Observation: Movement and Timing
Topic: Cutting from the Wrist
Movement and timing in combat can often be the difference between walking out or being carried out. The proper use of these tools can't be stressed enough for the person who wants to be more than just a brawler. These differences are often seen in the types of combatant that you see in the middle of a fight. It takes determnination and hard work to become a fighter... It takes all of the above and then some to become a strategist (martial artist). The difference is all in the details (and the details are there for anyone willing to look close enough).

Movement and timing always work together to mount a defense that will always look more like you're on the attack. A person who throws a punch and then ends up on the receiving end of one instead, is probably the victim of these kinds of tactics. Many times these tactics work best against stronger and tougher opponents who tend to go in with straight line attacks to take down their targets. It's very true that the shortest (and usually the easiest) path to a target is a straight line. That being the case, a person who moves out of the path of that line and counterattacks along a different one can usually turn the tide of the fight.

This isn't to say that taking the straight in route isn't going to work. There are going to be many times when one direct attack is all you need. There will also be times when you can let the other guy have the straight line so you can step out of the way and let him "bull" right past you. It's when he passes or lets his attack throw him off balance that you can use that "timing" to take him down.

Classic examples of this kind of timing and footwork are: the boxers slip, the zoning attack methods of the asian martial arts, and the elusive and methodical parries of fencing. All this add up to people realizing it is better to let the "bull" run past and attack from a flank.

The classic mistake comes in when the timing is off. This can lead to getting caught in your own defense (whether it be being off balance or not able to turn in time to counterattack). Having the timing off and trying to move is just as bad as attacking with your eyes closed. You will not be ready to do what you need to when you need to do it. Just like in Chess, you need the right move for the right time.

Recently in my own training I have begun to see the need to move. We can apply this to any situation in training. Even in times when space is an issue or not letting your opponent know what you're doing (telegraphing), timing and movement can still come into play. One type of training I have been doing a lot of is maintaining balance and combat "composure" while being thashed against a corner or wall. Enviornment training is something that you don't see a big need for until you get trashed in a restaurant or bar when there are chairs and people and slippery floors...oh my. I was once told that the Romans and Greeks used to train thier soldiers in fields littered with debris so that they would be accustomed to steping over things in combat. This "wall" training is very close to to the same idea. A wall (or the ground) is an excellent striking surface for one opponent while an equally great surface for the other opponent to use for leverage.

In all this type of training, timing and movement are crucial to surviving the encounter as the winner. If the timing is off a bit you could end up greeting the wall in "uncomforatble" fashion. If the footwork is off, you won't have the necessary balance to drive the techniques to save your skin. In either case, you will be in for a hard lesson.

Just like in martial training, I have had several "lessons" lately in my other areas of life in regards to movement and timing. One aspect of life that has seeped in my training is the tendancy to linger some where I'm not supposed to be. Just like in fighting when you are pressing an attack and you stay on one line of attack for too long, a person becomes predictable and easy to counter. I've noticed that this has been happening in my training far to often lately. Time to get to work then...

Ahhh...Fresh air
Topic: Cutting from the Wrist
I love working out outside. You feel a lot more free than working in the conifines of an enclosed space. The other thing is that when working outside in a natural setting, you have stuff to trip over and un-even ground to contend with. Much more realistic than working inside a studio on flat ground.

Benefits of working out doors is there are also many more distractions to consider when facing your training. Cars passing by, people walking through your training area ( always fun when you are using bladed weapons ), animals that are upset you are training in their back yard ( still looking for that Racoon that took down one of my partners a few weeks ago )all contribute to keep one's mind off of the game and dangerously occupied. Not a good thing when some one is either swinging a fist or some other object at your head.

