DISCUSSION

Quick reminder / introduction of a few key concepts

The following are 3 of the key elements needed in almost all of the skills –

• Project – This changes the state of your arm so that energy flows outward as a continuous stream, rather than being generated by isolated muscle engagement in individual body parts.
• Pivot – The pivot is the point that does not move. It is usually the point of contact—for example, where your wrist is being held. Leverage system requires a fixed pivot.
• Move as one piece – When you move, you must engage your opponent instantly. Stepping without affecting your opponent effectively advertises your intent to resist.

Guiding vs Pulling Analogy

One of the clearest ways to illustrate our power systems is through the example of tugboats.

• Large cruise ships cannot maneuver easily in tight spaces, so they often rely on one or more tugboats for assistance. These tugboats guide the larger ship rather than attempting to push it using brute force alone.
• The large ship and the tugboat are connected by a chain, not a rigid steel bar. The chain allows the angle of connection to change freely without creating unnecessary torque.
• Anyone who has driven an older car without power steering knows how difficult it is to steer when the car is completely stopped. Steering becomes much easier when the car is moving—even very slowly—while turning the wheel.

Common errors

• Stiffening the arms creates a leverage system that your opponent can exploit. Your arms must remain relaxed and adaptable, while your focus stays on the target.
• Instead of leading and steering with the hands and fingers, many people rely on muscular force to push through. This undermines control and efficiency.

SCENARIOS

Handshake

Escape a handshake squeeze by controlling specific joints:

• Relax your fingers while minimizing movement in the aggressor’s hand. Secure control of the thumb and rotate it in the direction it is not designed to move.
• Apply downward pressure combined with rotational force at the joint.
• Practice this slowly and step by step. For example, develop a basic understanding of how the finger joints function. Instead of using a finger initially, you may use a pen or a chopstick to learn the twisting action safely and clearly.
• Next, practice extending your arm while maintaining downward pressure and applying the twisting motion. After that, incorporate a step-around. Train each component separately, even when practicing alone, before combining them.

Tripping over uneven pavement, tree roots, stairs, etc.

Tripping over a seemingly flat surface is one of the major hazards for people of all ages. Younger individuals often recover quickly, but for seniors, a fall can have lasting consequences. This exercise is designed to improve your chances of avoiding or recovering from a trip.

• Lean forward into a long step, placing most of your weight on the front foot, while keeping the back leg relatively straight.
• Without rebalancing or shifting your weight backward, attempt to free the front leg by briefly yanking it upward into the air, then landing back on the same leg.
• Progress from a straight upward yank to an “unhooking” action, allowing the foot to land slightly in front of its original position.

EXERCISES

During the previous season, we experimented with gallop steps and stutter steps. Each addresses different needs and answers different movement questions. This season, we will begin with the sliding step.

Before proceeding, it is important to understand that most people naturally move using a two-beat step. In the first beat, the distance between the legs increases; in the second beat, the trailing foot is brought in to return to a neutral stance. In a combat context, a two-beat step takes too long. It is far more efficient to accomplish the same movement in a single beat.

The sliding step achieves this by allowing both feet to travel in the same direction at the same time.

Required Variations to practice

• Sideways travel to both the left and the right, using different leading feet
• Leading foot switches from a stationary position
• Leading foot switches while traveling left or right
• Create variations of each of the above by changing between high and low levels
• Intermix the sliding step with all other stepping methods

Common challenges

• If you have hip issues, proceed cautiously. Experiment to see whether leading with one side feels more comfortable or stable than the other. Also explore different stance heights to find what works best for your body.
• Ensure that the workload is shared across multiple muscle groups, including the abdominals, glutes, and inner thighs, in addition to the quadriceps and feet.
• Be aware that if the step includes a phase where the legs widen before coming back together, it has reverted to a two-beat step.
• Focus on sliding. Minimize or eliminate bouncing to reduce impact and unnecessary stress on the knees.

SIDE NOTES

You must put in consistent effort to achieve meaningful and rapid improvement. The following are my expectations of every participant:

• Review class notes
  You are expected to read the class notes every week to ensure nothing has been forgotten. They are usually available by Sunday evening. Do use the time before class to ask questions before class begins.
• Arrive early
  Although the official start time is 9:00 AM, the room is available beforehand, and I typically arrive at 8:45 AM. This 15 minutes can be used to warm up, ask questions, socialize, and practice with different partners.
• Practice outside class time
  Practicing only during class is not sufficient. Physical training is essential for sure, mental training is equally important. Thinking and reviewing class notes is a form of mental practice and reinforces what you learn on the floor. All the skills must become reflexes.
• Read all the notes from previous seasons
  I strongly encourage everyone to review class notes from sessions other than the current one. This helps you understand the larger framework of the system. If you encounter anything you do not fully understand, ask questions. Do not be shy.