Saturday, December 19, 2009
Fun workout today with 9 of us in attendance at Yesler Community Center. Focus of the workout was on transition from staff technique (connecting the body to small triangle hits) to empty hand to practical self-defense. Am really impressed at the progress of our students who in short time are showing solid basics and devastating hitting power.
Staff basics review (see https://www.seattle-escrima.org/2009/12/staff-basics)
Make a circle, follow each other around the circle targeting head of the classmate ahead of you with:
– Elliptical hit – Stab – Stab followed by forward or reverse angle suppressed hit
Partner holds two sticks at targets, work the stab up the middle, followed by forward or reverse angle hit(s)
Same drill with three partners, one partner gently adds weight/resistance by placing hands on shoulder of striking partner. Striking partner works on the “rip” and connecting the legs, hips and torso to the lateral hits
Pressure drill, you cross staff with your partner, both partners exerting pressure with staff towards the opponent. One partner releases, you spring forward and suppress a hit
Impact drill, you are pointing your staff at your partner’s head, he swats it out of the way with his staff, you drop your body weight and zone a strike in to him.
Transition to empty hands. Attacker comes in with a right jab. You respond with “flinch response” (e.g., in WT driving the wedge, Tony Lauer “spear defense”, Tai Ji) — your arms go up zoning towards the opponent and interrupt the punch. That initial movement is analogous to the stabbing hit of the staff attack. Now, the forward hand punches forward from its current position (small triangle attack) hitting to jaw or throat of the enemy (in class we hit the upper chest). That nullifies any cross-followup of the opponent. That second movement is analogous to the outside hit of the staff, following the stab. Finally, roll in a lead hand backhand and/or rear hand cross (analogous to the third, inside hit of the staff).
Your body is connected to your hits. Your hits are heavy and devastating. You win.
Andrew’s finisher:
– Double “a-hole” push (the dude’s dilemma) – the first push comes in, you drop your weight and raise your arms to flinch/defensive posture. Maybe you have already hit him at this point. When the second a-hole push comes in, you are hands up and ready and he walks into two-fisted nastiness.
– A-hole push followed by double arm grab (the lady’s dilemma) – first push is same as the dudes. Now the a-hole grabs your forearms. What??? You roll the front arm across, driving the elbow forward and breaking his grip. He didn’t expect you to move in. Now your front arm might be freed for a rolling backfist. Or your rear arm is freed for a devastating cross.