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In the practice
of martial arts the practitioner should never allow anticipation
of an opponents move to interfere with proper interpretation
of the actual movement. Since any prearranged technique attempted
with an uncooperative opponent will inevitably break down,
we see spontaneity and decisive action
as the keys to effective technique.
At this
point we come to a dilemma. In order for a student to learn
technique, he or she must mimic the instructor's movements
or lessons in the classroom setting. If the training were
left at this, the student would never learn to be spontaneous,
and certainly not decisive. Instead the response to an opponent
would be imitating movements learned in response to certain
situations. This is where San Soo's method of training is
unique. In order to attack or counter attack well on any given
line, one must understand the vulnerable targets readily accessible
and possess the knowledge of how to attack them. Thus we teach
techniques.
Techniques
are not a means to an end, but actually a means to a beginning.
The idea being to learn the technique in order to acquire
the skills taught in that particular technique or lesson.
After the technique has been learned the student should modify
the technique, adapting it to various entries on each line
of attack, thereby exploring ways to expand and adapt each
technique making it your own. Since all techniques
are related in that we are dealing with combat, each technique
or idea will naturally lend itself to flow into another. Thus
the student learns to change any technique instantly to suit
the situation at hand.
High
skill levels of spontaneous technique are developed in work-out,
where random attacks are directed at the San Soo practitioner.
As techniques
are developed through principles of line, distance, angle
and movement the San Soo fighter trains in all phases
of combat, beginning with interpretation, entry and contact
to striking, control, take downs, follow up and more.
The skills
taught by the techniques and the principles applied in technique
become natural and simple when workout is practiced on a regular
basis. Thus the San Soo workout is a unique method of training
techniques derived from applied principles in a spontaneous,
free-flowing manner.
There
are various methods of practicing the San Soo workout, each
designed to develop differing skills. The first and most basic
is known as a techniques workout or general workout. General
workout focuses on basic principles (line, distance,
angle, movement, interpretation of body english, and the pain
principle) and fundamentml skills of (stance, footwork,
blocking, deflecting, leverage, throws, takedowns, and striking
vital points) as well as form, defensive strategy and technique.
This method begins at white belt level and continues until
the art has been mastered.
General
workout can be practiced with two or three people. The practitioners
take turns as attacker and defender. As stated earlier this
method of training develops defensive strategy and technique.
By defensive, I refer only to the initial move of the defender
which will be a block, deflection or evasion. After that,
everything is offensive.
The defender
will be the one practicing techniques. This and the opponent
reacting are the only things prearranged in workout, that
is to say who will attack and who will defend. Both the attack
and the defense employed are random, and therefore spontaneous.
In order
to develop the skills learned from techniques or lessons and
apply them through the principles, the speed of workout is
approximately one third of full speed. Working at this speed
is absolutely essential because the techniques utilized in
San Soo are lethal. Even at beginning levels, when two
people work out together they literally place their lives
in each other's hands.
At higher
levels the speed can be picked up, but this requires very
high levels of awareness, concentration and control. These
are attributes that can only be developed through time
and practice at slow speed.
As the
attacking practitioner launches his attack the defender does
a great deal in a short time. First he must interpret his
opponent's movement and choose a line of attack in accordance
with this move, while employing a block, deflection or evasion.
Then he must take control of his opponent's center of gravity
and follow up utilizing the fundamental skills he has learned
in accordance with the pain principle. He continues his technique
until his opponent is completely unable to retaliate in any
way.
As this
is being done the attacking practitioner reacts to the defender's
technique in accordance with the pain principle (head and
hands follow the pain) as though he were actually being struck
by each of the blows delivered. This accomplishes much. First
it trains the defender to follow up his technique in accordance
with the reactions of his opponent. Next it teaches the attacker
to constantly be aware of his opponents movements and roll
with them. Rolling with the blows diminishes the force when
actually struck. In this way both students learn valuable
skills as they train whether they are initiating the attack
or defending. They learn to execute technique in a realistic
atmosphere that approximates an actual fight as closely as
possible without actually fighting.
When
working out each student takes two turns as attacker, followed
by two turns as defender. When attacking it is extremely important
to actually attack. By this I mean to launch an attack that
will land if not stopped by the defender. If this is not done
the defender will never learn correct distance for the application
of technique. In this manner students work back and forth
developing fundamental skills, applying basic principles,
training form and utilizing strategy. This results in spontaneous
technique of the highest caliber.
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