Pattern Signals

[joesteph]

In the new (March 2010) issue of Black Belt, there's an article titled "Peer Into the Crystal Ball" on p. 80+. In particular, on p. 82, there's a list under Pattern Signals that I found interesting:

• The person who punches but seldom kicks (or vice-versa)
• The person who charges in with punch (or kick) combinations
  
• The person who counters with kicks (or with punches)
  
• The person who kicks with his lead leg (or with his rear leg)
  
• The person who always attacks with the same side of his body
  
• The person who uses only spinning techniques

As I see it, the article is for those who regularly spar with certain fellow students in the dojo/dojang, and for those who enter tournaments, where they have the opportunity to watch to-be-opponents before their match. It can even be that a friend's made some observations about a potential opponent and has passed them on to you.

I think the most common of the six mentioned would be the one who kicks but seldom punches, should it be in the Korean arts. Second, which I imagine might be in any of the martial arts, would be the one who regularly attacks with the same side of his/her body.

EDIT: I found I can "bullet" the list if I put [ * ] (w/o spaces) in front of each under [ list ] and before [ / list ]. I didn't use the backslash command [ / * ] at the end of the lines.

Edited January 17, 2010 by joesteph

[KarateGeorge]

Yeah, I'd say those are pretty good generalizations of common fighting styles. If I'm sparring someone I don't know and haven't watched, I'll kind of use the beginning of the fight to feel them out and get an idea of what kind of fighter they are. If they are a kicker, I'll often try to keep the distance closed so that we're in punching range, taking their kicks out of the equation as much as possible. If they're a puncher/boxer type, I'll try and keep a step back into kicking range and take their fists out of the equation as much as possible. I also constantly switch my lead side from between left and right and change up how I'm attacking.

That being said, I do find myself tending to prefer punches over kicks, as I'd rather have both feet on the ground for a solid base of balance, but I know how to adapt to the situation, adjusting to the fighting style of my opponent.

[DWx]

I'd probably class my self as a puncher because I seldom throw kicks on their own. For me a kick will always be followed by the arm, even if its countering. I'd probably say I'm same side of the body too (right), I can and do kick with both legs but my left arm is useless and doesn't hit that hard.

I think you could add the all rounder as a category (you do get them).

[mr_obvious]

I also constantly switch my lead side from between left and right and change up how I'm attacking.

This, too, is something I try to focus on and develop.

[joesteph]

I think you could add the all rounder as a category (you do get them).

If I'm thinking of the "all rounder" you mentioned correctly, DWx, that's probably the best one can be. S/he doesn't follow a pattern that can be used against him or her.

You and mr_obvious sound very much like all rounders or working towards that goal from your descriptions.

[DWx]

I don't know. Maybe all rounder was the wrong term to use. For an all rounder, I was thinking someone who isn't restricted by any of the traits originally listed, whether that means they are the best, I don't know. And should they really be included in the list...?

I mean they can have the ability to charge in, counter, fight from both sides, use spinning kicks etc. But even then they're still going to follow "patterns" to a degree. Like their particular counter when X kick is thrown is always the same. Or that when they want to come in and fight close, they always use a certain combo to close the gap.

Or they have all of the traits listed but will change between them as the fight progresses depending on what they think is going to work.