DISCUSSION

Concept of the Pivot

• A pivot does not move. If a pivot moves at the same speed as the rest of the line, the action becomes a simple direct push rather than a push with mechanical advantage. A common example is the center point of a seesaw, which remains stationary while force is applied on either side.
• The farther away from the pivot a force is applied, the greater the mechanical advantage generated.
• If an opponent manages to rest a hand on your shoulder, they have effectively established the pivot of their mechanical system. In this situation, blocking at the elbow will be ineffective because the resistance at the shoulder is positioned farther back, giving it superior mechanical efficiency.

Generating Force Through Projection and Structure

Projection and visualization are functions of the mind in additional to the physical body. For example, you may move your body into a specific shape and reinforce the shape via the mind, you can also anchor certain parts of your body as pivots even though there are no physical bolts to keep you there, or you can put your arms as a circle and imagine your arms and the body form an expanding sphere. These mental constructs are tools that influence physical structure.

All of these methods rely on a single underlying principle: using intention and mental framing to alter the mechanical system in a way that shifts advantage in your favor.

Power of the Bent Rebar

A straight piece of rebar can be bent with relative ease. However, once it is bent, it becomes extremely difficult to pry back into a straight line.

This phenomenon explains why we do not keep our arms fully straight when punching or pushing. Instead, we maintain a slight bend so that the elbow joint does not become a structural weak point. The same principle is applied in certain anti-grip techniques, where a bent structure makes the “crowbar” effect feel significantly stronger and more resistant to leverage.

SCENARIOS

Many people push by relying primarily on their upper body while leaning into the target. This approach usually requires you to be physically stronger than the person receiving the force, which is inefficient and unreliable. The following principles address this problem:

• Do not lean into your target. Leaning forward makes you vulnerable if your opponent suddenly moves away, causing you to lose balance and structure.
• Do not apply force in a simple straight line, as explained during class. Instead, adopt pendulum mechanics whenever possible to redirect force and improve mechanical efficiency.
• During a push, the arms should travel only minimally. The true engine of the push comes from the whole body, not from the arm muscles alone. While the arms must maintain structure, they should not be limp, nor should the entire body and arms become stiff.
• You cannot take a preparatory step before pushing, as this signals your intention to your opponent and gives them time to resist or evade. Engagement must occur at the moment the intention to push arises—you must affect your opponent immediately, without telegraphing.

EXERCISES

Plank

The standard plank is widely regarded as one of the most effective exercises for engaging multiple muscle groups. Our approach is similar, but with a slightly different emphasis.

The focus here is on developing the ability to relax muscles that are not directly involved in maintaining the structure of the plank. You should learn how to “lock” your joints appropriately so that the correct shape is preserved with minimal muscular effort.

The goal is to experience what it means to use only the minimum set of muscles required to hold the plank. This skill—efficient structural engagement rather than brute muscular tension—will prove extremely useful later in your training.