Let's move on with a bit more katsugi fun.
Focus: Form
Watch For:
1. Take the time to walk around with your drum for a while without hitting it. This will make the next step much easier.
2. Even though the rest of the body is relaxed (and having fun!), be sure to keep control of your sticks and their placement.
Let's take a closer look at the grip for the left hand we learned last week.
Start by grasping the bachi between your thumb and pointer finger:
Then, place the bachi between the middle and ring fingers:
Finally, be sure to relax the bottom three fingers. If these fingers are not relaxed, it will restrict movement.
The first step to walking with a katsugi okedo is, well, taking a step. It's important to practice walking! The drum rests on your leg and keeps the same point of contact. Obviously, the drum is going to move because your leg is moving, but it should not slide side to side or up and down on your leg.
When you practice walking, hold your bachi in their ready position. If you have a mirror, make use of it. Keep your left stick so that it's point is near the center of the drum and the right stick is just next to it. Arms stay relaxed and move a bit with the drum.
Have a look:
So, we talked last week about initiating the left hand from the wrist when preparing to make a big hit on the drum, and the right from the elbow. The same is true if you're making smaller hits. Check out the video:
Let's take a closer look at the grip for the left hand we learned last week.
Start by grasping the bachi between your thumb and pointer finger:
Then, place the bachi between the middle and ring fingers:
Finally, be sure to relax the bottom three fingers. If these fingers are not relaxed, it will restrict movement.
The first step to walking with a katsugi okedo is, well, taking a step. It's important to practice walking! The drum rests on your leg and keeps the same point of contact. Obviously, the drum is going to move because your leg is moving, but it should not slide side to side or up and down on your leg.
When you practice walking, hold your bachi in their ready position. If you have a mirror, make use of it. Keep your left stick so that it's point is near the center of the drum and the right stick is just next to it. Arms stay relaxed and move a bit with the drum.
Have a look:
So, we talked last week about initiating the left hand from the wrist when preparing to make a big hit on the drum, and the right from the elbow. The same is true if you're making smaller hits. Check out the video:
And, here's today's drill:
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & | ||
| Line 1 | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | |||||
| (x2) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| Line 2 | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| (x1) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| Line 3 | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| (x1) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko |
Extension:
Are you ready to put it all together? Try the pattern above while walking:
(See if you can tell what's wrong in this video. Check below it for the answer.)
If you think my criticism lies in the left hand, you're on the right track. My hands are not balanced in volume AND my do ko do kos are not even--can you tell? See if you can do better than I did!
Gambarimasu!
