To Think Or Not To Think

A great deal has been made in the Martial Arts about not thinking about technique, but just to flow with it. I have been told this by some excellent teachers, and some of the worst teachers one could imagine. I have my own thoughts and feelings about the concept. First and foremost, I think the concept and idea is very good, yet it is not the only way to fight. "Don't think about the combinations Daniel! FLOW!" Ok ok. There is a good point to it all. Don't over think everything. However, 90% of the time I do not flow when fighting, or feel everything out. Most of the time my fights are completely thought out affairs. Before nearly every combination, I think about what I am going to throw. Why? Because it works...just as flowing works.

FLOW

To flow, to be in a Zen like moment where you just throw what is required and react at the exact time. Harder to do that most would have you believe. In fact, most of the people who tell you to do that, haven't fought a day in their life. However, it can be done. Moving around, feeling the opponent out, countering at just the right moment, being caught in the flow of combat. It is a great sensation that does not always come. And this is where many Martial Arts teachers want to get you too...but to get there, sorry guys, but you need to fight and be under pressure. I can do amazing things in slow motion too, and with compliant dummies. Regardless, flowing does exist and it does most certainly happen...and is beautiful when it happens. It is a Matrix like moment where you are in tune with your opponent's energy, and you are able to reciprocate and exceed whatever is thrown at you, without an abundance of thought, but rather instinctive reaction.

THINKING

Thinking in a fight, gasp, is a good thing too. There are two categories, for me, of "fight thought".

Category One:

The first form of thought when fighting (other than I'm getting the shit kicked out of me I better run) is that of looking for openings. I will move around, and try to throw punches that take advantage of the holes in my opponent's "game". I will also be thinking of whether or not he is trying to make me go for those particular areas in his body, and constantly in thought while I engage my target. This is an intelligent striking design, where you try to exploit the weaknesses you see in your opponent.

Category Two:

This is my favorite style of "thinking fighting", and probably what I use the most. However, it is also probably the most widely criticized way of doing things, and no self respecting M.A teacher would ever tell you to do this. Sometimes I do not look for openings, and do not even look at the position of my opponent, or their stance or their guard. I will simply think of a 3-5 combination technique and throw it...without any concern of whether or not my opponent would be in the right position to receive it or make the technique effective. In other words, and this is very important, I make my opponent fit the technique...not the technique fit the opponent. I know...you'll have to think about that for a bit.

An example:

My opponent has a high guard. Now, if one were thinking about how to exploit the high guard, you'd strike low. However, sometimes I will simply pick out a random combination without even taking my opponent's guard or stance into consideration. As a result, the techniques usually come out of nowhere and completely random and unexpected. No thought, throw a combination that you've thought of...with reckless abandon. Truth be told, this comprises of much of how I do my stand up. I will think the combination out, and just throw it, not caring if it begins with a jab (and my opponent's guard is already high), and ends with a low kick (and my opponent's legs are out of reach). Stupid eh? Well it works for me hah! I think it shocks the opponent often and makes them very confused, because just moments ago I was either flowing with my techniques, or intellectually picking their guard apart.

So all in all, 3 categories of thought process when I fight.

Spinning Back Kick

A month ago I posted information about one of my favorite kicks, the spinning back kick. While seldom seen to great effect in MMA, other than with such fighters like Anderson Silva, George St Pierre, and Cung Le, the kick is rarely seen because most fighters do not throw it properly, or at the right time. When executed properly, it can be a devastating kick and a fight closer.

As I spoke about in the previous post regarding the technique, the three keys to pulling the kick off are:

1) Swift Rotation. A slow rotation will telegraph the kick far too much. The kick cannot help but be telegraphed due to the spin. However, you can reduce the amount of telegraphing by practicing swift rotation.

2) Proper extension. As stated, the kick has a strong telegraph to it, and the opponent will most likely back up. As a result, do not shorten the kick. Extend the kick out as far as possible and gain every possible inch with your leg.

