|
|
| Martial Arts Information |
|
|
|
|
The Fallacy and the Myth
It's always amusing when "know it alls" dismiss certain methods out of hand as being useless or "unworkable". One "victim" of this line of thinking is the "cross arm" or "X" block (for lack of a better term). We often hear phrases like the "myth of the X block". Usually this catchy "hook" leads on to a diatribe condemning this technique in the strongest terms. Those who "know better" decry the "obvious" faults in this basic method and are more than anxious to point out the disastrous consequences awaiting anyone foolish enough to use it. Let's take another look at this: For our example we'll use the "standard" overhead X block against an overhand "ice pick" grip attack with a knife. Now many "experts" will demonstrate how this "defense" can be "countered". How the "defender" leaves himself open to any number of devastating "follow-ups". One of the most commonly cited methods is the "ripping" slash that will severely cut the wrists of the defender. The attacker hammers down with his blade, the defender "cross arm" blocks and then the attacker rips down and back. Sounds good but is it REALISTIC? Usually this is demonstrated by having Mr. Expert set up the scenario. The overhand stab comes in - the victim blocks - Mr. Expert shows how easily he can counter the attempted "defense". Masterful. Real world? NO! Why? Consider the elements of real world violence. The chance that either "party" involved KNOWS the ability or "training" of the other is very remote. So neither individual KNOWS before hand what the other will do, how the "victim" will react. A violent criminal attack is SWIFT, BRUTAL, and IMMEDIATE. The assailant is NOT looking for a fight, a duel, or a protracted engagement. He is counting on SPEED, SHOCK, and BRUTALITY. Think about this. If YOU were going to "off" someone, wouldn't you do it in the MOST expedient manner? It would be ONE violent, powerful and swift attack. ADD to this RAGE, HATE, INTENT, and the DESIRE to commit mayhem and it should become obvious that the real world attack is NOT a "chess" game of move and "counter" move. If the assailant wants to "do" you he will attempt to accomplish this with ONE fully committed ASSAULT. To mediate one's attack in the real world is to invite failure! NO one is going to "half-step" in this regard. The almost instinctive maneuver of the cross block is a SURVIVAL reaction. It is a convulsive gross motor skill designed to SAVE your life NOW. It is a brutal "attack" against the assault, NOT a passive "catching" of the attack. The ruthless swift and brutal nature of the assault is designed to SHOCK and FREEZE the "victim". The assailant is NOT thinking two moves down the road, HE IS THINKING NOW! The victim who REACTS in kind, with a swift brutal and committed "defense" will gain a MOMENTARY advantage by this REACTION ATTACK. SIMPLE PHYSICS: A body in motion tends to remain in motion. The assault was "intended" to succeed. The "failure" of this immediate assault will FORCE the assailant to make a CONSCIOUS decision after the initial "failure" of the attack! The "Oh SH!T" principle. Plan "A" failed, NOW WHAT. Certainly there may be a "counter" move or an attempted "follow up", BUT IT WILL NOT BE SEAMLESS! Only in the "training" environment do such seamless combinations of maneuvers "work". And usually only when one party KNOWS what the expected "response" will be. Real life ain't like that! Let's say I'm walking down the street and Joey Bag-a-donuts decides to ram a hunting knife into my neck or chest, well he doesn't KNOW me from a can of beans, right? Does anyone believe that he will mediate his attack to the extent that he is considering MY response to his assault and then plans follow-up counters to my reaction? C'mon on. That makes NO SENSE. Unless he's Kreskin, he has NO way of knowing what will happen after his initial attack. He's NOT hedging his bets. He IS looking for the first strike/swift KILL. The X "block" works for the purpose it was intended for. It CAN SAVE YOUR ASS! It must of course be chained to an immediate and violent attack, but as an "opening" gambit it serves its function well. Also consider the contingencies of the real world. Many highly touted "defenses" include maneuvers that MAY very well be IMPOSSIBLE to pull off due to any number of unforeseen circumstances. I could put an individual in any number of scenarios that would all but eliminate ANY reaction other than the one we are discussing. Charlie Nelson would often demonstrate a technique effectively only to have the bruised ego of the "know it all" respond with......"Ok, let me see you do that AGAIN". Charlie would respond.........."It only has to WORK ONCE". And that's really the bottom line........ It ONLY HAS TO WORK ONCE! Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com© Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl's ranks and honors. Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Samurai Sword Facts The first samurai swords we're actually straight bladed, single edged weapons imported from Korea and China known as chokuto, which were later replaced with the curved blade variety at the end of the 8th Century. The name of the curved blade swords which replaced them was Tachi. The reason for this transformation was samurai found that a curved sword could be drawn from the scabbard more swiftly and provided a far more effective cutting angle. Okinawan Karate So you are thinking of starting to train in okinawan karate. There are a lot of choices as far as okinawan karate schools are concerned. Which school do you choose ? What is the best school or system? If you are a parent, what okinawan karate school is best for your children? Expect the Unexpected Grass Hopper The Myth perpetuated by Self Defense Oriented Martial Arts Martial Arts Strength Training According to various sources on the internet, a 1996 article in Iron Man Magazine revealed Bruce Lee's workout. In addition to his cardio and karate workouts, Lee