Paper Rock Scissors And Martial Arts?

[Alan Armstrong]

Most people grow up playing the game Rock Paper Scissors as a child, perhaps not so much when older.

This concept of relating the game Paper Rock Scissors, to martial arts, was taught to me by my Sensei in the late 1970's pre internet.

Have you been taught how this game relates to martial arts?

Would you like to know more on how this works?

Would be a great advantage to use the right thing at the right time against your opponent, would you agree?

Or at least not to do the wrong thing would also be beneficial?

Hopefully to peak your interest in this topic, that perhaps your chosen discipline leans more to one of the three, can you guess which one?

Where Scissors cuts Paper and Paper wraps Rock, while Rock blunts Scissors and the cycle continues, can you visualise how this relates to martial arts?

As the lesson to be learned here, is that all three are equally important, that each one can defeat another.

Where the way to defeat an opponent, relies on which approach to be useful from the three, do you agree?

Experienced trainers give their fighters advice between rounds on how to win the fight, could it be they see something that the fighter doesn't, that relates to this topic?

This is why, depending who is in your corner, can help win or loose the fight, but how is this so?

This subject goes far deeper than just strategising, as it is far more profound than that, can you see how?

If there is ever a subject in martial arts that needs to be understood it is this one, regarding the simple game of Rock Paper Scissors; wanna play?

[sensei8]

It's the old fashion that lends that there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Just as in Paper, Rock, and Scissor, there's more than one option in the game of chance.

So is it also the kin in the MA where one technique is never ever dependent on one solution. If I throw out Paper, I have a fifty-fifty chance of success. With my Paper here, Paper beats the Rock, however, Paper loses to Scissor.

As a MAist, and with knowledge and experience, you need to have a fifty-fifty chance, and not a 25% chance of success. To every problem, there is a solution, and to every solution, there is a problem. Effective Combinations on the battlefield increase ones success.

As in Paper, Rock, and Scissor, the summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because', albeit, the MA as well. My Paper has to selected at the exact and given time against the Rock, and not against the Scissor. This involves that knowledge and experience. To know when to use the Scissor against the Paper, and not the Rock, requires an understanding of the 'why' and the 'because' at the right exact moment; skill wins over luck.

As in a game of Chess, one needs to study the entire board, however, at the Opening Game unfolds, one should concentrate on the four-center squares, which we will call the Paper. Watching those four-center squares have to be carefully managed as well as controlled. Two players vying for the same real estate by covering their intentions: Paper!!

Now these same players move here and there, covering their intentions with hidden movements as they fight towards the Middle Game. Carefully sacrificing pieces as though they mean nothing to either player. Behind their illusions, the unveiling begins to take shape as they cut through the others defenses with cunning and guild ploys: Scissor!!

Frustration begins to mask over one of the players face as they enter the End Game; the battle is almost over. Trapping and manipulating and closing off any and all once forgone escape routes, but not with and/or through luck, but with the masterful blow which sounds that the other sides King is dead; Rock!!

As a MAist, I juggle Paper, Rock, and Scissor each and every time!! What separates me from the other players?? No, not with just knowledge and experience, but with understanding. Knowledge can be the Paper...Experience can be the Rock...Understanding can be the Scissor; understanding binds the knowledge and experience...these three elements must be in concert with each other, and without that, there's no harmony. It's akin to a three-legged chair missing one of its legs; unbalanced!!

Which technique to use isn't the question nor is it of any concern, but which one AT which time is the question because your opponent will have an answer, that one can be sure of if you depend on limiting your arsenal on the battlefield.

Imho!!

[Alan Armstrong]

Welcome to the Paper Rock Scissors battle ground sensei8.

With in the game lessons to learn, that can pass over to martial arts.

1 concealing intent

2 throwing variations from the left or right

3 unpredictable combinations

4 timing speed slow medium fast variations

5 psychological tactics facial expressions body language

As the game rules seem like a game of chance, bending them to one's advantage is possible, with practice and unnoticeably changing the odds towards one's favour.

As allowing the opponent to be a split second ahead of one's self and (countering) either being a copycat player or playing to win.

With practice start off as a copycat player, this throws of the opponent questioning is this all a coincidence.

As now have learned the timing of the opponent without losing anything.

With practice speeding up the game or slow it down but always lag behind unnoticeably to cover the Rock or cut the Paper, to blunt the Rock.

Here are the obvious Martial arts attributes with the three options.

Scissors is metal based (Cutting Chopping Piercing Dividing Sharp) angular

Paper is wood based (Wrapping Containing Holding) flat wide thin lightness

Rock is mountain based (Compacted Hard Blunt Round Heavy Stabilising) slippery

Every martial art movement or technique cannot escape from the three.

