(Picture taken from an android phone when the tide was low at Parksville)

DISCUSSIONS

Yanking versus Pressing / Expansion / Extension

A key principle when applying pressure in self-defense—especially to escape wrist grips—is not to rely on simply yanking. Yanking is a withdrawal action that makes the angle between your forearm and upper arm more acute. Instead, you should be slightly expanding that angle.

By pressing, you reduce the space between your forearm and your opponent’s grip. This creates structural pressure rather than relying on speed or strength, making your movement more efficient and harder to resist.

Breaking the Support Structure

When working against a grip, it is critical to understand that pressing directly against your opponent’s support structure means working against their strongest line.

Once you identify his line of strength, you should instead choose a line at an angle to it and apply your body weight there. This allows you to compromise their structure rather than contest it directly.

Everything at once

You need to engage your opponent from the very moment you begin stepping, rather than treating the step as preparation for the “real” action.

By doing so, you deny your opponent any advance cues that you are about to defend yourself. The microseconds lost through hesitation or staging are often decisive in determining the success of a technique.

SCENARIOS

Stick Swings – A few of you were practicing the stick swings. A few very important corrections:

• Grip Too Loose
  Yes, the grip should be relaxed, but letting the stick dangle with just two fingers is excessive. Maintain a controlled, responsive grip—loose enough for fluidity, but firm enough to retain structure and control.
• Use Body Momentum
  Remember to put your body behind each swing. This not only increases the power of your strikes, but also keeps you mobile. By moving with your strikes, you become a harder target to hit, rather than remaining a static one.

Fine tuning and reviews

Same side low grab – Twisting action retains the axis while the rest of the body parts rotate. It is an important component piece of mechanics. In the “Same side low grab”, most of you still miss the importance of the palm twisting action. Furthermore, in the point to belly button move, most of you are bring your arm to your belly button instead of rounding the elbow out to press against opponent’s arm.

Examples of situations beyond the Basic 5:
– Instead of looking at the grip, learning to separate the different grips with eye closed
– Different two hand grips
– what are the similarities / differences besides the number of hands
–
– face to face upper arm grab
– side by side wrist grab
– side by side upper arm grab

Joint Locks
While I really don’t like applying wrist locks, it is important to understand why it can work and why it can also fail you.
While I generally do not favour applying wrist locks, it is still important to understand why they can work—and why they can also fail.

Variability in the Individual
Everyone’s flexibility, pain tolerance, and strength are different. A technique that works reliably in training can fail completely if your aggressor falls outside the “normal” range. Relying solely on joint locks assumes a level of compliance that may not be there under stress.

Understanding Joint Mechanics
Learning how joints function—and where their limitations lie—is a critical part of understanding the human body. This includes not only your opponent’s structure, but also your own strengths and weaknesses.

Joint locks should therefore be approached as a study in mechanics and control, rather than a guaranteed solution. They can be effective when conditions are right, but should not be depended on as your primary and only response.

EXERCISES

Same as in previous weeks.

SIDE NOTES

Some of you have expressed interest in meeting up informally at Bonsor (or nearby) during the summer break—whether to continue improving or simply to retain what you have learned this season.

I wholeheartedly encourage this.

Consistent, low-pressure practice is one of the most effective ways to build skill and understanding. Even informal sessions can make a significant difference in maintaining your progress and deepening your familiarity with the material.