The Way Of The Intercepting Fist

[Tant01]

Stance = stillness.

.....I dont mean to underestate the importance of movement, but I also dont want people to understate the importance of a default comfortable stance, or two or perhaps many more if you know what youre doing, stances can help you defend, they can help you gain the advantage in attack, and they can also do subtle things like confuse or mislead your opponent.

Economy of motion is a good thing but stillness is not.

"A stance is at most a reminder, a stage one passes through momentarily on the way to somewhere else. A static position leads to static fighting and thinking.
... A skilled opponent can look at someone's stance and have a pretty good idea of the opponent's training, skills and tactics. It is best not to give an enemy such an advantage."

Cassimore Magda

[RZZZA]

But what about boxers? They never disregard their stances, because if they put their arms down even waist high for even a second thats a second their head is horribly vulnerable. Boxers are always told to keep their hands close to their chins to protect the head from unecessary punishment. Theyre also told to keep moving as well, of course...

[Tant01]

But but but...

But what about boxers? They never disregard their stances, because if they put their arms down even waist high for even a second thats a second their head is horribly vulnerable. Boxers are always told to keep their hands close to their chins to protect the head from unecessary punishment. Theyre also told to keep moving as well, of course...

Consider this; Do you know what an airsoft gun is? I'm going to stand 5 feet away from you and shoot tiny plastic pellets at you. (they sting pretty good when they hit you)

If you're a boxer I will only shoot at your torso and head...

If you're a kick boxer I can shoot at your legs too...

Where are you going to keep your "shield" The gloves you wear are your shield(s).

You will gaurd your VITAL targets with the shield(s) . You will block( parry or otherwise intercept) the tragectory path of my weapons with your shield(s) ALL other evasive action is by moving your body (or head) out of the way. Sure you can evade and even shoot back from a stance but if you don't move your feet you're a sitting duck. I understand the mechanics of punching and kicking and the value of a STABLE platform.
I wish folks would call footwork footwork and just drop the whole "stance" BS. That is for training muscles and discipline. Moving is for fighting.

When I think of "stance" it brings an image of a golfer squaring up to a ball or a shooter aiming at his target down range...


First a baby will stand, then the toddler will walk and finally the child will run.

But don't take MY word on it....

[Tant01]

Check this buddy!

But what about boxers? They never disregard their stances, because if they put their arms down even waist high for even a second thats a second their head is horribly vulnerable. Boxers are always told to keep their hands close to their chins to protect the head from unecessary punishment. Theyre also told to keep moving as well, of course...

Okay.... let me try this, As I posted above: do not consider me a "reputable" source. I know very little about JKD. My training with Mr. Faulkner was informal and brief but I think I have a grasp of the fundamentals. (that is my opinion of myself)
Others that know or teach JKD have written articles about the subject we are discussing and are far more qualified and eloquent than I.

Below is a link to an article by Sifu Wong. (JFJKD) What I'd like to share about JKD footwork is fundamentally what I've been trying to say all along. Bruce Lee is quoted as saying that "The essence of fighting is the art of moving."

Think about that for a minute....

Mobility is definitely stressed in JKD because combat is a matter of motion, an operation of finding a target or of avoiding being a target. In this art, there is no nonsense of squatting on a classical horse stance for three long years before moving. Moving is used as a means of defence, a means of deception, a means of securing proper distance for attack and a means of conserving energy.


Enjoy;
THE SCIENCE OF FOOTWORK : The JKD key to defeating any attack By: Ted Wong

http://www.geocities.com/jkdinstructor/footwork.html?200618#3

[RZZZA]

Thanks for that link, and for responding.

Well, I am almost positive that you know more about the martial arts than I do, but I'm not actually trying to fight like a JKD fighter, or against any people who are highly trained martial artists...so I think my "footwork" or "default stance" or whatever its called will work fine for me. My most deadly weapon is my right hand, so everything else is just set up for me to deliver the straight right or the right hook, the only reason I ever even switch stances (I'm righty) to my left is to confuse my opponent and make him think that my left jab is something to be feared...it isnt, its like a mosquito, so in my southpaw stance my left arm is nothing but protection for my chin and a decoy to set up the right.

I'm sure that if I ever do delve deeper into the world of martial arts, and find myself sparring against trained martial artists, my old tricks wont work anymore...well they might work, but it'd be against me. In which case I'd have to consider more complex ideas like weaning myself off the "stance" thing and basically forgetting everything I ever knew about fighting.

[Tant01]

Here ya go...

Thanks for that ...
....I'm sure that if I ever do delve deeper into the world of martial arts, and find myself sparring against trained martial artists, my old tricks wont work anymore...well they might work, but it'd be against me. In which case I'd have to consider more complex ideas like weaning myself off the "stance" thing and basically forgetting everything I ever knew about fighting.

It is sad to say but in SOME cases (maybe not yours) this is almost exactly what is needed.

In JKD there is one "stance" but they don't really call it a stance they call it a "ready" position. (with gaurd) Or in the classical sense it's By-jong. (a w/c stance)
Essentially cover your center line, turn a bit and get "ready" TO MOVE, defend, evade, intercept, attack, etc...



Happy now?

[kwai chang pain]

I'm not a JKD guy, but I used to always fight w/ my strong side in front and had good success w/ it. I had an opponent tell me "You're front leg doesn't have much power, but I can't get past it." I said "I don't need much power.",
meaning if it's keeping the other guy at bay then it's working.

The flip side is if you ALWAYS fight that way you neglect your weak side. What if your strong side gets injured?? Then your screwed.

My legs aren't exactly the same length. I think that might have something to do with the strong side-weak side thing, too.