3) Do not lead with the technique. Do not simply throw the spinning back kick. Rather jab (kizami) then throw it, or preempt the technique with someone else. My favorite is a jab, then throw the kick...but there are other very good combinations to be created.

The following is a video of me landing the kick, and I assure you I have landed more than once on many an opponent. If practiced, such techniques can all be done effectively using some common sense, and a little sense of adventure.

Artur Hovhannisyan

OSU!!!

Artur Hovhannisyan, a Kyokushinkai Karateka, recently completed the legendary "100 Man Kumite." With this, he became only the 8th person in history to have accomplished this feat. Truly incredible!

Kin Yuen Sze

I first met Mr Sze at a seminar at the Hong Luck club. Mr Sze's qualifications are incredible, and he is a true Martial Arts legend in China Town, and abroad. I am extremely fortunate to be meeting and creating friendships with some of the greatest Martial Artists.

Kin Sze has studied Choy Lay Fut and Do Pai Kung Fu since 1991 under Grandmaster Paul Chan at the Toronto Hong Luck Kung Fu Club. He is an award-winning San Shou (Chinese kickboxing) fighter and forms competitor. He is a silver medalist in the 2001 Canadian National San Shou Team Selection. In 2004, he received silver and bronze at the 2004 First World Traditional Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou, China. He also holds coaching certifications in Sanda / Sanshou from Beijing, China. Some of his students have won medals in Sanda/Sanshou at national Canadian level and regional level competitions.

Initially Mr Sze was to accompany me to a fight involving me and a Systema practitioner, but as my opponent backed out (due to fear), we then began discussing training together. I hope to learn much from Mr Sze in regards to various techniques that will aid my Choy Lay Fut. He is a practitioner of a different branch of Choy Lay Fut, but that does not matter in the least. What I truly hope to learn from him are striking combinations that he found to be effective in his experiences, as well as some takedowns that San Shou/Sanda are famous for. Hopefully he will be able to help me with combination work, and the fighting experience he has gained from his years of San Shou/Sanda.

I know Mr Sze stumbles on my blog every now and then, so thank you for being so humble and wonderful, and I look forward to training together soon. His interest and willingness to accompany me to a challenge fight was pretty cool I must say. I think having him by my side would have scared my opponent terribly!

The above photo is Mr Sze with the legendary Bolo Yeung.

Mr Sze and Grand Master Paul Chan. Their Hong Luck school is a staple of China Town and a very famous school.
Mr Sze with one of the greatest fighters of our time, Cung Le.

Power Training

The above photo is a still from a commercial Shihan Takahashi did. A month has now passed since I began training with Shihan, and my kicking skills and knowledge, in particular, have definitely improved. Through detailed observation, Takahashi realized that I was releasing my kicks far too soon, not allowing my hip and center (tanden) to be fully involved. It's very frustrating to realize that you are not even able to, after 15 years of Karate, able to do the most basics kicks as well as you can. I must have done hundreds of front kicks in front of him, only to have done perhaps 3-4 properly. He is extremely focused on details and a wonderful technician. As a result, it can also be a tremendously frustrating experience to have techniques put under such a watchful eye.

In a month he has most certainly changed how I emphasize my kicks, the power in my stances, and my kime (focus) at the end of the technique. He has also given me more understanding of how to use tanden, but the challenge will be to integrate tanden into my other techniques. Shihan Takahashi has also given me a glimpse into the like a Karateka, and how dedicated the top one's are. He is incredibly talented, and in stunning physical health. I hope to gain more information about his exercise routine, and general diet. I hope to be able to see him throughout my life, on a private basis, and continue to learn more from him. I only have a few more remaining classes with him before our contract is finished, but later down the line I will be certain to visit him again.

Conditioning

Conditioning is extremely importance for the Martial Artist who wishes to pursue practical fighting skills. Condition yourself to be able to fight twenty minutes, so that one can push through a one minute affair with absolute ferocity. Conditioning allows you to deliver the punishment, as well as absorb the punishment, which is often unavoidable in a fight.

