Blocking and parrying in combat

[cross]

training with chambered arms help you learn the body mechanics more easily( keeping your elbows down and back, using all the muscles instead of just the arm, etc)

Training with chambered arms develops muscle memory for chambering your arm, how that is useful i still dont understand.

[bushido_man96]

training with chambered arms help you learn the body mechanics more easily( keeping your elbows down and back, using all the muscles instead of just the arm, etc)

Training with chambered arms develops muscle memory for chambering your arm, how that is useful i still dont understand.

Weight training does build muscle memory as well. However, we don't condone the movements done in weight training because they do not relate to self-defense.

I am not saying you are wrong, cross. However, we can adapt moves as we move along. It may be putting the cart before the horse, or it may not. You lift weights through a whole range of motion in order to gain strength through the whole range of motion. Performing the traditional moves this way helps to do the same thing. They can be shortened, but you do have to practice them that way as well.

[cross]

I am not saying you are wrong, cross. However, we can adapt moves as we move along. It may be putting the cart before the horse, or it may not. You lift weights through a whole range of motion in order to gain strength through the whole range of motion. Performing the traditional moves this way helps to do the same thing. They can be shortened, but you do have to practice them that way as well.

Whilst its quiet common to use your muscles through a full range of motion, its rare to perform a technique has practiced traditionally through its full range of motion. The only thing that seems to be used is the last few moments of the movement. So why not train in that part and reduce the movements you do for no reason and help prevent bad habits from forming?

Look at how boxers are taught to punch, the basic punch is no different from how its used in the ring, they dont start with the hand at the hip to learn to use certain muscles, the start with the hand where it starts for real and do that each time to get better at the actual movement, not a non used variation of it.

[bushido_man96]

Those are good points, cross. As I said, I don't disagree. I just think there can be more than one way to do it. Crossing the arms prior to blocking can be seen as a cover, as well. I know that Abernethy demonstrates it in this fashion.

[Justin Treadaway]

I am not saying you are wrong, cross. However, we can adapt moves as we move along. It may be putting the cart before the horse, or it may not. You lift weights through a whole range of motion in order to gain strength through the whole range of motion. Performing the traditional moves this way helps to do the same thing. They can be shortened, but you do have to practice them that way as well.

Whilst its quiet common to use your muscles through a full range of motion, its rare to perform a technique has practiced traditionally through its full range of motion. The only thing that seems to be used is the last few moments of the movement. So why not train in that part and reduce the movements you do for no reason and help prevent bad habits from forming?

Look at how boxers are taught to punch, the basic punch is no different from how its used in the ring, they dont start with the hand at the hip to learn to use certain muscles, the start with the hand where it starts for real and do that each time to get better at the actual movement, not a non used variation of it.

When I took isshinryu karate I always wondered why we had to set there and drill the same punch 50,000 times and always putting our hands on our belt. To me it just doesn't make sense. Its ok to pracitce a punch over and over but at least make it be the way you would actually punch in a real life situation.

[mantis.style]

It is my belief that this is a direct result of focussing too much on the form and indicative of the missing element in modern martial arts training. In my mind, actually sparring and "fighting" is just as important as non-stressed training. For every punch you throw in isolation in class, you should throw one punch in a live session. Training shouldn't just be form work. Lots of form work isn't a replacement for proper sparring.

[RealWingChunKuen]

In the chineses internal martial arts - Bagua, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I, etc. - the aim is to by-pass the adrenaline rush. This is not easily achieved, hence the long periods of hard training required to make them effective as fighting arts.

[cross]

In the chineses internal martial arts - Bagua, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I, etc. - the aim is to by-pass the adrenaline rush. This is not easily achieved, hence the long periods of hard training required to make them effective as fighting arts.

Thats why its far more practical to be aware that the a-dump will occur and prepare for that rather than attempt to by-pass it, which is near impossible unless you have been involved in so many life threatening situations and survived that you no longer fear such things, even then the element of surprise is always present and can cause an a-dump. So for the average joe who cant spend 5 days a week training trying to by-pass the a-dump is far from practical.

[bushido_man96]

In the chineses internal martial arts - Bagua, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I, etc. - the aim is to by-pass the adrenaline rush. This is not easily achieved, hence the long periods of hard training required to make them effective as fighting arts.

Thats why its far more practical to be aware that the a-dump will occur and prepare for that rather than attempt to by-pass it, which is near impossible unless you have been involved in so many life threatening situations and survived that you no longer fear such things, even then the element of surprise is always present and can cause an a-dump. So for the average joe who cant spend 5 days a week training trying to by-pass the a-dump is far from practical.

I agree, cross. However, even in scenario training, it won't be the same as it will be in reality. You can get close, though, and the closer, the better.

[cross]

I agree, cross. However, even in scenario training, it won't be the same as it will be in reality. You can get close, though, and the closer, the better.

I completely agree. Thats what my post a while back called "The Reality Gap" was all about. And in my opinion its far more realistic to be aware that when you are completely surprised you will flinch, and when you are in a high stress situation you will lose access to fine motor skills and let your training reflect that, instead of trying to work against what is going to happen.

In this way, your training will be based on tactics that work from a flinch and include predominently gross motor skills, has opposed to assuming you will be perfectly aware of everything thats happening and be able to pull of a fairly specific block and counter with fine motor based techniques.