Movement

[Timber]

I am curious as to people's experiences with footwork and body movement in stick fighting.

Some few days ago a local instructor invited me to his school to observe a one-on-one make up class in order for me to see whether I felt comfortable with what he was teaching, if it was along the lines of what I was wishing to pursue.
I became very aware, very quickly, that the level of footwork he was instilling in his students was far different than anything I had practiced. He is of a Pikita Tirisia background and says that footwork is an essential element of the tactical approach to stick fighting his school takes.

Personaly my own footwork had been limited to chasing my hanging sticks, cornering them and avoiding them when neccesary but relying mostly on dodges, leans and the like.

I very much appreciated what I saw in this man's practice. I regarded my own footwork as deficient, for in doing some distance sparring with the instructor I found myself wishing to become very aggresive and charge him, always in a frontal attack. My stick work was fairly quick but I felt I lacked the fluidity that he showed and was unable to match his movements. Thus his own tactics were unavailable to me.

His point that power and speed were not enough, that these things fade with age, and that timing is very crucial was made evident by injuries I am presently recovering from which limit these very things.

I have read some posts here which speak of leans and dodges as tactics, particulary with modern arnis, are there any other comments?
What of the full contact practioners, how important do you see footwork being? What of where you face one who is faster and stronger than you, is there less footwork or more footwork when the two opponents are very skilled and very evenly matched?

My questions are limited by my own lack of experience, so I am sure there are many I am overlooking.
Thanks

 

[Dave Fulton]

Timber,

First, I'm curious to know the name of the Pekiti-tirsia teacher that you visited.

Second, footwork is of the utmost importance to us. All the techniques in the world won't help you if you can't get where you need to be to apply them. I'm not sure how the Modern Arnis players define them, but "leans" and "dodges" are certainly part of our footwork and body movement repertoire.

Although timing and positioning are always important, if you're fighting someone who's faster and stronger than you, you must rely even more on timing and positioning. You use your footwork to "fit" into his movements and attack from off angles. Let's use a really simple example. You're both fighting single stick (in your right hand) with right foot forward. He swings at your head with a horizontal strike that moves from your left to your right. You use a "reverse" (aka "defensive" or "female") triangle, which is a "\/". Below you start at point A as he tries to hit you. You step back to point X with your left foot, then bring your right foot back to X. Once your right foot is on X, your left foot moves to Y. Your right foot again follows your left foot to Y, but never touches the ground. Instead, as your right foot arrives at Y, you pivot to your right as you push off with your left foot and close on your opponent at a 45 degree angle to their center line. Assuming that they haven't adjusted for your movement, you are now the BIG smilie and he's in trouble because you've just flanked him.

/
Y A
\ /
X

Again, that's a basic example. In truth though you've used both the reverse triangle (the "V") and a variation of the attacking triangle (usually depicted as a "/\" on the floor).

Now depending upon the distance bewteen the two of you as he initiates his attack (same scenerio as above), you may only need to shift your body weight onto your left foot (into a sort of "cat stance" from karate) and let the strike pass. Then, from this "coiled" position, you explode forward off your left foot coming straight in behind his attack. The key is that you don't just lean backwards though, you shift your whole body so that your butt is over the heal of the rear foot (the difference being that you are centered/balanced). This would be an example of "leans and dodges".

In my opinion, when the two fighters are high level and evenly matched, everything becomes very subtle looking and they almost seem to be taking part in a choreographed dance. It's absolutely beautiful to watch and IMHO, this is when it truly becomes an "art". I recall a quote by an old master to the affect that when you hear sticks hitting together, it's a sign of a beginner. To a degree, I think this is true because with two very experienced and evenly matched players, they tend to slip each other's attacks rather than block/parry them.

The only part of what he told you, or how you interpretted what he told you, that I don't absolutely agree with, is about power and speed fading with age. Yes they do diminish, but the extent to which they diminish is heavily dependent upon how you generate power. If your power comes from your arm, then your power will diminish considerably with age. However, if your power comes from proper body mechanics and originates from your hips and legs, then you will not see as much loss in power with age. You'll also have more power when you're young.

Respectfully,

Dave Fulton




------------------
Full Contact Martial Arts Association.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

[This message has been edited by Dave Fulton (edited 04-02-2001).]

 

[thekuntawman]

the best way to develop good footwork for fighting is to challenge your self to be 45 degrees to his outside (facing the back of his shoulder). while you fight try to end up on his outside and be set up to attack before he gets a chance to settle himself there. now, if you end up in this place, you have achieved the goal of using the triangle for attacking, which is to attack the opponent from his side which can guarantee you success. the hard part is getting there.

for counterattacking the opponent, your goal is to be 45 degrees to his chest **while he is attacking**. forget blockings unless you just dont have time. position yourself there while his arm or leg is extended, and you've won the fight. all you have to do then is finish him.

see my post today on the footwork thread.

 

[Timber]

Thanks Dave and Kuntawman.