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TIPS FOR UTILIZING SEN UNDO AND EN UNDO:
"A couple of quick ideas:
Don't just play with Sen/En Undo with lunge attacks. Once you get the feeling of the two exercises start changing up the
attacks. Don't just stay in a rhythm...break the timing. You can also start doing things like going inside OR outside so it
turns into sort an amoeba style drill with things going left, right, forwards, backwards at varying speeds and attack styles.
Add in kicks, grabs, weapons, etc. You can do these exercises with many different attacks if you use some imagination. As
someone else mentioned above this doesn't have to be a water exercise either. I basically use the two drills in many different
places. It can be a great way of taking a technique and adding pressure to it with out getting too chaotic.
As far as wrist locks...don't forget the locks don't HAVE to always involve a full fold of the wrist. I often teach a
'sloppy combat' version of these locks that involves using gross motor skills to capture the attacking arm and using my body
to create the principals of ura/omote gyaku to effect a take down. Making sure to strike the uke in some fashion before attempting
the gyaku also really assists in dealing with resistance. I find that these techniques happen best when 'discovered' within
the midst of the situation.
Michael Stinson,
Phoenix Quest Center"
TIPS FOR MASTERING WATER FOOTWORK:
Hi Scott,
I also think that plenty of repetition is going to help. You can probably write with a pen fairly easily now, but there
was a time in your life that putting a few letters down on paper was a difficult task. The development of any new skill pretty
much follows the same arc.
A drill I've practiced that helped went something like this:
1) From a normal standing position, imagine an 8 pointed star with its center under your feet. Practice using the angling
footwork to move to each of the eight points. Add complexity by having a partner punch at you (slowly, at first) so you can
practice getting the proper distancing and timing, as well.
Watch the Waves of Power disc carefully. During the sen undo drill, you will notice that An-Shu and his students don't
demonstrate the "classical" ichimonji no kamae - feet very far apart, hips just above the level of the knees, etc.
That's because it is incredibly hard to move from that sort of stance, at least in my experience. Keep your feet a little
closer, your hips higher - exactly as they demonstrate in the video. Its a mix of power and mobility.
For using the water movement against a more advanced striker, say a boxer or mma-type fighter, the fundamentals remain
the same, but you can change some of the details to help yourself out. Try this:
Your partner is going to throw a jab. Put on some headgear and wear a mouthpiece (both people - safety first!) With
the two of you moving around each other, his job is to get into range and throw the jab. He should be moving like a boxer
- weight off the heels, feet in a boxing type stance, hands up like a boxer. You can practice different things:
1) Stay out of his range. Just by continually moving and changing the distance, see if you can stay safe by being too
far away for him to hit. As you get better at, try to decrease the distance so you are "riding" just outside of
his jab range. Eventually you will work at making him think you are in his range, when you are really still safe outside
of it. Beware the headgear - it gives a false read for your distance since his fist may contact the headgear when it wouldn't
hit your face. After you are comfortable with the drill, try it (slowly and controlled!) without the headgear.
2) Draw the jab. Work to get just inside his range to draw the jab. This will help you develop control of the fight
- you are "telling" him when he can strike. You can then move back out of range or...
3) Follow the jab. As he jabs, you slip it to the outside. (Inside works too, but its generally not a good idea to
move your head to the power side of a boxer). Instead of using the sen undo "strking the arm", slip to the outside
and protect your head using your arm. To get the proper position for your arm, do this: take your hand and place it, palm
in, on the side of your head, just above the ear. That makes your elbow face forward. Tuck you head into that same side
shoulder. As you slip, bring that arm up in the same position. Try it first with basic water footwork - angling back out
of range as you bring the arm up. Then, when you feel comfortable, incorporate the motion you practiced in that 8-sided star
drill I mentioned earlier. Try stepping forward with your outside leg. That should put you close to the outside of his body
on the jabbing arm side.
Then, after you comfortable with that, armor up and pick up the intensity a little. Slip outside and back, stay out of
range, draw the jab, the whole bit. Have your puncher put on a side and chest protecter (with mouthpiece and headgear) and
try the last part I mentioned, where you step forward instead of back (still angling, remember!). Deliver a hook to the body
with your outside arm, followed quicly by a hook (same arm) to the head. This is also works well off the classic boxer "1-2"
punch. You will soon see many, many combinations that are available depending on how you move relative to his strike.
