The first method for taking the centre i would like to
discuss is the method of leading or re-directing the opponents mass, direction
or support into ‘emptiness’.
This sounds fairly complicated to the uninitiated i am sure
but it is something we have all felt from time to time. Imaging going to lean
on a wall without thinking to much and it being a foot further than you
assumed, or that feeling when we climb unfamiliar stairs in the dark, stepping
on the last step that isn’t there. This is the feeling of falling into
emptiness and is partially the feeling we look to recreate with this method of
Leading the opponent.
For this method to work we obviously need to have something
to lead so to discuss this method i will break it down into what types of
things you can lead or do to create an opportunity to lead. Note that all of
these methods mix together into one dynamic method of leading the opponents
centre and are not to be thought of in isolation.
1. Leading a movement
This is arguably one of the simplest methods of leading the
opponent into emptiness and it is seen in many arts, especially those involved in throwing or
taking the opponent down. I define this method of leading thus:
“Capturing an opponent’s movement during its trajectory and redirecting
it into space where the opponents centre must compensate.”
This method can be broken down into two distinct parts. 1)
capturing the opponents movement. 2) leading that movement.
Both of these things are far easier said than done, and dont
work in all situations. Essentially what we are talking about here is
recognising a direction of force from contact and then altering it so that it
extends to a place where the opponent is not.
It is important to understand that this is not really
possible from visual acuity. It requires, in most cases, a point of contact.
Luckily the opponent will be striving to touch you in some way, be it a strike
a grab or a shot so we are nearly always in a favourable position to use the
method from a point of contact.
Exercises to try:
1) Redirect/Lead
a push
This simple drill is a good basic introduction to this concept but can be
refined and refined until it is quite subtle.
a.
You partner stands feet shoulder width, then
steps forward trying to push your chest. Make sure this is a single step and
push. The structure should be strong and powerful, not loose and floppy.
b.
From a natural stance you firstly try to connect
with his arm as early as possible. Then as the power extends towards you
redirect is softly to the opponents front.
c.
Reduce the power you need to do this more and
more until it is extremely soft
d.
The aim is for the opponent to have to take a
step to regain their balance or for them to go to the balls of their feet.
2Shoulder Barge
This drill teaches subtle redirection using the body specifically. You have to maintain contact and control of the opponents centre and recognise the forward force immediately.
This drill teaches subtle redirection using the body specifically. You have to maintain contact and control of the opponents centre and recognise the forward force immediately.
a.
Stand one leg forward one back arms down
opponent stands in the same stance, shoulders touching
b.
Opponent shuffles forward and bumps through your
shoulder line with his.
c.
You rotate your Axis, and touch the opponents
back with your opposite hand.
d.
The aim is for the opponents forward force to be
converted to a force into the space infront of him making him go to tiptoes or
take a step.
3)
Grip
Leading
This is a fun, free training method that really boosts your ability to listen and lead the opponents centre when they apply forces.
This is a fun, free training method that really boosts your ability to listen and lead the opponents centre when they apply forces.
a.
Both of you are working to off balance the other
here.
b.
Take the same stance (forward back, front on, one
leg! You can play with different stances)
c.
Your right hands grip the opponents left wrists
(and change after some time)
d.
Then start to move the free hand to pull push
the opponents structure around.
e.
Feel the directions of force and lead the
opponent into emptiness.
f.
The aim is for the opponent to step or go to
heals or toes.
2. Leading a response.
This method is extremely useful for creating the right
conditions for an opponent’s centre to be led. It revolves around the natural
body reaction of tissues forming up behind a point of excess pressure in order
to provide support to the structure and maintain the structural integrity. I
define this method of leading thus:
“The method of creating a consolidating response in the opponent and
then leading the resulting return to the normal state’
This method can be broken down into 3 parts. 1) apply a
force to the opponents frame 2) release the force 3) lead the resulting return
to a natural position.