For the last few weeks we ( some of my cronnies and I )have been testing blades for the Orochi Sword Store . We have received several models to test ranging from the basic models ( paul chen practical and practical plus ) to more exotic brands (such as Thaitsuki, Nahuarra, and the home brand of Mr. Graves' budding empire, the Oni Forge line). Of the models that I tested, the Oni Forge Folded model was clearly the best of the bunch. Sporting a well bellied sori (curve of the blade) and sublime edge, the Oni Forge Folded model ate through everything we whacked into. Several attempts to botch cuts with the blade yeilded little effect to it as it still bit deep into the targets. Examining the blade for after affect saw the edge nice and clean with no pock marks or dents from the cuts (semi-dried rolled straw mats with bamboo reeds in the center, a practice that is usually discouraged ). I would highly recomend to anyone looking to buy a Japanese sword with the intent of using it for cutting excersizes and martial arts practice to consider Mr. Graves as the source to go to for quality blades (with superior quality control) that fit every budget.

During the last cutting practice we did, i pulled out the companion sword (wakizashi) and decided to do some one handed cutting. The dynamics change just a bit when you loose the levered power of the second hand to help through the target. However, Loren had furnished me with a quality "side sword" and I made short work of the targets with little effort. As the blade was not being tested to see how bad I could wreck it, I put it through the targets with a mind to test my technique with the weapon rather than how bad I could bend the thing.

Working with a new sword group, I have been trying to clean up the technique that I have (which has rusted over the years due to a lack of training partners in the current school I attend as well as my own neglegence to test my technique). I really am enjoying the training I am receiving in the use of the wakizashi. I only have the very first form (which my form is terrible) but I am enjoying the two person applications of the weapon as well as trying to use it against oponents with longer weapons (such as the long sword, staff, spear, etc.). Good training.

My training in Kali has recently taken some unexpected turns as my instructor came back (after a long absence to the class do to prior commitments) and has been showing us some typically good stuff. One item that registered on the charts was a series of limb destruction techniques for attacking an incomming appendage. Smash, crackle, pop are the order of the day as some one attacking you is either fed knuckle or elbow on the attacking limb to break rythm (and if we are lucky bone) to give us time to do what we do. I have also been practicing the motions of the destructions shown with a sharpee marker to accent the strikes. Striking with a closed hard pen has always been a favorite since I first saw it (why didn't I think of that before) and now I try to work it in whenever possible.

Also on the Kali front, I have been doing a lot of knife work with the aluminum trainer that I have and in response I feel that the added practice has been improving my skill in that area. I brought out the large and in charge dagger the other day and took some swings on suspended rolled targets to see if I either had a sharp knife and technique or a good Babe Ruth swing. Knife definately needs to be sharpend as I couldn't get it all the way in to the target without it swinging ( but I did send shards of the stuff into the parking lot).

My Kempo practice is starting to fustrate me a bit as I don't have training partners that are my level at the moment to really lay into. I have some partners that I can work with that allow me to build the muscle memory of slow partner work but as for doing the manuevers at combat speed with some one really trying to take off my head... it has been sorely lacking as of late. The problem is that every time some one gets close to the shodan level in the training they either quit or move (either away from the school or into the school; in which case like me...they have to now learn the system and rank in).

I don't see myself as a person who can only train with yudansha (ranked practitioners) and I am definately not a snob that only views hard technique as a way to train. But there are definately things that I am missing at the moment. Partnered weapon practice, kata application and variation, embugata (combative free style practice) and definately my favorite, NAGEWAZA (throwing another human being)are all elements of my training that I have been getting very little work in as our class size is small. This has led me to find those outside of our school to train in these aspects with. It is not easy in the area I am in to find those interested in combative martial arts training. The focus of the area is mostly competative arts and the "real deal" is getting harder to find as most of them are going uderground.

Oh well... Time to stop writing and start training.

Regards,
Walt

Hands and Arms inside the Vehicle
Topic: Training
It seems that I sometimes suffer from that maddening disease known as krazybusy. It is an affliction that affects millions of Americans every day and if left untreated...results in abject forgetfullness due to hysteria.

All kidding aside...as my other Blogg gets much more traffic as it is related to my business and thus, my web site... this one sometimes gets hit in the way side.

