SPEED
THROUGH KENPO, by Athos Antoniades
(COMBAT December 1998)
Some fortunate
people are born with natural speed and reflexes. Sadly most of us
do not have that advantage and we have to learn speed. However, a
person born with natural speed will not be as effective in a fight
as someone who is taught speed!
In terms of
fighting, kenpo is based on a rapid successsion of strikes. Therefore,
learning speed for the purpose of fighting is an inherent part of
our training.
Kenpo teaches
us to use economy of motion; using movements that follow direct
angles from the point of origin adn thereby eliminating telegraphing.
In other words we avoid unnecessary movement by reacting with our
natural weapons from wherever they may be positioned at the time
of attack.
Cocking, say,
a fist would mean going in the wrong direction for speed. And why
go east if you intend to go west?
No matter how
fast you are, if the opponent knows you're coming, then you are
not fast. On the other hand, no matter how slow you are, if he doesn't
see it coming then to him it's awfully fast!
We should not
be tense for a maximum speed. Rather we should be in a state of
what the Chinese refer to as 'sung' which translates into relaxed
but alert. Our natural weapons should not be tense but 'loose-heavy'.
The breath
is the mediator between the mind and body so proper breathing would
increase our speed. The breath should be continuous. But if our
breathing is patchy, then our motion will not flow with continuity.
The mind, body and breath should act in sync. The traditional patchy
kiai should be replaced by a continuous kiai, whith each exhalation
of breath consisting of numerous strikes as opposed to the traditinal
one strike per kiai.
If you discover
that your opponent is fast that you then cheat! Use an indirect
angle of attack to throw him of his attack line.
In kenpo, we
also like to cheat by cutting out moves. Instead of blockign, cocking
and then striking, we do all three at once. Exploding forward from
a relaxed centered position adds greatly to speed adn power, and
also improves reflex action.
By learning
to combine as many moves as possible we will be faster than a naturally
fast person who has not been taught how to cut out moves.
Learn through
practice how to push off fast and strong. The person who strikes
first is normally the one who strikes last. Charging in fast is
probably the best style of fighting, since no one can run backward
faster than you can go forward. We should first strike with the
natural weapon closest to the target - an obvious point often missed.
The lead hand strike is our fastest single strike. Therefore to
cover distance quickly use a lead hand back-fist complemented by
a push-drag to close the gap. Extended back-fst is the longest reaching
hand technique we have.
The secrets
of speed fighting will remain secrets until they are ingrained into
our subconscious. This ingraining can only be achieved through continuous
practice until our reflexes and techniques reach the stage of independent
movement.
A good method
for implanting the priciples of speed into our subconscious is through
the practice of speed drills. Choose about 5 speed techniques and
plractice them both with and without a partner until they register
in your subconscious. Have a partner pub on a pair of focus pads
and order you to strike or not to strike the pads by shouting out
instructions. For example 'Yes!', 'No!', 'Yes!' to mean 'Strike!',
'Not Strike!', 'Strike!'.
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