More Technique Information

Classification

Techniques may be classified as useful, not useful, and useless.

• Useful. A technique that works a multitude of events or situations.
• Not Useful. A technique that is so specialized that, if not executed perfectly, it may not work.
• Useless. A technique that is not based on any recognized logic, theory, principle, or concept. It never works. These are techniques used strictly for show as ego boosters.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Techniques may be placed into three categories, quick (the good), powerful (the bad), and deadly (the ugly).

• Quick. Quick techniques are used in an attempt to convince the attacker that his or her present course of action is not in his or her best interests. These techniques do little damage or cause little pain to the attacker, but they are so quick that the attacker either does not see them or is unable to prevent them from impacting. Since there is little danger of serious harm to the attacker, he or she is not likely to seek retribution either by later attacks upon you or by pursuing you criminally or civilly.
• Powerful. Powerful techniques are used terminate an attack by rendering the attacker unable to continue the attack. These techniques may cause serious damage and much pain to the attacker. Since the attacker is damaged and in pain, he or she may seek retribution, either by later attacks upon you or by pursuing you criminally or civilly.
• Deadly. Deadly techniques are used to terminate an attacker who is intent on killing you. These techniques are likely to kill. Although the law may seek to punish you for your actions, or a friend or relative of the deceased may seek retribution, either by later attacks or by pursuing you criminally or civilly, the attacker will no longer be a threat to you—ever.

Primary and Auxiliary Techniques

Each primary technique should have an auxiliary "back-up" technique. The primary technique will cause the most damage if it connects. If not, the auxiliary may connect. If the primary connects, the auxiliary may also connect, and may then be considered a primary technique. The auxiliary technique may also be used first to manipulate the opponent by opening the torso centerline, shifting or disrupting balance, interrupting footwork, locking, twisting, or jamming joints, or inflecting pain. Attacking a skilled opponent without first (or simultaneously) neutralizing him by applying one of these manipulations is dangerous and useless. Actually, the act of initiating the simple direct attack itself opens you to counterattack.

Sun Zi, in the "Art of War" (see Art of War topic) says to not attack a prepared and ready opponent.

"If the opponent has no gap or slack to take advantage of, how can you overcome him, even if you are well equipped? The time to go out for the attack is when the opponent is in a vulnerable position or state of being."

The secret to combat success is to coax the opponent into a vulnerable position by using auxiliary techniques.

Points of Attack

• Balance. Without balance, power generation and movement are difficult or impossible. When an opponent's center is moved so that it is no longer directly over the support foundation (stance) balance is lost. Balance may be attacked in a variety of ways. The foundation may be attacked by locking, nudging, sweeping, kicking, or kneeing. Balance may also be attacked by manipulating the extremities (usually arms) or torso. Since the head is critical to balance, it may be manipulated to disrupt balance.
• Torso. The torso contains many vital striking points and it contains the center of balance. Attacking the center disrupts balance. Vital areas may be attacked by strikes or pressing and the same points may be used to disrupt balance. Downward pressure applied to the torso "grounds" it, making it difficult for the opponent to move.
• Extremities. Extremities may be struck, locked, twisted, and fractured. Extremities are normally the first targets that come within range in a fight and are usually poorly protected, because many people do not view them as potential targets. Attacking the extremities allows you to shorten the range so you may attack the torso without being struck, or if you are struck, to weaken the blow.

Guard

Techniques are executed from the guard position. It is a defensive posture where the hands are held up in front of the body to protect against attacks. Hold the lead hand a little higher than the trailing hand. Hold the lead fist high, but where you can still see the opponent’s feet over the fist. Hold the elbows close to the body so they may block attacks.

Lead/Trailing

Techniques may be executed by the lead or trailing arm or foot. The hand or foot that is in front, closest to the opponent, is the lead hand or foot. The hand or foot that is furthest from the opponent is the trailing hand or foot.