As a straight (rock) punch can be countered with an open hand (paper) parry.

As a double leg takedown (paper) can be neutralised with a another (paper) sprawling (laying out flat) counter; a copycat matching paper with paper.

Another copycat example (rock with rock) can be countering a punch with a punch.

When demonstrating using an elbow (Scissors) strike against a punch (Rock) it automatically causes controversy, without ever knowing or being exposed to the Paper Rock Scissors theory.

Some techniques are obvious such as a Scissor kick, Axe kick, Knife hand strike, Hacking elbow, Spear hand, all belonging to the Scissors family.

Making sense?

[sensei8]

Very interesting how you've broken them down; nicely done!!

I still view Paper, Rock, and Scissor as a reminder that not one technique or a set of techniques are ever enough; the more we change/switch, the more our opponent is constantly wondering...."What's next??"

[Alan Armstrong]

As the meanings of Rock Paper Scissors continues to expand.

More Scissors attributes being that it is comprising of two knife edges that work together symmetrically with a fixed pivot point; also characterized with two circles at the other end.

Scissors being double poined (piercing) one end and rounded circles at the other (prying) with two blades (cutting) that come together in the middle, becomes a multi purpose tool, an ideal metaphor for martial art techniques.

Some Scissors have been modified to contain a bottle opener in the finger insert, where others scissors can contain a mini vice grip between the finger grips and pivot point.

Scissors can also be used like a compass, used for pivoting, navigating footwork, judging distance, using reference points.

Paper can also be modified, consider fly paper, that has sticking and adhering capabilities, which includes, sticking to the opponent.

Paper is related to flexibility, where the other two fall short in that area yet they have other strengths.

Thereby it is useful as with paper, to use that attribute of suppleness, having a greater range of motion and many shape changing options.

Rocks needn't be rounded as jagged-ness or smooth can work just as well depending upon the circumstances.

Rocks are related to mountains and also mountain climbing.

Being on top is a great place to be.

Persistence of continuing or fighting an up hill battle.

Does a side or rear mount sound familiar?

By Modifying your Paper Rock Scissors and giving them all something extraordinary makes your game that more effective.

Considering the human body to the three:

Whilst standing spreading the legs apart and arms stretched out looks similar to a pair of scissors.

Roll in to a ball resembles a rock.

Stand straight or lay flat out on the ground and there you have the paper.

Paper relates to planning ideas strategising.

Rock relates to physical activities building foundations.

Scissors relates to creating and cutting away un-essentials.

Paper is two dimensional that can give the illusion that it is three, deceptive aspect.

Rock is three dimensional with: height, width and depth, spacial awareness aspect.

Scissors is multi-dimensional, can work with patterns and is also able to move in any direction, unrestricted aspect.

Interpreting paper rock scissors to one's own needs, it's not this way or that way, it's your way!

Today we have the concept of mind mapping, how things can be organized in one's own head and how they relate to each other.

Basics simplified, paper rock scissors; with three very familiar items that can be explored and expanded upon in the context of martial arts.

Rock can relate to nature and naturalism.

Inborn Abilities Instincts Survival

Paper can relate to processes and systems.

Perseverance Practice Structure Compliance

Scissors can relate to creativity and change.

Imagination Expanding Evolving Adapting

Rock stability can move and continually stay balanced.

Paper can move with the wind effortlessly flowing in all directions.

Scissors can move cutting or ploughing it's way through obstructions or difficulties.

Scissors are moving and cutting similar to being able to move and strike simultaneously; as this is very difficult to learn for inexperienced fighters, as usually move first then second followed with strike.

Paper can also move and change shape smoothly and simultaneously.

Rock moves and rolls with momentum picking up speed.

Footwork, as the top part of the Scissors is position (pointing) front leg and the rear leg bottom part of the Scissors establishes the angle; this keeps the focus on the opponent continually and automatically, keeping hands free for striking in advantageous positions.

[Alan Armstrong]

Here is a Rock Paper Scissors example.

The Rock is the punch

The Paper is the counter parry

The Scissors is the follow up knife hand strike

https://youtu.be/cuDZU-kSybE

Rock Paper Scissors exercise is how to respond to an opponent

https://youtu.be/UyTvsQ6ZBJU

Improving reaction time

Double leg takedown

https://youtu.be/1eFlZ0UNkks

Rock Paper Splits

Rock Paper Scissors MMA out smarting the opponent

Kung Fu Rock Paper Scissors

Kung Fu Rock Paper Scissors fight scene