K I H O N
Newsletter #24
JULY 2002 ISSN# 1534-1437
________________________________________________
An email newsletter focusing on Ninjutsu/Budo
Taijutsu training. Published by www.KIHON.com
________________________________________________
**** CONTENTS ****
>> Shidoshi Strategy
>> Sempai Insights
>> Taijutsu Tips
>> Budo Quotes
>> Keiko Events
>> Shoshin Comments
**** SHIDOSHI STRATEGY ****
Striking-Grappling Counter
Joe Maurantonio, BNYD
For the past few years there has been considerable
dialogue about the martial art superiority of
grappling arts (jujutsu) over striking arts
(karate). This exchange seems due to the
proliferation of media events such as the Ultimate
Fighting Championship and other NHB (No Holds
Barred) events. These events are billed as
permitting any type of striking or grappling, no
weight classes, no rounds, and no time limits.
The reality of these NHB events is that the few
rules that do exist actually limit certain attacks
(eye gorges, biting, and groin strikes) that are
common with striking arts. Herein we find these
unwritten regulations giving the grapplers a
considerable benefit in that they need not worry
about vital area attacks. In an overview of these
arts, one could say that grappling is better
suited to defending against a single close-in
person while striking seems better suited to
multiple attackers.
Supporters of the grappling arts cite the fact
that once taken to the mat; any individual is at a
grappler's mercy. Defenders of striking arts state
that if they can hit a grappler in vital areas
there would be no possibility of the dreaded
takedown.
Most people believe that grappling arts tend to
focus on an assortment of joint locks, reversals
and restraining techniques while striking arts
concentrate on a variety of punches, kicks and
counters. What many of these people do not realize
is that grappling arts do offer some training in
atemi waza (body blows) and striking arts endeavor
to train in gyaku waza (joint reversal) lessons.
Yet both arts do not concentrate in any great
detail on these auxiliary curriculums.
It is my belief that rather than art, it is the
individual that makes the difference. Therefore,
regardless of style, one's ability to adapt to the
developing situation is of utmost importance in
training and combat. In taijutsu, our training
attempts to place equal emphasis on both striking
and grappling skills. Seeking a balance between
these two seems the appropriate way to practice so
one is more suitably equipped to handle any
situation that should appear.
An essential strategy regarding grappling and
striking is that of switching tactics on your
opponent. If he attempts to punch at you, shift
out of the way, close the distance and apply a
wristlock or armbar to restrain him. Should his
attack be a grab, strike the grabbing arm and
follow up with body/head strikes. Don't rely on
one methodology solely. With this understanding
you can survive the gravest of grappling threats
and the most determined of striking adversaries.
**** SEMPAI INSIGHTS ****
Watching the Right Point?
Glenn Catania, BNYD
The teacher is up at the head of the class showing
a technique. You are trying very carefully to see
everything. This way when it is your turn you can
mimic it correctly. There is a tendency to focus
in on the hands and watch closely. A better way to
see it is to try to not focus too much on any one
thing, because you will miss something else.
Instead, let your eyes see the entire picture.
If you look ahead and think of it as a movie
instead of a painting you can get more. A painting
is a beautiful stationary scene. We have the time
to look at all the different areas and be awed by
the way the artist put the colors and the shadows
together. A moving picture takes more
concentration, but less focus. We relax our eyes
and catch all the detail in the background. In the
movie "Last Of The Mohicans," there is a battle
scene which is a great two-dimensional example of
this. The Mohican warriors are running through the
crowd. They were not focusing on anything, just
catching the movements that came against them.
This gave the warriors the ability to not be
caught off guard, but see a threat, and face its
danger. Now if you pull back and become the movie
watcher, you can get a similar result. As they are
running, you didn't stare at their backs; you
follow them and view all the onscreen action. Now
we "the movie watchers" are with the warriors,
running, seeing a threat with our peripheral
vision and countering the attacks as they appear.
Think of this as "unfocused focus". Your vision is
relaxed thus giving the ability to see everything.
We place too much attention on the hands. Our
taijutsu starts from our footwork and moves up our
spine, instead of top to bottom. True strength,
the strength of body weight, comes from the legs
and hips. This is where using the entire body (tai
ken- body as a whole weapon) makes the movement.
If you must focus on anything when watching, pay a
little more attention to the legs, they are the
secret. The hands just follow along.
**** TAIJUTSU TIPS ****
Yoko Aruki
Don Houle, BNYD
As any new student learns soon after their first
class, footwork is very important in budo
taijutsu. Most taijutsu footwork is rather
straightforward and resembles nothing more than
ordinary walking. But there are a few, more
"specialized" forms of footwork as well. One of
these is yoko aruki (sideways walking), also
referred to as "cross stepping".
