From: ninjam@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Marty)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Big Deal!
Date: 13 Apr 92 19:59:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: uwm.1992Apr13.195924.21875
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Originator: ninjam@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

psc@sei.cmu.edu (Peter Capell) says:



>So here's the poop.  I know, everyone is going to be saying "so what" to what
>I'm sharing, but for me it was an advance--I may just be slow after all.

Not at all, this brings up a very important topic(s)..

>What
>I have found is that if I simply speed everything up, really fast, I can get
>inside much better.  Sound obvious?  Well, it is sort of.  You see, in the
>past I have either been following him, or retreating.  I don't like retreat
>much just because I enjoy the repartee of battle.  But, most of the techniques
>I know require twisting or circling, and this discovery is really only what my
>teacher has been showing me for some time.  I just never cognized how fast the
>execution would have to be.  

What you are doing is changing your timing or what is known in fencing as
Cadence.  The formal definition being "speed regulated to coincide with
the adversary's".  When you adjust your cadence to get out of a set
rhythm of fighting (and when you fight there is generally a set rhythm,
even though not generally noticed) your tempo becomes changed and new
avenues are opened up for you to strike your oponent (tempo being
the exact moments when it is most productive to hit an opponent).
Another example of what you have done is if.......say you were super fast.
When engaging in combat with someone, you would generally set up a fast
cadence by attacking with fast techniques and such.  Now say you were
to do fast techniques followed by one of a slower pace.  Then tendency
is there for the opponent to follow through on the set and allready
established rhythm or cadence of the fight.  Even if he only follows
through for a minute fraction of a second, the rhythm is still broken
setting up previously unseen opportunities.
A thrid example is pretty much a blanket statement called "Broken Rhythm",
which is used by Boxers and many other martial artists.  Broken Rhythm
is just that, breaking the established rhythm of a fight, as stated above.
The Rhythm of a fight can even be broken with a slight hesitation (feints).
It can also be broken by falsly reacting to a feint by your opponent
(anotherwords making him think your reacting to his fake), but suddenly
following thru with a seperate counter attack instead.
(And this also shows how both sides in the fake vs. real technique debate
awhile back both have valid points).
You can also break your rhythm by adjusting to attack on the one-and-a-half
beat, which is initiating a technique/attack during your opponents.
A beat being the time it takes to perform one technique (kick, punch, ect),
and the half representing attacking during the technique.  So if you were
to perform a technique to get your opponent to counter, and then were to
alter your cadence to quickly attack while your opponent was initiating
his/her technique, you would again be going out and breaking the established
rhythm of the fight.
It's easyer said than done, but can be done.  Experiment like you have
been, and keep up the good work!


>For example: Marty has a particularly acute sense of distance, esp. with
>regards to his backfist.  Often when I think he is out of range, he is able to
>score a strike with a tremendous lunge forward.  It is a rather intimidating
>experience.  Anyway, just this past Saturday,  I discovered that if I just
>kind of stayed put (as opposed to moving either forward or back) and rotated
>rapidly counter-clockwise (Marty leads with his left side), swinging my right
>leg into his approach leg and using my outer forearm--I could penetrate his
>straight-line movement from the left, leaving me very close to him and in
>range for the strike with either my elbow or backfist.
>I know, it is elementary, but I just thought I'd throw out an experience for
>you all to leap upon (and please don't leap upon the preposition at the end of
>my sentence).

Congratulations!  You just discovered what is termed as Fighting Measure and
Footwork.  (No sarcasm intended).  Fighting Measure being the exact distance
that you are from you opponent in which he can not actually hit you without
lunging at you, but that you are still able to move in and connect with
a short forward movement, and footwork being the ability to maneuver(sp?)
your self into a position to connect a hit on your opponent.
What you did to counter was using good footwork to position
yourself into a choice position.  This is hardly a basic thing to do,
and is often times easyer said than done.  There are many other things
you could have done also such as duck and counter, or slip and use
your footwork with the slip at the same time to move in.  Again, what
you did was one of many options but definately on the right track.
Most importantly you learned about the options good footwork can provide.
Also, you might want to look in on your fighting measure with Marty.
Fighting Measure varies from opponent to opponent because each opponent
varies in speed and movement.  Becuase he is good at fast lunging movements,
you may also want to look at increasing your Fighting Measure as an option.
(Again, this doesn't mean to place yourself on the other side of the room,
since fighting measure calls for being in reach to still strike your
opponent).


>A side note: I find it amusing that for years various teachers have told me to
>keep my back straight up and down when performing, but I only learned it from
>Marty after my head got hit a few times.  Pain is such an effective learning
>mechanism. 

Straight up and down as opposed to hunched over, or what?  Not exactly sure
what you mean.  Either way, congrats on your discoveries!

Marty
(Not the one in the above post :) )










*I said that just to annoy whomever it was pestering me about how this is a
 "newsgroup" --to be spoken with one's nose in the air...