The good news is that I finally got done with my first test for Orochi Shinken Sword Store. The Test went well and the swords that he sent ( two of them "bargain blades" and a third that was rather high end) performed better than anticipated and the video we made went very well. The three students that performed the test with me had a blast as they had never cut with a sword before. The test (where they were concerned) was not for them to demonstrate excellent technique with a katana sword against a live target. It was faulty untrained technique that I was actually hoping for. I wanted to see how the sword would hold up against a "botched cut." Although I was looking, the three students with me did surprisingly well for never having done it before and put the sword through the targets with little effort.

Most of the cuts performed were performed with a diagonal cut from right to left. AS all were right handed ( as all swordsman in Japan are) this cut was something that we could flow from one cut to the next. The only one that really deviated from this structure was me as I wanted to see how the swords would handle bitting into the targets from different attack lines. The other reason that this cut was ideal is that the targets that I got were rather sub-standard for some reason and they did not have the rigidity needed to give a good solid cut. The targets had a tendancy to "flop" over for the first few strikes untill I untied them and rerolled them to make sure that they were a bit more snug. I am going to try ordering warra from Mugen Dachi Targets from now one and hopefully get a better grade of matt.

IN the beginning I let everyone else warm up their "swing" with cuts against the foam pool noodles that you see in most department stores. I was turned on to this practice by a few friends who have Iai-to swords and can't cut real targets but want to check their form. The noodles are excellent for guaging your actual cut but the foam allows for mistakes as when you hit it (with an incorrect cut or a fake blade as in an iai-to) it will either get shaved or bend before getting knocked off the stand. Good stuff.

In other Kung fOoLeRy...I took a test in the art of Jeet Kune Do the other night. The test was for the last level before being considered for the rigourous Black Sash test. As always our instructor was true to form making sure we were mentally unblanced while taking our "quiz." There were no big surprizes and everything that was on the test sheet was also on the exam. But the way he goes about testing a person takes the same material that you have put in the time to refine and twists it on it's head so as to make you think about how "well" you really know it.

I was doing really well as the material I was being tested on was very ingrained and I have been working very hard to make sure that I "tow the line." I had really only two problems with the test. One of them was stamina. Since I started illustrating again. my time has been in short supply. I have even ordered stock in certain coffee companies to make sure that it flows freely to keep me awake (*wink*). The problem with this is that I have put on about 40 lbs and my "wind" is not what it used to be. All this has changed in the last month as I have become "fustrated" with my body and have been taking steps to change this. I have been running and working out a lot more on my own rather than wait for the one hour a day session that I play with almost every day at the academy.

The other area that fustrated me was unpredictabilty. During one of the fights of the test I accidently kneed my opponent in the face. He caught it full on in the teeth and it practically took him out for the night. I didn't feel to good about myself after that (not good to light up your training partner for real so he can't finish his test). But he managed to continue and finish out the night. Had he not been able to continue I would have failed on the spot. So now my Sifu (teacher) is making me sweat it out till later today until he posts the results.

After the results are posted I will continue to "run the gun" and make sure that my training is up to snuff so that I can be certified in Jeet Kune Do. Which will be very cool as it is a martial art that many profess to teach but few have the paper to back it up.

Thanks for listening...
Regards,
Walt

And stays crunchy in milk
Training yourself to certain levels takes three very important aspects of the learning process. Understanding, repetition, and time. These three things are integral to ones understanding of martial sciences and ways. The problem with today's American martial artist is that they fail to do the most prime of these three... Understand.

American's by their nature are usually slow, lazy, and unmotivated. There are so many distractions in today's society that the only time some one gets motivated about something is when they either caught it on a NIKE add or on an episode of Opra. This has forged a once strong nation of doer's into a nation of cupcakes.

This mentallity has crossed into the martial arts world as well. Many instructors have gone the way of the professional teacher and made martial arts instruction their livelyhood. This is both a good and bad thing. For the "pro," a professional martial arts instructor has the time and energy to persue his chosen craft to a degree that a "part-timer" can't hope to match. They have the time to establish training regimens, build a sound structure, and make sure their students have the best quality training. The problem, is that since the instructors are not usually conected to a professional organization (LEO's, CO's, Millitary, Private Security, etc.)... this business usually only attracts "hobby entusiasts."

