"When asked; ‘What would you like every martial artist to know, that they might not know at the moment?’ “The secret to your success lies not in your style or method, it’s intrinsically connected to your internal beliefs and wiring. This may seem like a cliche, something obvious, but what you think, what’s in your head, is a lot more important to self-defense, to your ability to defend yourself, than what physical techniques or strategies you know.”
-Tony Blauer
"Sooner beats faster every single time."
-Brian Copeland
I've decided that this week I will focus on fighting. This is another post regarding tips and strategies I have found beneficial.
The first can be found at this link; http://zenjael.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-10-rules-of-fighting.html
Perhaps the most important principle I can underline in this article is the fact that no opponent is ever the same as another, and even an engagement with the same opponent can differ radically than your last encounter with them. This is where the philosophy of 'presentism' exists foremost for the fighter; only the now is, the future and past irrelevant because they no longer exist, at least not in the sense as this very instant of time does.
I received a comment that I did not cover mushin, or no-mindedness regarding fighting. I covered it in a post I made last month, but I think it a fair point and something that does need to be included.
1- One must train until correct response is instinctual for everything the opponent does or could do. If they throw a punch, depending on the kind one should be able to instinctually and correctly respond without conscious thought. If a straight jab one should instinctually respond by weaving back or to the side. If a haymaker one should instinctually block their inner arm, and so forth. But in each of these responses one cannot, does not have the time to think, I will do this, I will do that... their body should be trained to automatically respond immediately and reflexively with the exact proper response, to all possible situations. This seems impossible; it isn't. It merely takes much time concerning practice and honing one's instincts and reflexes harmonized with their techniques. It may take thousands of encounters and practiced situations before the engraining takes. In a sense what we practice each time we program not only in our brain, but our body as well. And the more training the more efficient and ultimately more effective the programming for how to respond.
2- Develop quick footwork; the ability to pivot and move quickly and easily, as well as be able to tread with heavy steps can make all the difference. The sprightliness of being able to jump around creates mobility, whereas stepping heavily can keep one from being swept or tripped, pushed or moved by your opponent. Different situations will require different responses. Do not be jumpy like a rabbit, this wastes energy. And treading does not mean slow or heavy steps- it means stepping and with each step remaining rooted. Rooting will make you un-liftable, un-sweepable, and potentially immovable by them.
3- Intercept their strikes. When they punch for example, one can easily control their hand with your elbow or other points of contact with your own body. I personally have a preference for utilizing the point of the elbow and aiming it between the fingers of the oncoming fist. However, doing this can easily break their hand, so be careful. It also takes much practice.
4- Use vital points; pressure points especially. If accurately struck the area surrounding the nerve will be temporarily shocked and deactivated, causing numbness and inability to be used. These points cover the body, and with skill any area made contact with can trigger the same effect. This is because there is no point on our body on its surface that lacks nerves, and these nerves act as channels to convey force. Take advantage of their physiology; a strike to the armpit will shock the area where the lymphnode network bundles together in a nexus. A blow there is not only extremely painful, but with enough force can make that entire side of their body numb. A strike to the joints, as well as anywhere bones come together can cause the bones to separate or break. I can go on and on with examples, but the best way to equip yourself is to start studying biology and coming up with your own ideas on how to utilize it.
5- If they have no vulnerabilities, make them. I do this when I cannot get through their defense to strike their interior, be that their core body or the head. I will hit and hit and hit their limbs until it either hurts too much for them to move it, or it is numbed and cannot be utilized.
6- Do not leave a strike out, dangling like a fishing line. When you throw a move return the limb as quickly as possible with control so it, and thereby you cannot be grabbed. This notoriously happens with kicks because many leave it out for even a fraction of a second longer than they should.
7- Inversely, a strategy I have found to ironically work (usually with lesser trained individuals, so keep that in mind) is to let them grab an extended limb. I prefer my legs. If grounded properly they will not be able to trip you. If they attempt to make you fall or lose your balance, say by pushing against your body with your leg, or raising it to make you stumble, keep control by moving the supporting leg back, braced against the ground, in a sliding or hop-hop motion. What makes this tactic useful is by taking your limb they occupy one or two limbs they will need to defend themselves, and to control you often cannot kick without being forced to let go. They commit themselves to keeping, maintaining control, and with their hands occupied and down they open themselves. With your hands you have an opportunity to exploit their opened vulnerability, using two arms or legs against their single arm guarding, or entirely lowered guard. Take advantage, that is the point of this strategy.
And if they drop the leg, use the momentum to plant yourself forward, advancing. I have yet to see this fail, but it takes practice.
8- Evade when you can, avoid blocking a strike when possible. My reason for this is certain martial arts are internal, and some opponents such as taijiquan practitioners can just by touch manipulate nerves, muscles and tendons; your very organs as well if skilled enough. They can cause severe pain just through touch, and even damage. I avoid letting others touch me in a fight wherever possible because of this, and my experience on the receiving end firsthand.
9- If going to block, make sure it is also a strike. If going to make a move, make sure it gives you an upper hand. This will make what you use more efficient, limiting energy expenditure, while allowing you to stay aggressive at all times, even while defensive, and it is only by being aggressive you can triumph.
10- Stay relaxed and only tense as the strike is delivered at the last instance before contact is made. Staying tense throughout slows you down and essentially fight yourself. You should be like a whip, only tensing as it does at the end of the motion. This is how the most effective punches are often made.
Bonus;
11- It is always allowable to give ground if strategic. I once won against a particularly difficult opponent by backing up the entire time, and as they chased me, punching all the while I pummeled them with kicks as I retreated. They exhausted themselves (Try running and punching at the same time, and you'll see why) without ever touching me, while getting hit dozens of times in the process. They had longer arms, but my legs were even longer, thus I was able to hit the space I had retreated from while they entered it. My greater reach and backward momentum meant that by the time he tried to grab I had already made contact and was out of reach. Giving ground is not life or death; one may lose their home by doing so, but stay alive to build another. A retreating army which never loses a man but picks off many of the enemy as they go will their foe, as well as demoralize them. If you live and they don't what it matter save you survived? What does it matter that I retreated the entire multi-minute bout, I won when the other gave up, out of breath, while I was still raring to continue.
There is a difference between cowardice and strategy. Always remember that.
“Learn avidly. Question repeatedly what you have learned. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.” – Confucius
No comments:
Post a Comment