We mainly use this if the opponent is not moving towards you
or is maintaining a position, however it can also be used to take an opponent
off balance before an encounter happens. A friend of mine who had never done
any martial arts but was a long time bouncer had a favoured method that
included a very similar principle. He would put his hand gently on the chest of
someone that was confrontational, as they talked and waved their arms around
they wouldn’t notice they naturally increased the pressure on his hand. When he
had enough he would remove the support and turn to take them to the floor in
one motion. He was leading their return (actually they over stretched and were
not returning but more falling from the removed support ... i will talk about
this another time! ;) ). This is a good example of this principle in action,
although a slightly crude example for an opponent with no ‘mind’.
We can create a similar situation when we apply a small
force through a point of contact. The tricky bit here is you can’t just push
the arm as it will move ... you have to put a pressure through their entire
structure.
Exercises to try:
1)
Pressing the
body
This is a very simple way of feeling the opponent ‘form up’ behind a contact point then recognising the resulting return to centre.
This is a very simple way of feeling the opponent ‘form up’ behind a contact point then recognising the resulting return to centre.
a)
Your partner takes a natural standing position,
not a fighting stance
b)
You place your palm on their chest, back,
shoulder etc and apply a very gentle pressure to their structure.
c)
Feel the line form up through their body as you
apply pressure,
d)
Release the pressure suddenly and observe the
body reaction
e)
Now release with control and try to capture that
release and push with the other hand align their return line
2)
Pressing
the Guard
Here we make a point of contact with the guard and apply a moment of force through their structure, before releasing. Then we must hook onto their structure and lead them off balance as they attempt to regain.
Here we make a point of contact with the guard and apply a moment of force through their structure, before releasing. Then we must hook onto their structure and lead them off balance as they attempt to regain.
a)
Opponent takes a guard stance
b)
From your guard, put your hand over their guard
hand and cover downwards
c)
Aim to find the line into their body and not
just affect their arm
d)
Release the pressure as you lead them to their ‘off
balance point’ (please read the three pillars of throwing post for information
on this.)
e)
Play about with this method while moving, while
covering strikes etc.
3)
Close
grappling
This training method is used in stand up grappling. Here we want to apply a force in through there structure then as they return we add to the movement and apply the three pillars of throwing and take downs.
This training method is used in stand up grappling. Here we want to apply a force in through there structure then as they return we add to the movement and apply the three pillars of throwing and take downs.
a)
Start from elbow to elbow or knee to knee range.
b)
Opponent trys to hold onto you/grab and smother
you.
c)
Your aim is to find a good place to apply
pressure to their structure
d)
Then release and apply the 3 principles of
throwing or take down. ‘off balance point’ ‘remove support’ ‘manipulate
structure’
2. Leading the mind.
As esoteric as this method might initially sound it has far
more to do with instinctual reaction and visual sensitivity than it does
anything mystical. The basis of this method is the ideas of ‘support’,
‘security’ and ‘threat’. I define this method thus:
“The method of creating a mental response to a perceived thread, point
of support or positional security that then manifests in the body as tension or
movement”
This method is often very useful in the first few seconds of
an encounter or before the encounter goes physical. After that point the mental
receptiveness of the opponent may not be there to pick up on the presented
threat level or capturing methods.
So how is this done? Well there are a number of methods that
are used to create a mental response that manifests in the body. For instance
if i lift my foot to kick you in the balls you may well react. That is me
affecting your body through your perception and that is the sort of method we
can take advantage of in this instance.
Unfortunately I am not a good enough wordsmith to put this
information into a usable format for people. But if you try the methods above
you may start to understand the way the mind is effected by the lack of
physical balance. The method of leading the mind is like turning that process
around and putting the mind before the body as the point under attack and out
of balance.
Summary
So we now have three methods of ‘leading the centre’
“Capturing an opponent’s movement during its trajectory and redirecting
it into space where the opponents centre must compensate.”
“The method of creating a consolidating response in the opponent and
then leading the resulting return to the normal state’
“The method of creating a mental response to a perceived thread, point
of support or positional security that then manifests in the body as tension or
movement”
It is a fun and useful practice to try. I hope its helpful.
Next ... Projecting the centre (finding the line through)