Reverse

Many times, you will hear the term reverse used in describing a technique. Reverse does not mean the same thing in every usage. It has four definitions depending on its usage. It may mean:

• The opposite side of an attacking weapon, such as reverse knife hand or reverse ridge hand.
• The inverted version of an attacking weapon. For example, in a reverse knife hand, the hand is inverted and the attack is made in the opposite direction.
• A trailing arm attack, such as a reverse punch.
• Moving in opposite direction, such as reverse turning kick or reverse hooking kick.

Snap/Thrust

All techniques, either by hand, foot, elbow, knee, or head, are executed using either of two actions: snap or thrust. 

In a snapping technique, the foot, hand, etc. is quickly whipped out at the target. After it makes contact, it is just as quickly retracted. A thrusting technique is similar to a snapping technique except that extra motion is added to make the technique penetrate the target. The snap is quicker than the thrust so it makes it quicker to execute a follow-up technique. To illustrate the difference between a snap and a thrust, imagine kicking a drywall in a room. A snap kick will break through the wall quickly with minimum penetration. A thrust kick will break the wall and penetrate beyond the wall, possibly breaking through the drywall on the opposite side of the wall. 

Students are usually first taught thrust actions using hand techniques, while snap actions are usually first taught using kicking techniques. As students progress, they are taught thrust kicks and hand snap techniques. Both methods are effective and each has its place and time to be used.

What Moves First?

To punch or kick with power, the arm or leg must first be chambered, or cocked. Otherwise, the hand or foot is just being moved toward the target, it is not being thrust at the target with the mass of body behind it. If our fighting stance is with the arms hanging downward, then to punch with any power, the elbow must move first so it may give some chamber to the arm before the punch. However, since any good fighter fights with the hands held up in a guard position, the arm is already is cambered, so the first thing to move in a hand attack is the hand, with the elbow and body moving behind it. Since we cannot float, while we are in a fighting stance our legs are always hanging below the body. Therefore, the first thing to move in a kick is the knee, so it may give chamber to the leg before the kick. Otherwise, it is just a kick. A non chambered kick may score a point in a tournament, but it will never do any serious damage to an attacker.

Power versus Speed

If you attack with power, you will be slow and most of time the opponent will move out of the way. If you attack with speed, the opponent may not see it coming and may get hit; maybe not with as much power as with a power attack, but at least the opponent gets hit; whereas, with the power attack, the opponent usually does not get hit at all. If you are good with fakes and feigns and at reading your opponent's actions and reactions, you can set up combinations that cause the opponent to move away from one attack and into another attack, The combination of your speed and the opponent moving into the attack means that the opponent will get hit with power. So, to hit your opponent with power, attack with speed, not power.

Second Effort

Second effort is a method of executing techniques such as punches and kicks. It involves executing the technique as normal except that the technique is stopped short of its target and held there for a second. This first effort is used to cause the opponent to block the technique. Usually the opponent will withdraw the blocking arm, or at least relax it, after the initial block. When this occurs, the attacker makes a second effort and plunges the technique to the target. A second effort technique may lack power but it works.

Targets of Techniques

Vertical Orientation

• High Section: Area above the shoulders; includes the clavicle
• Middle Section: Area between the shoulders and the waist
• Low Section: Area below the waist

Horizontal Orientation

• Right: Right side of a section
• Center: Center of a section
• Left: Left side of a section

Target Penetration

To what depth should a technique be aimed? During training and competition, for safety reasons, students are taught to focus a technique at a point on the surface or the target. Sometimes students are taught to aim a technique at the point where a target will be after it stops moving (chase the target). Others are taught to aim at where the target actually is at a point in time. To damage the target, the technique must be aimed at a point just behind the surface of the target. Target penetration should not be so much that the person is pushed backward. When this occurs, it means that the technique contacted the target too early so all the energy of the technique was wasted during the push.

In, Over, Around, Under

There are four ways to strike most targets on an opponent’s body:

• In.
• Over.
• Around.
• Under.

For example when punching to the head, you may punch with a jab (in), an overhand punch (over), a hook punch (around), or an uppercut (under). When kicking to the head, you may kick with a side kick (in), an axe kick (over), a hook kick (around), or a front snap kick (under).