I have mentioned
in the October 2016 blog “Key To Practicing” that keeping techniques linear was
one of the four keys to practicing. But
why does our art form keep most every technique
linear?
There
are five (5) major reasons why the Han Moo Kwan art form performs the majority
of its techniques with a linear motion:
1. Techniques are faster. Linear is the most direct path from point A to point
B. If it is the most direct route, then
it should also be the fastest route.
2. Techniques have more force. If you are applying force while throwing a
technique in an arc, then the entire force vector will be fragmented. It means
part of that force is in another direction and therefore you are not applying
as much force as possible.
3. Techniques are harder to perceive and stop.
4. Techniques are Safer. Performing techniques linearly keeps the body
in better alignment and you are supported by the body structure, making it
safer.
5. In applying techniques linearly, you are
more likely to naturally apply energy.
Let’s look at
each of a few of our techniques keeping the above in mind.
Punches
For
forward and attack punches, the elbow stays close in as your fist moves forward
keeping the path a straight line. If the
elbow flairs out, the punch path becomes an arc, which is slower, easier to
stop, and does not have as much force.
In addition, if the elbow is not in close you are more likely to hit
with your outer knuckles which are not supported and could cause an
injury.
Low Block
For
low block, the arm should move in a straight line from the prep to the final
position above the knee. If the motion
is an arc, it takes longer to get to its target and has less force so it is less
effective. The arc motion could also
allow the target to continue towards you instead of attacking it and moving it
away, leaving you in a potentially vulnerable position.
High Block
For
high block, from the prep position, the fist should go straight up, elbow
staying pointed downward, and then when the fist gets approximately to the top
of the head, the first goes outward.
This motion is sometimes described as if you were closing shaving your
face upward. If from the prep position,
the fist rotates upward such that the path of your fist and forearm is an arc,
it is slower to get to the final position, easier to stop, and does not have as
much force against the direction of the incoming target. In addition, by performing the technique with
an arc you may not be able to prevent the incoming target from hitting the top
of your head.
Front Kick
A
piston action kick that goes straight out and back has more force and is much
harder to stop then a swing kick. A
swing kick can be seen coming much sooner, hooked and stopped more easily than
a kick performed with a piston action.
In a swing kick, the top of the foot with its many small bones is more
likely to make contact versus the ball of the foot which is not a delegate
surface.
Side Kick
A
side kick should have the heel go straight out towards the target. If during the kick the heel moves in an arc
and “flips” out towards the target, it is slower to the target, easier to see
coming and therefore easier to stop. In
addition, that motion diverts the force such that it is very ineffective.
So, when
practicing, watch yourself in a mirror as you perform the techniques slowly to
ensure the path the motion makes is linear. When striking hanging bags, watch the
direction the bag is moving; it will give you direct feedback if you are
performing your techniques linearly.
In performing
your techniques linearly, you will find your techniques are faster, more
powerful, more effective and keep you safer.
Regards,
Kelly
"What I hear, I
forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand." ~ Confucius
(551–479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the
Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history.
