAT:
A fundamental integration between the capacity-development context ‘Sissy squat’ and the basic ‘Role’ pattern, connecting the world of standing to the world of ‘Groundwork’ through a controlled transition into the floor. The variations are simply from isolated “touchdown”, to either a ‘... -
Negativa leg-switch (NLS) & Role
THE WHAT:
A simple switching of the forward-leg in the upright phase of the 'Negativa' form. Note that all transitioning from side-to-side and movement through space in the 'NLS' takes place "sitting" on the heel with weight through the BALL of the foot, just as in the pivoting transition of the ... -
Role to back-switch
THE WHAT & HOW:
An integrated transition & groundwork pattern between the fundamental 'Role' & 'Back-switch' variations. Whilst the 'back-switch' continues to serve its function as a simple way to transition from one upper-body support to the other (i.e. arm-to-arm), connecting it with the 'Role'... -
'Role' to front-side (FS) 'Corta-capim'
THE WHAT:
A fundamental integration between the rotational 'groundwork' locomotion form 'Role', and the rotational, low-gait transition 'Corta-capim'. As always with the 'CC', a main point of focus is ensuring that the swinging leg is kept as STRAIGHT and EXTENDED as possible, ALL the way around ... -
Role to high & low-bridge rotation (HBR/LBR)
THE WHAT:
A most fundamental integration between the 'Role' and the ‘High/Low-bridge rotation’ (H/LBR) progressions which serve both for ongoing capacity-development and conditioning, further to deepening understanding of these foundational ‘Groundwork’ forms.The main learning objective is awar...
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'AU Cortado' (AUC) circles & 'Role to AUC'
THE WHAT:
As an ultimately dynamic movement travelling through inversion, with practice the 'AU cortado' (or, "short cartwheel") can be used to with efficiency for travel through space. It can also link seamlessly with other 'cartwheel' forms, such as the fundamental 'Travelling cartwheel' or 'St... -
AUC to High/Low-bridge rotation (H/LBR) integration
THE WHAT:
Progressive examples for a fundamental integration between 'AU cortado' (AUC) and 'High/Low-bridge rotation' (H/LBR). Note that each "progression" is NOT etched in stone - depending on your experience, you may find yourself practicing between a MIXTURE of progressions with the two movem... -
'Half-Role' to 'High-bridge rotation' (HBR)
THE WHAT:
A travelling high-bridge pattern in which only the first 'arc' of the Role is drawn (i.e. 'half-Role'), and the second accompanies the full 'high-bridge rotation' (HBR). The effect is that of a normal 'Role' in terms of direction of travel, however the body passes from prone (quadrupeda... -
Bridge rotation to QDR exit w/head-support (HSu)
THE WHAT:
Using the head as an extra support (HSu) toward developing proficiency with bridge-rotations (high & low) to QDR exit. As an isolated context for practice, it brings together two fundamental supports, the bridge and 'QDR', highlighting their innate connection through transverse rotation... -
Standing-to-bridge contexts
THE WHAT & HOW:
Contexts for exploring a controlled transition from standing, into bridge. Whilst in its isolated practice (standing/Sissy-squat to bridge & returning) significant control in back-bending range is requested & developed, in the integrated variations it ultimately serves as a bipeda... -
'QDR Circles' progressions
THE WHAT:
An integrated movement pattern with origins in Capoeira, taking the body through a 360-degrees rotation in space without the hands leaving the floor. Its execution represents a marriage between the full 'QDR rotational pushup' (QDR RPU) progression, drawing the first half of the circle,...
