Note: This is an unlocked LMA module. If you want access to the rest of Liberation Martial Arts, upgrade your account. We send out learning modules almost daily. If you're no longer getting LMA updates, your payment information may no longer be up to date. Click on the table of contents above to see if you have access to LMA.
Butch came to us from Atlanta to explore the Liberation Martial Arts movement approach. In this video, you'll see them working with one of our training organizers on a partner-based movement activity. The focus is on transferring and recycling energy—passing it from your partner to yourself and back again, like a conversation through movement. This exercise emphasizes mutual responsiveness, not domination—feeling, not forcing.
Comfort with touch is scaffolded through foam noodles and chest protectors, inviting practitioners to build trust in themselves and their environment. This isn't just about contact; it's about creating the conditions where sensitivity can bloom.
Butch is also training their gaze—learning to keep it soft and steady while relying on peripheral vision to perceive the full movement landscape. In LMA, the gaze is part of our movement, not separate from it. It shapes how we relate to our partner, our environment, and our feelings.
Breath powers each movement, making it more fluid and less effortful.
Lastly, they're working on using their feet like hands.
This interplay unifies our movement and our breath to make them like water sloshing back and forth. Our approach is not about replicating form but exploring possibilities—in yourself, in your environment, and with your partner.
To access the Liberation Martial Arts curriculum and contribute to the sustainability of this project, consider upgrading your membership. As we deal with the economic impact of the LA wildfires, find other ways to support me here. – Sam
✊✊✊
(I write daily about martial arts and other topics from a liberatory perspective. If you like my work, upgrade your subscription. You can also support me on Patreon or make a one-time donation on Ko-fi. Find Southpaw at its website. Get the swag on Spring. Also check out Liberation Martial Arts Online.)
Share this post