lifted weights three times a week and performed the following routine: Samurai Armor Part 1 The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in the form of the yoroi during the Gempei War of 1181-1185. The weight of the yoroi was around 60lb. The upper-body armor of the samurai was known as the 'Do'. This comprised of the 'Sode', the suspended shoulder and upper-arm protection plates. The Sode had hoops by which silk cord was tied and then fixed to the back of the armor in an 'agemaki' / decorative knotted tassel. Guards were also placed over the shoulder cords, and a leather plate placed across the bow cords to prevent them from been cut or becoming ensnared during a skirmish. Are You Frustrated Yet? I was talking to a parent recently and they told me that their son was not going to compete in wrestling because they were afraid they would get frustrated when he lost. The parent felt the child was far too sensitive to handle the frustration of failure and may get 'burnt out'. My response was, "What will they do when they get frustrated in life?" What happens when that kid has got to suck it up and go forward when it REALLY counts? Being a new parent, my daughter is 2 and I have another on the way, I only want the best for my child. What parent doesn't? It's obvious this parent I mentioned loves their child, but that's not the issue. The issue is what's best for everyone involved. What this child is being taught is to quit when things get tough. In an effort to protect the child, the parent winds up doing a disservice to the child. The result is undermining the ultimate goal- the training of the child. Martial Arts and The Bible As a Christian and a martial arts student, I have often wrestled with the idea of self-defense. Does God expect me to defend my family and myself when physically attacked or am I to "turn the other cheek" and endure it in the name of Jesus? As I considered the many comments I encountered on this topic, I became even more confused. Some advocates for "religion" have gone as far as to say that anyone who practices any form of martial arts is without a doubt bound for hell. It wasn't until I committed myself to a more thorough study of the scriptures that I discovered the truth for myself. The Bible gives more than a few examples of the practice of self-defense and the idea of martial arts. I would like to share some of what I have learned in this study of the Bible - Old Testament and New. The Bible is, in fact, the very word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17). The Thumb Jab I'm sure a lot of you remember the scene in the movie "The Presidio" were Sean Connery's character decimates the jackass in the bar with nothing more than his thumb! Bogu Training About four years ago Carl recommended we start using the Bogu during our kumite (sparring practice). This method was developed in Okinawa and then found its way into mainland Japan and eventually to the U.S. where only a few clubs still do this. And even in those clubs, only a few members do it. I know there is other equipment out there that looks similar and I have used most of what's available. But it does not provide you with nearly the same overall effect that the bogu does. Rules in bogu training ? Any punch, any kick, save foot stomps, a strike to the spine and to the back of the neck. Throws and leg kicking is certainly allowed. Use, dare I say, your commonsense. The Plight of Industrialized Man Living in the Pacific Northwest is a challenge for any body: the poor excuse for weather west of the Cascades is one of the worst on earth for human health. Luckily our Ch'uan Fa Club meets in central Oregon several times a week, rarely missing an opportunity to train outdoors . What Can We Learn From What Has Already Been Done? Pre-WWII Judo was a far different thing than what we see now. A Great Question! It's a question that we went back and forth with for awhile ourselves many moons ago. The "how" and "why" of our conclusions may be of some interest. Whether or not anyone agrees with them, well at the least you'll fully understand the basis for them. Elements of Unarmed Combat Custom build your own personal "system": Samurai Swords ? Choosing a Sword to Buy It's undeniable that a well placed and mounted samurai sword or samurai sword set looks fantastic and an ads character to any room of the home, but is it worth spending upwards of $650 on such a sword or sword set? This all depends on your reasons for buying a samurai sword. The Shocking Truth About Stun Guns If you are outside the world of law enforcement, chances are you haven't had much "hands on" work with stun guns. Stun guns are as popular today as they have ever been and with the newer smaller packages like cell phone/stun guns, their popularity continues to grow. But before you deploy a stun gun, there are a few misconceptions you may not know about. British Aikido Board National Nepotism Seminar For many years The British Aikido Board (BAB) have shown no interest whatsoever in the true history of British Aikido, to be fair to the BAB, they have shown a great deal of interest and support for the false history of British Aikido for which they have now publicly apologised, the apology by the chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter can be viewed on www.geocities.com/britishaikido. By-Rote Combinations Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses" to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do that. For attack A I use Defense A. Historical References to W.E. Fairbairn, E.A. Sykes AND Dermot Pat ONeill FROM THE BOOK: "PIERCING THE REICH" AUTHOR: JOSEPH E. PERSICO Strategy as Applied to Warrior-citizens After years of study, I have come to a small understanding of the way of strategy. I will here explain some strategy as it applies to warrior-citizens. Seek whatever truth you may find here, then continue on your search for enlightenment. Aikido Philosophy: An Oriental Concept of Energy, Self, and Mind Preface
|
| home | site map |
| © 2005 |