Top Highlights

• Play is not self-conscious. Self-consciousness is something Vladimir speaks against when he says, “don’t care about what you look like.” If you want your body to react instantaneously and properly this attitude of play is crucial to training.
• so many problems can be overcome by taking a step or two. It’s odd that so many martial arts go out of their way to teach people to “root” when everyone plants their feet instinctively once they’ve left childhood behind. So, don’t just stand there, take a step and adjust as you go, but get moving. Anywhere is better than where you are when you are ...
• Vladimir proposes moving like a ball. The ball, unlike the willow, moves when force is applied to it. There is no fulcrum and no point of tension to take advantage of. I
• You can’t “root” or plant your feet. You must move your feet and shift your weight to stay standing. You must also be light on your feet and ready to shift in an instant. Your body should feel like a buoy bobbing in the ocean waves.
• Balance is really dynamic imbalance, or constantly transitioning your weight while maintaining control of your body.