Its hard to describe drills like this - at least it is for me. Maybe we can work out a time when we can both meet at
Chapel Hill and I can show you in person. It will take less time to learn it that way that it did to read this post.
-WOJ
P.S. I just reviewed the Waves of Power DVD, Disc 2. The forward foot motion I'm describing above is demonstrated by
An-Shu at around 14:06 on the DVD. A visual reference may make "getting it" easier!
TIPS FOR STARTING OUT IN FIRE ELEMENT
((Quote
1) When executing the stopping
motion for the more large and cirular strikes, I can easily move in strong, but I've been a little iffy with the linear strikes
(Jabs and Crosses). The issue is, how 'far' offline do I need to move to evade the direct force of the blows, or am I supposed
to go offline at all?))
Welcome to Fire, it can be a little tricky ;) Yes move forward and off-line, but there is
no clear-cut answer to how far...just far enough. I would say the goal would be to get to a point where you can comfortably
move "just enough" to feel the breeze from the strike, so he thinks he's going to make contact and involuntarily flinch as
well. I would often demonstrate this feeling in class by having someone punch at me, and would try to move so subtly that
they think in that moment "Damn, I'm going to hit the teacher!" Wink But bring a hand up palm out beside your face protect
and slap the strike off-line when needed. Think of it as the exact opposite of Sui no Kata. In water your always on the edge
of his kukan, just out of reach. With fire you invade his kukan just on the inside edge. Does that make sense?
((Quote
2) One of the kata has us moving in on the first jab or cross, to its outside, and then delivering a midsection counterstrike,
and then intercepting the second strike, we step across the body, stopping it, and going right into one of the ganseki techniques.
Now, I'm having trouble w/ intercepting and stopping the second attack. This attack seems more circular, due to the fact it
has to come around and meet me, now that I'm outside of the 'other' attacking arm. What would be the best way to assure the
attack doesn't slip by my guard, and hit me? -Scott Ealey))
The second attack here should be more circular, because
that is exactly what you are setting up. By moving forward and past the first jab, your positioning controls what he (in essence)
has to do next. Advantage = you!
In your example you should again move forward invading his space to intercept the
hook punch. At this point in time, you don't need to worry about the arm that just jabbed. The brain cannot process more than
one thing at a time (abiet very fast). Simply move "through" the arm you just slipped and into the attacking hook punch, inside
of-course so his bicep makes contact with the boney part of your forearm (Similar to the earth level hook-punch kata). Obviously
there are many other things you can do here, I'm just giving you an option for the scenerio you described if I understand
it correctly. You could always go straight into Ganseki or another technique capturing the first jab attack. It will naturally
recoil as he throws the second hook punch. Just follow it in and play around with the possibilities. Also the midsection strike
in this kata is more of an interruption than damaging counter strike. It may prevent the second strike from ever coming if
you really drive through and buckle them over. The balance is gone at that point, and again play with the endless possibilities
from there...
((Quote
3) Also, with the execution of ganseki nage, what part of my body should LEAD the technique?))
In the scenario you are describing (if I am understanding it correctly) the side you are entering in with to capture
under the arm will naturally lead.
Just keep in mind as with all kata, they are just that, kata. Learn the feeling
then forget the kata. And with Hi no Waza, remember the pre-emptive part, try to feel when they are about to move, and move
first, however this will come with time. It's all about connection. An attacker should feel overwhelmed and backing up as
your always where they want to be be before they get there...not to mention a little pain ;)
Hope that helps,
~Chris
TIPS FOR FIRE ELEMENT JAB SLIP
Hmmm.... Let me see if I can address this over the interweb. Let's start with
you being left foot forward, left hand forward. Your attacker is jabbing (or jab-crossing, it doesn't matter) with his left
hand (so his left side will be forward). Distance should be close - this is really happening within jabbing range. Try it
just within or on the edge of jabbing range (try both and feel the difference).
Your rear hand (right in this case) protects your left side. It should be floating near your face. Your lead (left)
arm is extended slightly, but the elbow is still down, protecting your ribs. As the jab comes in, slip it to the outside using
a combination of your right (rear) hand lightly pushing it off course, and simultaneously stepping to the outside and forward
with your rear foot. Your rear foot (the right) now becomes the forward foot.
