Pliability advantage as a martial artist

[Alan Armstrong]

There are many typically known physical advantages such as height, weight and reach; just to name a few.

I'm starting to suspect, that having a strong and pliable body is an advantage as a martial artist above and beyond those that are strong and flexible.

I'm saying pliability as opposed to flexibility, because in my way of reasoning pliability includes all joints (hyper extending) and tendons, this also includes (flexible) muscles.

My hypothesis is that two people with equal strength, height, weight and ability, that the one that has a more pliable body (depending on the technique, such as an arm bar) will have a greater advantage over the one that is not as pliable structurally.

The more pliable a person is physically, the more difficult it is to use arm and wrist lock techniques on, as opposed to those that are more relatively stiff.

Pliability increases a person's range of motion in all directions. This is very helpful when trying to slip out of tight holds and grabs, also countering maneuvers are easier to apply.

Having pliability advantage when grappling seems to have a profound discouraging effect on the opponent. As their techniques are not working as well as they should be, or surprisingly things are not working out as expected or planned.

My first encounter having pliability advantages was when training with an instructor (martial artist) that trains police enforcement officers.

As the instructor had all of the typical advantages mentioned earlier over me, my pliability advantage alone was very disconcerting for him, it was if he had encountered something very alien.

More circumstances while practicing with other martial artist also brings about this disconcerting effect for them as if this is not possible.

Till one person recently accused me of having an unfair advantage for being too flexible, this person being a martial artist body building grappler; something I'm not.

I am looking forward to hear other martial artists views on this (pliability) advantage; or perhaps it's not an advantage!

[Nidan Melbourne]

Well you are getting onto the point in your post about Joint ROM. Everyone physiologically is different and that is where people have to learn how they move.

Range of Motion (ROM) is different to flexibility; as it is more concerned about the Joints and how well they can move. In comparison to Flexibility more being concerned in regards to Muscles and Tendons.

Why am i mentioning that?

Because from what you are talking about, is exactly that and people who attempt to apply a technique on another person may or may not work.

Hypermobility can also be a Double Edged Sword, as you may actually put those respective joints in danger of further damage. By that I mean especially in a Sparring Situation your partner may have to apply even more power being their techniques and can then overextend what those joints can handle

[sensei8]

Great topic, Alan Armstrong!! Solid OP and solid post by Liam!!

As in anything, advantages are limited!! If I'm faced with an opponent that's quite pliable, in such that Tuite and/or Kyusho Jitsu are ineffective to some certain degree, than I've other options to go to.

While the body is quite pliable, and that it varies in individuals, the body isn't pliable everywhere. It's those locations that aren't pliable at all, and in that, that's what I zero on when I attack without remorse.

The old adage that says...

"There's more than one way to skin a cat!!"

[Alan Armstrong]

Very much appreciate the comments thus far.

Never heard of this 'ROM' concept till now; fascinating! Will look in to it more in depth very soon.

I did have an episode while preparing for a TKD tournament. While practicing an aerial double kick, my right hip felt as if it popped out of it's socket and went back in again.

My hip was painful for a few weeks with (luckily) no complications or permanent damage.

The ironic point is that I don't consider myself extraordinary flexible.

Really I'm not extraordinarily flexible, but my muscles and joints do have a funny way of becoming (with lack of the correct way of explaining it) elastic when hyper extended.

I attribute this elastic quality (when techniques are applied to me) due to stretching and hyper extending my body thousands of times throughout my life.

I have developed a mind over matter attitude towards stretching, over the years.

Hyper extending exercises from Aikido have also developed my wrists, elbows and shoulders beyond normal people.

TKD exercises has also (I belive) attributed to my hips having an elastic tolerance to be hyperextended beyond what one might considered normal.

Also a one in a million accident happened many years go, I was sandwiched between a wall and a fork lift truck. My hips squished together due to the thousands of kilos/pounds of pressure.

The experience did not cripple me, but the experience most definitely had a deep impact on my subconscious. No one in their right mind would subject themselves, to being squished with such unimaginable mechanical strength.

Perhaps my subconscious has registered this (being squished accident) as a type of tolerance gauge that has never readjusted to normal circumstances?