My conditioning schedule involves two phases, which run on a two week platform.

Phase One (Week One) - Body Conditioning

Body conditioning consists of conditioning the most often used weapons on my body, which are my hands, wrists, shins, elbows etc. The exercises I perform are Makiwara Board, Sandbag or Heavy Bag training, Knuckle Push Ups (Variations with fingers), Forearm conditioning exercises etc etc. This is a very punishing week of conditioning, with plenty of pain inducing conditioning.

Phase Two (Week Two) - Physical Conditioning

These exercises are mostly body weight exercises, static movement, isometrics, plyometrics and weights. I will spar more often during this week as well, and focus on dynamic strength and stamina. I also try and keep a standard minimum of fitness routine during these days, a program that Shihan Takahashi helped me create.

A fusion of such conditioning helps maintain a fighting body and mind. What helps, furthermore, is studying a variety of Martial Arts, each providing you with a different physical challenge, and routine. Combine all this with a clean diet and hopefully you can last a long time and enjoy your chosen Martial Art to the final days.

Supplementation

My training regime creates horrors for my body, so supplementation, proper rest, and nutrition are a must. For post workout supplementation, I have been enjoying a combination of Creatine and Endurox, a combination of protein and carbs. It has helped with my healing after workouts, and recovery time.

Other than this, a standard multi-vitamin and heavy dosages of MSM, Calcium, and Glucosamine keep my joints relatively normal. A reasonably clean diet on my on and off days keeps my regular health in check...and plenty of water is consumed as well.

Sleep on the other hand...I could always use more.

John Cheung

One of my favorite Kung Fu artists, John Cheung. While he has often played background characters in Hong Kong action films, I always thought he was head and shoulders above most practitioners of the art. In the early 90's he finally received a spotlight in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." He played Johnny Sun, sent to fight Bruce Lee and prevent him from continuing to teach.

He was in his 50's at the time of this filming...

Ushiro Mawashi Geri

Ushiro Mawashi Geri is one of my favorite kicking techniques, and it is also one of the most difficult to land. However, with proper training and an understanding of how to use it, and when, it becomes an incredibly effective technique and even a "high percentage" technique. The above photo was taken at a Wado dojo, and shows me in the midst of throwing, and landing, the kick. So how do you land Ushiro Mawashi Geri?

First and foremost, never deliver the kick as a sole strike. It must be delivered in combination with something else. This means it must be delivered with either a hand technique, or another kick. I prefer to attempt the kick in conjunction with hand strikes. Why? If you set up the kick using two or three other kicks, the opponent will get used to reacting to kicks, and possibly be more prepared. However, throwing a jab, or back knuckle (uraken), followed by the spinning back kick can be gold. The rotation on the kick must be very fast, for when your opponent sees you spin, they will more often than not react by backing up. This means not only must you have quick rotation, but full extension in the kick. The following are some of my favorite combinations to throw when attempting the kick.

1) Kizami, Ushiro Mawashi Geri (perhaps my favorite and highest chance of landing it)

2) Uraken, Ushiro Mawashi Geri

3) Mae Geri, Yoko Geri, Ushiro Mawashi Geri

4) Haito, Mawashi Geri, Ushiro Mawashi Geri

I have been told by arm chair commandos that kicks such as this don't work, and that they'll just dodge it or take me down etc etc. While these people are often those who never spar, and have no concept of how a striker strikes, they do have a point. It does leave you exposed, which is precisely why you must not throw it in seclusion. Add it to the end of a string of techniques, and make sure you are moving in a linear fashion...and it can be done to great effect. Someone going to tell Cung Le it doesn't work? How about when Sakuraba fought Belfort, and landed 3 consecutive one's?