The "enthusiast" is one who has seen the martial arts and was motivated to join a class. This could be for many reasons. They perhaps saw a movie that displayed these skills, read about it in a book, or some how or other come across it. They walk into a school and hope to be accepted for training. This is where the problem for the professional instructor comes into play. Not wanting to turn down any business that would fund better training, the instructor accepts the walk ins. In many schools in many other countries that follow traditional martial practices, there is usually a "probation period" that allows the instructor to guage the student. The probation period is usually accompanied by having the student "interviewed" by the instructor prior to training, as well as furnishing the "how's" of how the student came to the school as well as a list of references.

This induction processes usually screened out the wannabe's from the will-be's and kept up a solid training enviornment. The probation period would also expose those that couldn't cut it and they would be weeded out of the program. Unfortunately, there are those that are not suited for martial instruction. They either do not have the capacity or are not willing to put in the time and effort it takes to get good at what they do. This not only produces a poor enviornment for the dedicated student but also creates a danger for the "new recruit". Poorly practiced techniques combined with training methods adjusted for the "hobby" mentality puts a potential student at risk. They practice poorly so they will perform poorly, sometimes with the false assumption that wearing funny pajamas while working out makes them untouchable.

Martial training is hard. It should be in order to teach a person how to survive under adverse conditions. Those that aren't willing to put in the effort will invariably drag down those that are. It is up to the instructors of these classes to ensure they are teaching the "arts" for their intended...to take out the other person without remorse. In a real life or death struggle there isn't time for complex codes of morality or worrying about what might happen if you make it through.

Should the average person have access to martial training... absolutely. Should they also understand that average training could get you hurt (or far worse) when it comes time to use those skills for real... absolutely.

Soccer mom's, day traders, and the occaisonal troubled teen should have access to this training, but the instructor should not be surprised when the rest of his student body is fed up with the tantrums or need to be "recognized and built up" and take steps to avoid the "trouble" that has hit the training room floor.

Regards,
Walt

Down But Never Out
Topic: Training
One of the things I firmly believe is one of the prime statements of Sun Tsu's Art of War. The statement says that all warfare is based on deception. That being the case I try to fight in a different manner with different people.

The other night in my Japanese Kempo Class I had an opportunity to spar with one of the juniors (junior to me, senior to others). My friend is a phenominal fighter and on occaision we have been known to kick each other around the floor. One of the things I find interesting is how different people react to me when I fight them. When I first got to the school back in 1998, i fought really hard to prove myself as a compentant fighter and my ego fueled that desire more than the rest of me. These days...I am far more interested in learning what people have to show me rather than what I can show them. I noticed that even the new juniors have lessons that I learn every time I strap on the gloves.

Back to the fight at hand... At one point during the match (which we had both decided to it take easy this time...both of us are nursing injuries of one form or another) my friend decided to apply a takedown that succeded. The problem for him was that he did not really control the takedown and I tossed him by me as I fell. I then took my foot and kicked up to touch the inside of his thigh to simulate a kick to the groin. I don't even think that it registered with him. But it was this event that got me thinking about my orignial statement.

I know that would that have been a real fight, my first reaction after the fall and kick would have been to cut the back of his ankle. My dillemma is whether or not to discuss something like this to my opponent. During a match several years ago, another friend (a Hapkido instructor) got thrown by me and proceded to show me that he would have tortured my groin as payment. I learned from that experience. Do I tell my current partners so they can learn in much the same way?

For this fight...the decption to my friend was that he had control of the match...Do I tell him he really didn't because he is smart enough to recognize tactical mistakes or do I keep capitalizing on these mistakes to make advances in my own training (making the art of deception a primary goal)?

These are questions I am going to have to think about this week.