Slam with your left (the lead hand),
using your forearm or maybe knuckles, into the upper part of the jabbing arm. If its a "power jab" where he's trying to knock
you out with it, he may extend enough for you to actually hit cleanly. If its a "set-up" jab, he'll retract his arm quickly.
If that's the case, you'll wind up hitting into the upper arm and shoulder area. The point is to jam up that jabbing arm.
(This is all one motion, although spelling it out makes it seem like its not. It should be "slip/move/jam hit").
You
should end up with your right foot forward, jamming up his lead arm, and your body close in to your attacker's. Now, give
him a nice hard hook with your outside (right) arm into the ribs/kidneys. Continue as appropriate.
That initial step
with the rear foot is critical. If you move forward too much you get knocked out. If you move outside too much you won't be
in a position to follow up.
Keep your weight over your toes, with your heels slightly raised. You shouldn't have "dead
feet".
Here's a drill to practice reacting to a jab: Get a pair of focus mitts and work jabs with your partner. Make
sure you've both got a good, hard, quick jab. Don't b.s. each other. Then put in your mouthpiece and have your partner put
on training gloves (boxing or 6-8 oz mma training gloves are fine). You keep one focus mitt on your right hand, but don't
hold it in front of your face. Keep it floating just like you would without the mitt. Take the same left forward stance and
have your partner throw the jab at your face. As that jab comes in, just turn the mitt to catch the jab, then relax it back
into floating. Contact should happen very close in front of your face, or else he's not really throwing. Of course, start
by hitting slowly and easily and first, then pick it up. He should always be throwing a jab with the intent of popping you
in the face - if he's not in range, its not a threat. Then start adding the footwork in and slipping the jab to the outside.
Add in speed, movement, etc. as you get comfortable at each stage. You may get hit a few times.
I hope this is what
you were looking for. Getting the right information out in this medium can be very difficult!
-WOJ
TIPS
FOR FIRE ELEMENT CONNECTIVITY
If I am understanding you, you are referring to the one in the curriculum sheets entitled
fire 'slip and slap'. The way I do this one is from left forward kosei no kamae (assumes a left jab). As the jab shoots in
my left hand slips up as I sink in my knees. As it grazes the jab I move in at a slight angle staying connected to the jab
as it withdraws. As this occurs my right moves up and in jamming the ukes shoulder arm. The 'fire' aspect to me is the connection
as opposed to the 'preemptive' nature. Keep in mind fire is not just about being preemptive...it is also about being connected
to the energy in such a way you eliminate the attackers energy. Of course you are also not really 'responding'...you are a
part of it if that makes sense.
The above sequence occurs very fluidly and with full body so I hope it makes sense.
I actually normally accomplish this with that I call a slight wedge with the left hand. Truthfully you may not even 'touch'
the jab...you just slip it and connect with its return trajectory and timing.
I hope this is of some help....really
the kind of thing far easier to show than to type. Of course others may have some different input into it based on their own
particular dynamics/understandings.
-Michael Stinson
You raise some good points on training 'match-fighting' for self-defense training. Generally speaking, if you have a
slugger (in-fighter - one you can work with sensibly) let him do what he wants to a degree (get used to what frenzied violence
looks like don't worry about looking stupid - its a learning process)- examine the whole process of his attack to its conclusion.
Try and understand where he is most powerful and where he looks powerful but, in fact, lacks the mechanics and weight distribution
to do you any serious harm. Understand an attacker's form, angle and stability. Work on how to undermine this without him
realising - the best way is, as you discovered, to flow with him to his destination point and understand everything about
that process. Don't think technique, think about relative body position / strategic body position / his perceptual speed and
targets will present themselves. If you do 'trade punches' with this sort of fighter square on (without evasive footwork),
then you must master reactive flowing multi-angular strikes to his arms, wrists, backs of hands, and finger joints to destroy
his rhythm and confidence (this can only be bareknuckle). This is a very nasty way to fight (something seen in Phillipines)
and he will start to associate (very quickly) that fighting with you is synonymous with extreme jarring pain in his bones,
you will notice his core sink into a concave shape and his arms will tuck-in reflexively being unwilling to commit...he can
be grappled to the floor in seconds. Aspects of koppo and koshi-jutsu reflect this but not enough in my opinion.
-Huangshen (Krav Maga/Kapap MA)
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