Takahashi Training

Today I had my first class with Shihan, and the man is everything he spouts, and everything he claims to be. His physique, for any age, is phenomenal. His technique is crisp, and his teaching style is extremely technical. He tore my Karate apart and helped me rebuild some of my concepts, in order to adapt stronger power principles. Through detailed observation, he felt as though my upper body was not co-operating with my lower body, and that I need to shorten the width of my stances, in order to gain maximum linear power. I have never had my Karate techniques so carefully observed, he is a true technician. He is very impressive in his striking ability, very fast and powerful, with strong hip strength.

My introduction to Shihan Takahashi was quite a moment. During our warm up, he proceeded to lay down underneath a bench press, and lift the bench, only to let it drop on his stomach repeatedly. He then began doing sit ups, and every few repetitions, would then lift the bench again, and let it slam onto his core. He also began punching 10 inch plate glass, and the wall. He is conditioned to the bone, and after his demonstration of punching power (in which I was the victim), I was sold. His strikes, which were done lightly, made me feel like my lungs were going to collapse.

Many Karateka, of all ranks, come to him in order to have their techniques observed under a watchful eye. He was extremely friendly and very easy to work with. After focusing on kihon waza, he put me through a weight regime that he does regularly, and one that I was barely able to complete myself. Takahashi trains as a fighter would, with strong conditioning and emphasis on the basics. He has taken the Karate he studied and focused on providing maximum power to every movement, which requires a little more hip than I am normally used to in Karate. I always thought my Karate was powerful, and while it is, he gave me many points of improvement, particularly in regards to hip work and foot work. He also gave me some excellent advice on yoko geri kekomi and keage.

Takahashi comes straight out of the movies. His demeanor, his skill level, his training...it is quite remarkable. We ended the session with a brief discussion on Japanese cinema and some DVDs I could lend him. I can only hope I am in his kind of shape at his age, with the same sense of fire and passion about Karate.

Shihan Zen Takahashi

Years ago I had run across a Karateka named Zen Takahashi. He was born in Japan, and studied Karate in Japan under such Masters as Hirokazu Kanazawa, Takemasa Okuyama, and Tatsuo Suzuki. Having achieved a high Dan ranking with several Karate organizations, he left and began teaching Karate in Toronto. He felt as though Karate organizations were handing out ranks to anyone and everyone, and that few of heads of orgs could really handle their shit. Tough talk...

When we spoke on the phone, about half a year ago, he mentioned that he was tired of seeing high ranking individuals sitting on their asses, getting into bad shape, yet still proclaiming to be Martial Artists. "Don't pay much attention to the title, rank or what's written about a club or instructor..." These were interesting words to me. He told me that few could keep up to his level of intensity. This guy was sounding like the bad ass of the Karate community. And I liked it. He was mentioning some big names, saying how they're just posturing...wow. Mr Takahashi was unreal to me, and I wanted to learn under him. He seemed bitter and angry, and like he had a great fire in him, and that he wanted to show what a truly dedicated Karateka can do. Hell, this guy was still sparring with people half his age!


His mottos were:

1) Practice What You Preach

2) Modest In Talk, Let Actions Speak For The Truth

3) Never Cease To Be A Student

In his 60's, his training regime still included over 400 hours of training every year, makiwara training, and an intense physical regime that left him with the body I could only hope for in my twenties. He trains like a young fighter, still very hungry, weight training and conditioning like a true Karateka.

I finally, after about a year and a half of waiting, got the call I was hoping for. He is willing to train me privately, and I accepted.

Trankada Aldabon Kali

Last weekend Guru Nonoy Gallano held yet another seminar, for a privileged few, on knife fighting. Suffice it to say, his techniques and knowledge are second to none, and his prowess with the blade commands respect, as well as the dangers a blade can produce. I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to him, and have enjoyed both public and private time with him, speaking about his history and what he has to offer. He is a wonderful man, and an exceptional Martial Artist. His age, and blindness, give his abilities an even greater constitution.
I was also honored to be one of the first people to be given several certificates of involvement in his seminars. Having his signature and confidence is a real treat and honor. I will not forget my first seminar with him, and where I have advanced to in terms of understanding the knife, unarmed Filipino combat, as well as the sticks.