DISCUSSION

Learning through visual vs understanding

In today’s class, we reviewed two basic moves:

1. Low cross-over, thumbs-up grip
2. Low same-side, thumbs-up grip

Some of you recalled how the moves look, but many missed the key points that make them work. Similar-looking movements are not always the same. Don’t just copy the motion—focus on applying the key principles so you can adapt to different but similar situations.

(If you forgot what the key-points are, review the notes from a couple of weeks ago and think of the phrase “Please Practice Relax First“.

Creating your own summaries

Someone suggested having a summary of the key points for each technique. I understand the idea, but that only helps on the surface. The real value comes from reviewing and processing the material yourself. When you jot down notes after class, read my notes, compare, reflect, and write your own summary, you activate your memory. By revisiting them multiple times, you don’t just learn one skill—you internalize a reusable concept that can be applied in many situations.

Best technique

When people begin martial arts, they often expect a one-to-one match between a specific attack and a specific defense. In reality, it doesn’t work that way.

For example, there’s an old Chinese saying: “Of the 36 techniques, running away is the best.” But even that isn’t always true. What if the aggressor is younger and faster? What if your knee hurts that day? When was the last time you actually sprinted—and are you sure you won’t cramp up? Are you even warmed up to run? And what if you’re in an elevator with nowhere to go? Do you have the right shoes?

Asking Questions

When we were in school, the teacher or professor always seemed so knowledgeable, often asking questions that left us stumped. But remember—because they’re the ones doing the testing, it’s natural that we eventually miss something. If we were to question them in return, they might not have all the answers either.

In self-defense, the same idea applies: it’s important to be proactive rather than passive. Taking initiative can disrupt your opponent’s plan and make them reconsider their actions.

SCENARIOS

How to block a punch?

Remember, blocking should be your last resort, not your preferred option. We can break blocking into three key phases:

• Noticing the Attack – You can’t defend against what you don’t see or feel. Train your awareness to recognize incoming threats early.
• Before Contact – Once you detect an attack, there’s a brief reaction delay before your body moves. The time it takes for your hand to reach the target depends on both speed and distance. This is “overhead” time—it has no effect until contact occurs. To shorten this delay, keep your hands ready and avoid placing them in your pockets or behind your back.
• At Contact – You won’t know your opponent’s strength until the moment of impact. Stay adaptable and responsive.
• After Contact – Don’t rely on brute strength to move the opponent’s arm; strength against strength is inefficient. Instead, redirect or guide the incoming force away from your body. At the same time, move your target area—every inch of movement creates more space and safety

EXERCISES

Gallops

As kids, we all pretended to be horses and galloped around the playground. We’ll use that same idea for this mobility exercise.

• Moving forward: Push into the ground with your front (leading) leg, then drag the trailing foot in.
• Moving left: Push with your left (leading) leg, then drag the trailing foot in.
• Moving right: Push with your right (leading) leg, then drag the trailing foot in.
• Moving backward: Push with your rear (leading) leg, then drag the trailing foot in.

At the concept level, you always push with the leading foot. Using directional terms like front, left, right, or back can be confusing, but the key idea remains the same—the leading leg drives the movement.using. Using teams like leading and trailing takes us off that confusing translation.

Mental training is just as important as physical training. Many of you find it difficult to stay relaxed during emergencies—and that’s completely natural. It takes consistent practice and experience. Just like an emergency doctor, calmness isn’t something they’re born with; it’s developed through repeated exposure and training until staying relaxed becomes second nature.

Think and Review

Some ideas and suggestions:

• Full-body tension and release: Tense all your muscles, then suddenly relax and exhale. This can also help warm you up on cold mornings.
• Emotional control: When you feel irritated or angry, try exhaling and relaxing instantly—both physically and emotionally.
• Mental review: Set aside time to read through the class notes, visualize the movements, and create your own summaries.
• Body awareness: Often, you don’t realize when you’re tense. Try standing with slightly bent knees, breathing slowly and naturally, and consciously relaxing your shoulders, chest, and abdomen.