Reaching!!

[sensei8]

What's longer,...

Two arms or one arm??

My question is to preface my comments to be forthcoming very soon on the subject of "Reaching".

[CredoTe]

Hmmm.... a potentially deep question... But, on it's surface, simple math says two is greater than one, so two arms would be longer than one.

But, then again, who's arms are we comparing? Two from the same person, or two different?

Methinks you're a "tricksee hobitses" sometimes

I look forward to the rest of the picture...

[Wastelander]

Another interesting and enigmatic topic from sensei8! I suppose it isn't fair for me to answer this question, because my right arm is about an inch longer than my left . I will give it a shot, though.

Two arms are "longer" than one in the sense that you will cover more distance with your entire body in order to bring both arms to bear than you would if you just used one--it makes your attack longer, essentially. Conversely, one arm would be "longer" than two, in the sense that the body does not need to travel as far to bring it to bear, since one arm can be extended in one direction further than two at once.

Of course, if you are simply trying to span a distance with your arms, two arms are always going to be longer than one.

[AdamKralic]

If the desired result is to not get hit as frequently...I'd imagine that one arm is longer than two. Two requires you to square up...1 requires you to be sideways and thus a much smaller target.

[sensei8]

Close range fighting takes one of two things: 1) No common sense, 2) Courage.

More often than not, your attacker and you will find yourselves facing each other, locked together by your arms in a fashion that's akin to a WWE tie-up; a standing clinch. Both of you battling for the advantage; one over the other.

This didn't have to be so, and if not careful, the tides will turn the advantage towards your attacker. Not an ending one had hoped for; at least in your opinion.

Inasmuch as one would hope for, no one wants to be found in an disadvantage, of any proportional degree, against any attacker. However, it's even worse when the reson(s) that you're in that particular predicament this time is because of something that you did and/or didn't do. This didn't have to be either!

No matter what we do as MAists, we're suppose to lessen, if not eliminate, our own mistakes. Having our attacker dominate us, no matter how small or large, isn't what we've trained for.

Listen, it happens! But, when it happens, the final outcome can be quite dangerous, as one can imagine.

What's longer, two arms or one arm?

Let's briefly examine this for a moment, please.

My two outstretched arms towards to grasp my attackers front might seem functional, but it's quite limited. For an average human adult is roughly about 32 inches to 35 inches. Having said that, length of an arm are in constant proportion to the size of the body itself. It depends on the height of the person to determine arm length.

The said length is arrested by my front facing posture, as well as my arms are only able to stretch out so far while using both of my arms no matter the posture.

However...

If I, as my attacker advances me or has already grabbed me, stick out my one arm to deflect/intercept/direct him/her, my one arm is longer than my two outstretched arms.

How is that possible?

By using my half-front facing posture while I'm extending either arm towards my attacker, my one arm is now longer. Thus, I gain up to an additional 6 inches, or more. Boxers and the like, when speaking about their reach, is speaking to that parameter.

In a close range environment, I extend the distance between my attacker and myself while using my one arm while in a half-front, or even a side-facing posture. AKin to a football stiff arm block, and in that, a lineman keeps their opponent at a further distance from them, therefore, the linesman can't be reached by the rushing opponent.

Attacker gets two hands on me in a front-facing posture, he/she thinks that the advangtage is his/her to command. NO! Front facing me opens a large target for me to strike; not smart for him/her. By extending either arm, while transitioning into half-front facing, and driving him/her back peddling while I'm driving my legs; smart for me.

Transitioning can't happen if posture is ignored!! Two arms are great but not so great when I'm trying to keep my attacker at bay. Our brand of Tuite incorporates quite a lot of one arm extended tecniques that can be utilized at the point of the attack and/or at the point of direction and/or at the point of defense.

This is why I sincerely believe that one arm is longer than two arms, especially in a close range environment.

[CredoTe]

Close range fighting takes one of two things: 1) No common sense, 2) Courage.

More often than not, your attacker and you will find yourselves facing each other, locked together by your arms in a fashion that's akin to a WWE tie-up; a standing clinch. Both of you battling for the advantage; one over the other.

This didn't have to be so, and if not careful, the tides will turn the advantage towards your attacker. Not an ending one had hoped for; at least in your opinion.

Inasmuch as one would hope for, no one wants to be found in an disadvantage, of any proportional degree, against any attacker. However, it's even worse when the reson(s) that you're in that particular predicament this time is because of something that you did and/or didn't do. This didn't have to be either!

No matter what we do as MAists, we're suppose to lessen, if not eliminate, our own mistakes. Having our attacker dominate us, no matter how small or large, isn't what we've trained for.

Listen, it happens! But, when it happens, the final outcome can be quite dangerous, as one can imagine.

What's longer, two arms or one arm?

Let's briefly examine this for a moment, please.

My two outstretched arms towards to grasp my attackers front might seem functional, but it's quite limited. For an average human adult is roughly about 32 inches to 35 inches. Having said that, length of an arm are in constant proportion to the size of the body itself. It depends on the height of the person to determine arm length.

The said length is arrested by my front facing posture, as well as my arms are only able to stretch out so far while using both of my arms no matter the posture.

However...

If I, as my attacker advances me or has already grabbed me, stick out my one arm to deflect/intercept/direct him/her, my one arm is longer than my two outstretched arms.

How is that possible?

By using my half-front facing posture while I'm extending either arm towards my attacker, my one arm is now longer. Thus, I gain up to an additional 6 inches, or more. Boxers and the like, when speaking about their reach, is speaking to that parameter.

In a close range environment, I extend the distance between my attacker and myself while using my one arm while in a half-front, or even a side-facing posture. AKin to a football stiff arm block, and in that, a lineman keeps their opponent at a further distance from them, therefore, the linesman can't be reached by the rushing opponent.

Attacker gets two hands on me in a front-facing posture, he/she thinks that the advangtage is his/her to command. NO! Front facing me opens a large target for me to strike; not smart for him/her. By extending either arm, while transitioning into half-front facing, and driving him/her back peddling while I'm driving my legs; smart for me.

Transitioning can't happen if posture is ignored!! Two arms are great but not so great when I'm trying to keep my attacker at bay. Our brand of Tuite incorporates quite a lot of one arm extended tecniques that can be utilized at the point of the attack and/or at the point of direction and/or at the point of defense.

This is why I sincerely believe that one arm is longer than two arms, especially in a close range environment.

Great explanation, sensei8 I never thought about it like that, but we explain the same thing in a different way. In a normal, relaxed shizentai-dachi fighting stance (or half-facing shiko dachi), one's body is closer to a 45-degree slant rather than squared front. We explain that when a situation closes to in-fighting, because the front arm in the shizentai-dachi is closer to the opponent (i.e. the "longer reach" you're talking about), it is the best appendage to begin any clinch work or bars, holds, locks, grappling, etc... And, it is also best positioned to deflect / redirect any initial range-closing attacks by an assailant. Of course, we also instruct our students that we cannot simply play "hand-slap" with our opponent to block everything ; we must move with the deflection into a position best suited to end the situation, whether it's in-fighting, flanking, deflect and counter and run, etc...

[Kusotare]

In most styles of Japanese Budo (Karate, Jujutsu and Kenjutsu etc.) this is called "Hanmi Gamae" - lit "half posture" - referring to the fact that your body is at 45 deg to your opponent.

Naturally, this does extend reach, but more importantly it narrows off your body from your opponent’s perspective, thus reducing the target area.

From an armed perspective it also allows you to conceal weapons and intentions from your enemy.

All practical combat systems adopt this approach.

K.