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Skilled Martial Artists often make technique practice look easy. But, when students attempt to imitate the movements, they can be frustrated by the difficulty of putting the theory of how it works into practice. Practical application may become useless if there is no understanding of fundamental principles regarding any technique. To overcome the miscommunication between the explanation and the students’ confused translation, I try to find some common core principle that will make their performing of the technique more effective.
One prominent example is the arm bar. The fulcrum/lever concept can fail when the student places a foot in the spot they intend to drive their opponent to. Their foot/leg acts as a brace and actually supports the elbow of person they are attempting to control. Moving the “offending” foot or pulling the arm away from the attacker’s shoulder (like a wood plank off a saw horse) will aid in the successful completion of the technique. Another example is the front wrist throw (outside wrist throw in some arts). Your thumbs are crossed on the back of the opponent’s hand and the pinkies are wrapped around the inside of the wrist. Pulling the pinkies while pushing the thumbs creates an outward torque on tendons and ligaments in the wrist. This torque can be resisted if your foot/leg is occupying the space you intend to throw your opponent. Again, the foot acts as a brace. Move it and the person will feel the pain of the torque immediately.
The final example deals with leverage throws. There are a number of Judo-like throws that require the person doing the throw to undermine their opponent’s balance by “breaking their center”. However, if they place their foot/leg in the spot they intend to throw their opponent, once again, the foot/leg acts as a brace and the throw can fail because of a lack of understanding the principle that “two objects cannot occupy the same space.”
Mr. Weber is the chief instructor at the Aikido Academy of Self-Defense located at 16134 N. Oracle Rd., in Catalina. He has more than 45 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has achieved skills in a variety of disciplines. He also teaches Tai-Chi on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.
Please call (520) 825-8500 for information regarding these and other programs. If you wish, check out the website at www.AikidoAcademyOfArizona.com.
Mr. Weber is the chief instructor at the Aikido Academy of Self-Defense located at 16134 N. Oracle Rd., in Catalina. He has more than 45 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has achieved skills in a variety of disciplines. He also teaches Tai-Chi on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Please call (520) 825-8500 for information regarding these and other programs. If you wish, check out the website at www.AikidoAcademyOfArizona.com.
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