Regards,
Walt

Iai-waza and a big stick
Topic: Cutting from the Wrist
Last night I went back to class and of course helped to teach the kids classes and moved onto some of my own stuff before class. I took one of the Chen swords that Loren had sent me and tried some iai-waza with it. This is where I made my rookie mistake for the evening. My first mistake was that I didn't fix my dogi after I had been doing ukemi with some of the students. The other rookie mistake was not taking the time to get familiar with the three foot knife I was swinging around. At one point I noticed a small peice of my higagi (the wrap over jacket) hanging loose. During one of the sword draws I was doing, I had nicked the jacket and because of the way it was sitting against me, it provided enough resistance for the blade to cut. This loosely translates as I need to pay more attention to my form ( as well as my jackets ) otherwise I am going to be an expert in sewing-fu.

Also last night during the Shinko-Ryu Kempo class, little old me was approached by my sensei and asked about my long staff forms. He had mentioned that he had not seen me do them in a while and wanted to see if my skills were up to par. I demonstrated both forms that I know and he was satisfied with my performance. Although I know I can make the most of every kata and make sure I show the instructor what he wants to see, there is always room for impovement. And I know from what I did last night what parts I have to improve on.

This weekend we are starting some basic cutting excersizes with the test blades from Orochi Shinken. I am going to video my cutting demo and get it out of the way so that way I can concentrate on some of the torture tests by some of my fellow kenshi.

This should be fun.

Regards,
Walt

Just when you thought it was safe
I got a great email from Loren Graves last night asking if I would take part in doing some art for his company...I of course accepted as you Loren is the consumate professional. I will be doing some design work based on cocepts that he has. Good stuff.

Migrains and deadlines ( sounds liek the name of a sitcom) have sidlined me for the last week so the training has not gone as smoothly as I would have liked. Which isn't a good thing as I have to take a JKD test this comming month and I am going to need all the practice that I can get. That week off is really oging to hurt but it would have hurt worse to participate with a nasty headache.

I have been working on the kodachi-waza for my sword work lately as this is the next step in the learning process I have with these types of weapons. The short sword presents different challenges in terms of range and speed of the draw ( iai-jutsu ). The other thing is that this is mainly a one handed weapon so attack dynamics differ from using the katana sword. All fun and games till you poke out your own eye.

I have also been trying to get some training in the use of the Kerambit, an indonesian weapon that resembles a tigers claw with a loop at one end. It is a very versitile tool as well as a weapon and I think I found one that I like and can get along with a trainer model that will allow practice and not chop my own eye out. I am really looking forward to using this weapon because of it's exotic feel and the fact that it takes some skill to employ correctly...

As was pointed out recently, nothing ever worth gaining was ever gained easily.

Regards,
Walt

Like a Hamster....Hey!
Topic: Training
I love to run. Some thing about chasing the horizon and watching the ground under you fade away is very theraputic. I especially like to run during the spring when it is not too hot and everything smells fresh. Very nice.

It being winter...and us getting hit with all sorts of snow lately...there is no place for me to hit the street where I live (sidewalks are covered). I live in a nice neighborhood but when you get to the main street, it is like everybody thinks they are driving for NASCAR. This is not someplace I want to be running in the street. The only thing left to do is pretend I am a hamster.

Treadmills are ok for those that just want a light jog or to simply walk. I like to run! So staying in one place while the same pad moves under me is like taking a horse that wants to run and running it in a circle over the same ground. I can feel that same restlessness as all I would rather do is hit the street.

So feeling very much like a gerbill, I ran a strong 3 miles (just about 19 minutes) and then stopped and shadowboxed for a bit. Once I knew the muscles were good and sore I jumped in the Jacuzzi and let the heat and bubbles pull out the knots.