There are two main uses for this rather unique
footwork. The first use is as a way to move the
body during combat. The basic movement is to cross
one leg in front of, or behind, the other leg
while bending the knees to facilitate increased
balance. A good example of using yoko aruki is
found in a variation of the basic ichimonji no
kata. Both uke (attacker) and tori (defender)
begin in hidari ichimonji no kamae (left hand
forward). As the uke throws a right punch, tori
brings his left leg back and in front of his right
leg while shifting his weight to his right rear.
Depending on the distance at this point, the tori
can either uncross his legs by bringing his right
foot back or maintain this position while striking
with jodan uke. By uncrossing his legs and
stepping back, the tori can move his body further
from the uke's attacking arm while still
maintaining the correct angle to strike the arm.
In any case, there is more to this technique than
simply crossing one's legs. Proper foot and knee
alignment as well as maintaining the appropriate
angle are also very important. Beginning students
have a tendency to bend their backs or to slouch
while performing yoko aruki, so it's essential
that students pay attention to this as well.
The second use for the yoko aruki movement is as
an actual walking method used to quickly move
through narrow spaces. By turning the body
parallel to the plane of motion (sideways) the
practitioner can maintain sight in a wide field -
both in front of one's body and behind. The
footwork is frequently combined with a swinging
arm motion to assist in maintaining balance as
well as feeling for obstructions. This method of
movement is frequently associated with ninja and
their stealthy actions.
**** BUDO QUOTES ****
"While jutsu means technique and must contain
waza (skills), jutsu must also have heart. If
your heart is not pure, your technique will
not be good."
By Masaaki Hatsumi
Ninpo: Wisdom for Life, Pg 11
http://www.kihon.com/ninpo/
**** KEIKO EVENTS ****
* New York Workshops and Events
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/events.html
* Bujinkan New York Dojo
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/ny.html
* Bujinkan Middlesex Shibu
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/nj.html
* Bujinkan Tai Kai (USA)
http://www.taikai.com/
**** SHOSHIN COMMENTS ****
Crash Course
John Rizzo, BNYD
Last week, a friend of mine was walking home from
a bar with his wife. When they were just a few
feet away from the door to their building, an SUV
screeched to a halt by the sidewalk. A person got
out of the passenger seat and hurriedly walked
toward them, shouting obscenities. My friend
noticed that there were at least three other
people in the SUV.
Before they had a moment to realize what was going
on, the couple was being mugged. The mugger had a
hand behind his back, possibly hiding a weapon.
Husband and wife handed over their wallet and
purse, and the mugger quickly ran back to the SUV.
My friend was left with a mixed emotions. Of
course, he was very happy no one was hurt, but
there was a lingering anger. He found himself
wishing he had fought the mugger. As a
weightlifter and a martial artist studying hwarang
do, he is more than capable of handling himself.
After hearing of what happened, I spoke to my
sensei about it. He said, "Ninja 101: Survive. Do
whatever it takes to stay alive. He did. [Your
friend] saved his and his wife's life. Many people
have not survived such an incident. Yes, I can
understand his anger... BUT I would try to
remember it was another day I got home safe... My
wife too. Enjoy another day.... You win by
surviving."
I passed that along, and my friend felt better
hearing it. He had also spoken to his sensei.
Master Lee's comments were remarkably similar.
"Even if you had been training for 20 years, you
still did the right thing. Your wallet, money,
cards, etc, were not things worth dying for. If
someone was going to be raped, or we were being
physically attacked... that's different. You fight
to survive. And in this case, you survived by
handing over your things."
I've spoken to my friend a few times since this
happened, and he has grown calmer and more
accepting of it. Focusing on the reality that they
survived is definitely the largest component in
bringing him some calm. The other thing he tells
me is that both his and his wife's level of
awareness has skyrocketed. He is glad for that,
but wishes that they hadn't needed that crash
course.
_________________ KIHON Newsletter ______________
** STATEMENT OF PURPOSE **
www.KIHON.com provides this FREE newsletter in
an effort to offer information about training.
We hope you have enjoyed reading it.
** DISCLAIMER **
It is recommended that you seek out medical
advice before following any of these suggestions.
Be sure to find a qualified instructor to guide
you in your martial arts training.
** SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE / ARCHIVES (Free) **
http://www.KIHON.com/newsletter/
___________________________________________
KIHON Newsletter and all contents
Copyright (c) 1999, 2002 by Joe Maurantonio
___________________________________________
|
