sponsors

 

 

sponsors

 

 

 

 

Most students think that sparring involves either attacking or blocking, but there is more to sparring than these two skills. Using just these two skills, it is difficult to defeat certain types of opponents, such aggressive attackers, attackers who can close the distance quickly, attackers who quickly hit and run, and attackers who like to clinch. Against these types of fighters, counterattacking is the best strategy.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham in England tested subjects in a type of "laboratory gunfight" to find out whether it is best to draw first in a gunfight, or to react to the opponent drawing first. Instead of a drawing guns, the subjects had to slap a button. The study showed that the second person to draw moves faster—by an average of 21 milliseconds. This small difference is too slim to make a difference; however, it shows that there is no speed disadvantage to counterattacking. A counterattack may reach its target at same time as an attack. It appears that two different brain processes govern action and reaction, a theory supported by the fact that some Parkinson's patients find it easier to catch a ball than to pick one up.

Reasons why counter attackers are efficient and deadly

• In an attack, the attacker does not know what the opponent will do in reaction; whereas, the counter attacker knows exactly what the attacker is doing.

• Attackers attack where they think the target will be will be after the opponent reacts to the attack; whereas, the counter attacker attacks where the target is at the moment of the attack.

• Their opponents are always trying to think of another attack that may work against them, so in a way, opponents are always on the defense.

• Counterattacking uses less energy than attacking so counter attackers do not tire as quickly as attackers.

• Since attacking requires planning, attackers are always thinking about their next attack, which slows them down. Counter attackers relax, stay alert, and react to the opponent's attack with instinct rather than thought, so their responses are quick.

• Attackers have a plan of attack when they attack, so each attack has a beginning and an end. The power and kiai of the attack is on the ending technique. If things do not go according to plan, the planned end never arrives, and neither does the power. Since a counter attacker has no set response, there is no planned end to the counterattack, so the finishing technique with power and kiai may come at anytime.

Page 1 of 2:  NEXT  Back  First  Last | Share | Errors | Last Modified:

Subtopics:  NEXT | None 

Topic: Comments: Add  View | Sources | Related: None