Friday, December 1, 2017

How Many Different Techniques are There? - - Chief Instructor's Blog December 2017


Last month I wrote that in the beginning we teach and have students practice one punch, one kick that has a very specific target in a specific stance.  I went on to write that there are actually hundreds if you practice different locations, different stances, different ranges, different directions (angle of attack), and different intentions.   Regardless, though, the fundamentals (proper alignment, grounded, focus, intent) are the same. 

This may start to seem overwhelming if you think of all the techniques and if each has hundreds of variations, how can one ever learn all of them.  I also contend, however, that there are fewer techniques than there may appear at first.  You may think I am speaking out of both sides of my mouth, but let me try to explain in more detail.

At an advanced level we stop thinking of just one spot of the body being used for the attack, but the entire body part is the weapon and whatever actually makes contact transfers the force.  This may still not quite make sense yet.  So let’s look at a couple of techniques in particular.

Let’s look at high block.  In the beginning, we focus on the forearm edge as the contact point, but in reality it could be the elbow, the bottom of the hand (hammer fist) or even the knuckles (an upward punch).  At an advanced level we teach that it could be any of those things because if your entire arm is being a weapon then it does not matter if your opponent moves or is not precisely where you intended him/her to be, you will still be effective.  The key, though, is you must be grounded and have the right alignment (your two knuckles much be aligned, wrist flat, elbows down, etc.) for any of those intentions to be effective.

Let’s look at hook punch.  In the beginning, we teach this as a very close in punch to the side of your opponent’s body.  And it very well can be.  It might also be an elbow strike, forearm strike or a very close in hammer fist.  So now what is the difference between a high block and a hook punch?   I contend the only difference is range, location and angle of attack.  The rest is basically the same.

Let’s compare an outward hammer fist to a low block.  In both of these cases, you could end up striking with the elbow, forearm or the bottom of the fist.  So these two techniques are really one – the difference is range, location, angle of attack. 

Similar concept when you are comparing hammer fists to knife hands – if throwing these techniques in the same direction, the only difference is that one is thrown with an open hand and the other with a closed hand – other than that they are the same technique and the same fundamentals apply.

So, there are not as many “techniques” to learn in the end as one was originally taught or that one may think.  And so, I go back to my point in last month’s blog: what is most important to learn is the fundamentals (alignment, motion, key attributes) and practice until they are second nature– this way, when you throw that technique no matter the location, range or angle of attack, it will be effective. 

Regards,
Kelly

“A student well versed in even one technique will naturally see corresponding points in other techniques. A upper level punch, a lower punch, a front punch and a reverse punch are all essentially the same.  Looking over thirty-odd kata, he should be able to see that they are essentially variations on just a handful.” ~ Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), founder of Shotokan Karate