The Secret Behind Real Karate Fighting!
When you learn the truth of Karate kumite, there are certain truths about how to fight. One of the truths is that the mind shuts down during combat, and survival mode kicks in. Adrenalin junkies would have you believe this is good, but it is not, it is the worst thing that could happen.
As a species we don’t have claws, or jaws, or quills, or smells, or any particular characteristic that would help us survive, except the mind. It is the mind that creates invention, it is the mind that adapts to survive. It is this thing called a mind that we must enhance if we are to reach our full potential as humans, and as humans on the fighting level.
One must control the distance in a fight, by controlling distance we have choice as to what weapon we choose to use. The way to do this is to tie a string from your belt to his, and practice moving so that the string stays taut without breaking. Now, move in this fashion, and within a short time your body will move with the other persons body because it likes the fact of harmony.
We must control the fact of the leg movements. The best leg positioning is when the legs are in a matching stance, which is to say his right leg is forward and so is yours, the second best position is when you are in an opposing stance, which is to say his right leg is forward, and your left leg is forward. The way to train yourself to always have matching stance is merely to walk with the string, and striving to always stay in a matching stance.
We must control how the arms move, again, in a matching or opposing sense. No string needed for this particular exercise, but you do have to be aware of distance, you have to match the movement of your partners arms as he closes distance. The way to do this is merely to control the set up of the stances and to practice matching arm motions.
Fourth, we must search for the techniques that work best for matching, and for opposing. Yes, you want matching, but whatever happens, you should be able to train yourself to handle it. The trick is to use a basic matrixing concept, and realize that whether matching or opposing, your arm will be either inside of his, or outside of his, and then find that technique that this position results in.
We must make everything work together. This would appear difficult, except that if you have worked on the individual exercises in this article, then the whole thing comes together rather intuitively. The body, you see, even in the middle of combat, likes to work as a well oiled unit with a plan.
Control distance, control stance through positioning, control arms by understanding whether they are inside or outside, this is simple stuff, but entirely overlooked by todays fighters. But if you do understand what I have said in this article, however, then you will move to the head of the pack, for you are putting awareness and the ability to think into combat. Whether you study kenpo or tae kwon do, Aikido or Arnis, Uechi or Krav Maga, the truths in this article, the hint of matrix martial arts that I have given you, will make you a better fighter…an immensely better fighter!
Al Case has studied martial arts for 40 years. A writer for the magazines since’81, he is the originator of Matrixing Technology. If you want to learn how to fight like a thinking maniac visit Al at http://blindingsteel.com. If you already know how to fight, take advantage of his free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.
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