So it has been busy around here the over the last week. With the kid’s wrapping up another semester at school and because of that half day’s and final exams there consequently has been a lot of studying and test taking. Fortunately it looks like they have gotten all A’s. On top of that I have had some out-of-town students in from California, Northern Nevada and one from far away Alaska. So a lot of training and teaching has been happening as well. With one practitioner I was out at the slab in Red Rock Canyon National Park and we were working on a multitude of IRT techniques that included empty hand and bladed applications with sweeps, throws and takedowns. A lot of what we were focusing on covered movements that you could use empty-handed or with a blade in your hand. Meaning they worked the same either way. This is a good way to have your techniques put together so that you do not have to learn one way of utilizing a blade and another way empty-handed. The Filipino and Indonesian martial systems have made this a mainstay in what they do and Budo Taijutsu (a Japanese system) that I am intimately familiar with does this as well. During training I also made sure to go through our IRT principles of Body Movement:
1. Natural
2. Relaxed
3. Smooth
4. Sensitive
5. Tensed (only upon impact then return to relaxed)
We also covered during our technique training the Elements of Control:
1. Entry
2. Strike
3. Manipulation
4. Off Balance
5. Takedown or Throw
6. Finalization
We talked about the Dominant Principle of Control which of course is Distance. Whomever controls the distance at a range that is favorable to them and their tools will generally decide the outcome in their favor upon engagement.
Dominant Principle of Control:
1. Distance
Then while showing a technique I would explain which principles we were utilizing.
Key Principles of Control:
1. Footwork
2. Adhesion
3. Whiplash
4. Rotation
5. Lowering
6. Pressing
All of the above were wrapped into the empty hand and bladed applications we were doing and I showed the Manipulation Principles of IRT:
1. Structure
2. Angle
3. Leverage
When you are moving in your Martial Science training and executing a technique on someone you will find that you will invariably utilize typically two or three of the above Manipulation Principles. These principles invariable are employed and when utilized well they make your movement effortless.
As a cool down I talked about the nine balance points of the human body both vertically and horizontally and how knowledge of this is important for the martial practitioner. As well as the nine angles.
Knowledge in your martial training is essential. Over time the more you train you will need to understand principles and elements that you utilize with your skill sets and how to make them work in the most efficient manner. That is what differentiates between someone who has skills and someone who is skilled!
Good luck in your martial training and hit the mats as often as possible!!!
