| Subject: The relationship of striking pattern to footwork |
Author:
Gaucho
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Date Posted: 07:55:18 06/28/02 Fri
In reply to:
JAK
's message, "Catching up...." on 14:01:42 06/27/02 Thu
Catch Up One-
Your question about the mathematical relationship of footwork and striking patterns and how it applies to combat is a good one.
Many many years ago, GM Caballero realized the importance of developing the ability to execute all possible combinations of strikes while simultaneously stepping in any direction. Through observation, Caballero had gleaned a fundamental truth about the footwork used in combat, namely that 90% of the combative footwork is shuffling- forward and back, side to side. The remaining 10% is made up of equal parts zoning or triangling and circling, plus a little coilstepping and so on thrown in.
Cabellero developed a training regimen where he (and later his students like Edgar Sulite) practiced shuffling one or two steps forward, then back, then side to side, then in a box pattern, then zoning, then circling, all the while cutting every possible strike combination. In that way, they learned to attack or counterattack with any strike from any angle with any step.
Let me use the Amok! system to illustrate:
In Amok!, we teach nice basic lines of attack:
#1- a forehand downward diagonal slash to the head/neck.
#2- a backhand downward diagonal slash to the head/neck.
#3- a forehand horizontal slash to the abdomen.
#4- a backhand horizontal slash to the abdomen.
#5- a palm down thrust to the heart or abdomen.
#6- a backhand upward diagonal slash to the groin/lower abdomen.
#7- a forehand upward diagonal slash to the groin/lower abdomen.
#8- a palm up thrust to the R side of the head/neck.
#9- a palm down thrust to the L side of the head/neck.
Please note: the reason our strikes flow in this manner is that they account for the typical cross-hand checking utilized by all trained knifefighters (Partner up, have one partner throw the strikes while the other cross checks, and you'll see what I mean).
OK, take the most fundamental footwork pattern, namely shuffling two steps forward, then two back, then two forward, two back, and so on. Now, as you step forward with the first shuffle, strike an angle #1, then with the second shuffle forward strike an angle #2, with the 3rd shuffle (backwards now) strike an angle #3, with the 4th shuffle back strike a #4, with the 5th shuffle, forward again now, strike a #5 and so on...keeping shuffling and striking until you are back at the beginning- i.e., you end your last shuffle back with a #9, ready to start again with a forward shuffle and a #1 strike.
Repeat this pattern, but now, instead of shuffling forward and back, shuffle two steps to the R, back two steps to the the center, another two steps to the L, back to the center, two mor to the R, and so on, as you flow through your strike sequence.
Next, execute two shuffles forward, two steps R, two steps back, two steps L, two steps forward, two steps L, two steps back, two steps R, and so on, executing two boxes, or a squared off figure eight.
Next, triangles and triangular figure eights as JAK describes, and then circular footwork.
Once the one strike per shuffle drill is fluid and fast, execute two strikes per shuffle- i.e, with your first shuffle forward, cut an angle #1 as you start to step, and an angle #2 as you land, then with your second shuffle forward cut an angle #3 and land with an angle #4, shuffle back with a #5 and #6, and back again with a #7 and #8, then forward with a #9 and #1, and so on until you are back at the beginning again.
Do the same thing shuffling side to side, in a figure eight, and so on.
Then shuffle only ONE step forward, ONE back, each with two strikes. And so on...
Now, the full 81 permutations ( 9x9):
As you take your first shuffle forward, cut an angle #1 and land with a #1, with the second step forward cut a #1 and land with a #2, with the first step back cut a #1 and land with a #3 and so on thru the #1's, then cut #2 and #1, #2 and #2, #2 and #3, and so on...all the way through stepping with a #9 and landing with a #9. All 81 permutations.
Note that if you are using a twelve angle of attack system like Doce Pares that there are 144 (12x12) strike permutations.
Next do the 81s side to side, etc.
Next add a check after each two strikes- i.e, shuffle with a #1, and land with #1, then check with live hand, shuffle with a #1, land with a #2 and check, and so on...
Finally, add a check BETWEEN the two strikes- i.e, shuffle with a #1...check...land with a #2, and so on.
Those are the fundamental sequences. You will notice as you do these that some strike combinations- e.g, the #5 to the #2, the #9 to the #3, and so on, flow more fluidly than others. These are the 'classic' combinations taught in knifefighting all over the world.
Once the above is fluid, you link in replacement steps and cross-over steps to learn to cover distance (forward and back) faster, and lateral ejections to learn to get out of Dodge quick when things go sour.
The more you practice this stuff, the better your ability to strike and check any angle as you move in any direction. Guro David Gould does this everyday of his life as a warm-up and he FLOATS when he moves.
Have fun!
Mario
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