I have been working the centerline lately in Jeet Kune Do. Trying to cut down the middle of my opponent with a strong offense. I have been using various drills and techniques to help me work this. Straight blast ( verticle chain punching ) drills have been good for working this concept. An example of this drill would be a jab, cross, hook combination followed by a centerline straightblast into the bags, mit or what have you. Something else I have been working on has been my footwork. Running is good for this, but I have also been suplimenting that with other things. Triangle drills from Kali done at a high rate of speed as well as some serious rope skipping has been the order of the day before. Now that my foot is repaired ( I had some minor surgery on my foot the other day), I can get back to doing this sort of stuff more frequently without feeling liek I am running on nails.

I am going to start some test cutting for the "Sword Project," this weekend. I am really looking forwad to seeing how people new to the sword try to handle it and what their cuts will look like.

Wish me Luck,
Walt

Topic: Training
I have been training really hard on working proper form with the katana sword the last few days in order to get ready for some heavy torture cutting in order to put the sample blades that Loren Graves from Orochi Sword Store has sent me through the ringer. He wanted a non-biased opinion of how the blades cut from some One outside of his group. I plan on putting these blades through as much torturous cutting as possible. Hopefully I don't blow out an arm doing this...

I ran quite a bit last night after I got done with my sword workout. My arms were dead from all the swinging so moving the legs a bit more, really balanced things out. Of course there is the obligatory soak in the Jacquzzi after all is said and done to make the muscles less twitchy afterward. My training for the next test in Jeet Kune Do is going well. I have several of the requirements that I need done and all I have to do is make sure that I am in shape enough to survive the test. The major problem I seem to be having is that I have a tendency to lean away from my opponent even when attacking. Bad form and posture that is going to get me cracked in the skull one of these days.

I have been playing around with some shadowboxing lately to help with the hand speed and vary the techniques that I am playing with in sparring. One of the techniques that I have been working vigorously is getting in close to work the uppercut. I noticed that infighting in the school is usually done by going to some sort of attack using the legs. I found a few times that throwing the uppercut in this range has been forcing the other guy to abandon the attack on this line and retreat to a safe distance. An uppercut combined with my own set of knee strikes might be used well in this range.

A friend from Kempo has asked me recently to help him with problems he has versus varied "styles" and how to address them during fighting. I offered that fighting the other person is not really the way that you want to train...and that in my opinion it was making the other guy fight you that often determined who wins or looses. If you don't stick to the other person's range as well as don't take the bait they give you and make sure they take all the bait you offer them, you should do just fine. But doing the same technique over and over again without adapting to the opponent and your environment/situation would get some one badly hurt in a real fight.

We'll see what happens in class tonight...

Regards,
Walt

All about the Steel: Part Two -> Practical Plus
Topic: The Shinken Reports
Along with the Practical Katana sword that I received from Orochi Shinken I also received a second package containing the Paul Chen Practical Plus Katana.

The sword arrived well packed using three foam spacers that wrapped tightly against the sword. The closed box served to compress the foam so that there was no play at all when the sword was jostled around in the box. I gave a good shake and a couple drops to see how tight it was and I still heard no rattle in the package...very professional packing.

I removed the sword from its protective bag and began to inspect the handle and scabbard (for anyone reading this who has Japanese sword expereince, you already know the quality and cut of most of these swords... These reviews are meant to inform anyone who might be interested in purchasing blades from Mr. Graves. I am going to refrain from using Japanese sword terminology unless it has no direct correlation in English. Those that are a part of the JSA community already know these terms and I would not want to confuse the first time consumer). The handle and scabbard were in prime condition with no defects apparrent. I removed the blade from the scabbard and took a good look at the handle. The fittings were tight as was the handle wrapping. There were no play in any of the fittings and the hand guard was tight (no latteral play). The blade collar was tight and fit well into the scabbard.

I gave the sword a couple of good swings and the handle gave no inidcation of rattle or play. The blade itself upon casual inspection had no defects and was straight. Although a slightly shorter blade, it had a more pronounced temper line upon the edge of the sword that stood out beyond the one on the standard practical model. The blade had a more uniform curve with no less on one part of the blade than another. The handguard was larger than on the practical as was the handle.

The sword seemed sturdy and survived it's trip well and I should be letting it bite into some targets very soon.