Circular vs. Linear styles

[NightOwl]

I'd say though that (at least for me) linear comes more naturally. You tend to want to constantly stand face-to-face with your opponent rather than move around a whole lot at first. But I think that footwork is more or less what sets your angle of attack.

Edited January 12, 2007 by NightOwl

[mantis.style]

There is no such thing as a linear style or a circular style. All styles deal with both.

[bushido_man96]

But I think that footwork is more or less what sets you angle of attack.

I agree with this point. I consider TKD to be farily linear, and we use a lot of circular footwork (well, I try to, anyway! ) to create angles of attack and counterattack.

[ps1]

There is no such thing as a linear style or a circular style. All styles deal with both.

I agree.

[baronbvp]

I'm not sure I agree. Circular styles involve more jumps, turns, and circular limb motion for strikes and defenses. Kung fu is an example.

I think some of these circular styles developed as they did because of what I see as a major difference in styles: whether they are designed to defeat a single or multiple opponents. In my opinion, linear styles are more geared toward a single opponent, whereas circular styles are more easily adapted to fighting multiple opponents.

However, most street fights I've seen were using linear styles regardless of the number of opponents. Maybe my theory is only a theory.

[bushido_man96]

I can see why you would argue that point, Baron. However, I don't really think that any one style is developed to defend against more than one person any more than any other style is.

Trying to fight more than one person is so difficult, anyways. One skilled man vs. 2 untrained, I would probably bet on the two, anyhow.

[baronbvp]

True, but I respectfully disagree. Some styles are definitely suited to a single opponent: boxing, kickboxing, grappling, fencing, MMA for example. Fighters engaged with an opponent are vulnerable to attacks by another and aren't normally trained to fight multiple opponents simultaneously.

Others - kung fu, karate, TKD, kobudo - are designed to more easily reverse stances and fighting direction, come off a strike move into an immediate attack on another opponent, etc. Good training involves handling multiple opponents at some point.

This may be better discussed in another thread about numbers of opponents.

[ps1]

I'm not sure I agree. Circular styles involve more jumps, turns, and circular limb motion for strikes and defenses. Kung fu is an example.

I think some of these circular styles developed as they did because of what I see as a major difference in styles: whether they are designed to defeat a single or multiple opponents. In my opinion, linear styles are more geared toward a single opponent, whereas circular styles are more easily adapted to fighting multiple opponents.

However, most street fights I've seen were using linear styles regardless of the number of opponents. Maybe my theory is only a theory.

Wing Chun is a form of Kung Fu and has many linear aspects. In another post you make mention of several sports. Of course they are geared toward one on one conflict...they are one on one sports.

Bushido_Man96 is correct. In a situation with multiple attackers the liklihood of "winning" decreases exponentially. Your best bet is attempting to get away. But the idea of beating down a bunch of thugs is something that is not going to be the norm. Movies make it look much easier than it is.

[baronbvp]

Good points.

[bushido_man96]

True, but I respectfully disagree. Some styles are definitely suited to a single opponent: boxing, kickboxing, grappling, fencing, MMA for example. Fighters engaged with an opponent are vulnerable to attacks by another and aren't normally trained to fight multiple opponents simultaneously.

Others - kung fu, karate, TKD, kobudo - are designed to more easily reverse stances and fighting direction, come off a strike move into an immediate attack on another opponent, etc. Good training involves handling multiple opponents at some point.

This may be better discussed in another thread about numbers of opponents.

I think that any style can train to reverse lines in order to deal with more than one opponent effectively. However, there really isn't any style that teaches you how to defend when two people attack you at the same time.

I practice TKD, and I don't see much of anything inherent to TKD that would make it easier for me to deal with more than one opponent than it would if I was a boxer or kickboxer.