Journal tip for trapping


This is more like a journal entry gaging some of the different events that I have been going through with my training. It has been rolling around in my head so much that I figured it would be best for me to right something down.

This season I have been working with section 3 in the post heaven section which is " The way of diverting energy". After practicing these 8 movements hundreds of thousands of times, it is time for me to dig even deeper into the meaning. Every movement in this section leads to trap the opponents hands. For a trap to work effectively you do not need to be fast, you only need to know your opponents timing.

At first it seems like a sixth sense, the ability to always counter your opponent and make him fumble over his own hands. While he stumbles his other hand is pinned leaving his face exposed to your attack. Distant water can not extinguish close fire.

The secret behind this technique is being able to "bait" your opponent. A trapper doesn't just leave a trap in the middle of an open field, he first looks for the tracks of the animal he is seeking. In our case, tracks indicate the habits and tendencies of the other fighter.

Baiting your opponent means that you must make your opponent strike at a place he feels he will be advantageous. Or sometimes a small step can make him attack first, giving you the perfect opportunity to counter. It may look like a counter, but the step initiates the movement. You can see some masters do this while dodging a sword in a demonstration. The student whales away at the master and misses every time. It's because once you've forced your intention onto someone they have to react, if you are waiting with the counter then they should fall right into the trap.

Try it out. Keep training.


Comments

Zacky Chan said…
Timing can be a weird thing can't it? I get the image of one guy asking another to hit him in close range and then staring at that hand in anticipation of trying to time it perfect to hit it out of the way. Obviously there's a lot more going on than just staring at the weapon and waiting to move when you're working on "good timing". In aikido I'm finding that "good timing" incorporates good movement which gets you out of the way, in that way ... the hand movement is kind of secondary ... but if the movement is supposed to all be one ... then I guess it's just one.

Anyway, great posts. I'm finding your philosophical posts to be very inspiring for me as a young English teacher abroad deep in a martial quest of sorts. Look forward to more writing.
June 14, 2011 at 11:01 PM
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