Yellow belt gradings – Saturday 5th December 2009

Congratulations to our latest successful grading candidates, who completed the testing for Yellow belt, 1 tag and 2 tags. We were delighted to have a 100% pass rate, with all students displaying sound technique and plenty of heart. It was especially pleasing to award first class passes to 4 students for exceptional technique.

Yellow - 1 tag

• Levine Smith (First Class)
• Tilly Driscoll-Smith (First Class)
• Chaiya Walker
• Zak Walker

Yellow – 2 tags

• Asher Dunn (First Class)
• Aaron Sweeney (First Class)
• Levi Walters
• Joe Selley
• Sonam Tobgyal
• Noe Buttersey
• Anthony Evans

The Yellow belt syllabus represents the core of our Kickboxing syllabus and the completion of which (Yellow 3 tags) the point at which we move on to introduce some of the other martial arts that we teach at Phoenix. However, our core techniques continue to be taught and refined over a period of years and something that we should all continue to review.

This grading was exceptional also, since it was the first as the Phoenix Martial Arts Club. A new name perhaps, but the same high standards and expectations of our students.

Once again, congratulations to all our successful students. It is a pleasure to teach you and see you develop as future black belts!

Evasion

Q - What's better than getting hit?

A- Not getting hit.

Now, try to remember this the next time Alex, Lloyd or I happen to be breaking it down and making you repeat footwork or body movement patterns. We want to you be able to move yourself out of the way to not get hit, but equally importantly, to be able to bring yourself back into position quickly in order to be able to unload your own techniques.

Guro Bob had us tick-tocking (if you're not sure ask about this), bob & weaving and practising footwork last night. It's fair to say that these aren't always our favourite drills to practice (we all want to be doing the Ninja stuff) but this works at a high percentage. As Bob says: "There is no easy way to do this. You just have to drill it. The other way is to just get bashed up."

To have a look at what it's all about there are 3 videos currently available on YouTube, featuring the man himself. Check them out.

1. Evasion basics

"Before you can evade and hit, first you need to evade".

Covers basic footwork that we've done in class: slide & step, L-step, pivot, curve left, curve right.

2. Evasion - Snap-back
Demonstrates the snap-back to get distance and get back in.

3. Evasion - Bob & Weave

Covers the basics of the bob & weave (and my favourite part, how to get the body and head hooks in).

3. Evasion part 3

More advanced concepts for the bob & weave - making it part of your normal movement, rather than a reactive technique. Sounds easy, but it isn't.

Next time I see you, you'll all be moving like Muhammed Ali, right?

Sparring

Boxing isn’t just about brute strength; it’s about skill and outwitting your opponent.
Lennox Lewis

Over the next 6 weeks we will be looking at the concept of sparring. The first 3 weeks we will be concentrating on hands only and then we will cover hands and legs.

The first few weeks we will cover different lines of attack whether they be straight or curved and how to move through the different ranges, with a high probability of not being hit(kicking range, punching range to close range and back again).

We will also cover the exploitation of your natural gifts, whether you, are tall, short, fast, a heavy puncher or have quick reactions. This always amazes me that so many combatants do not use their natural gifts. Therefore they never get to present a problem to their opponent which they have to answer. Remember we are attempting to teach you intelligent combat. In sparring, you should always attempt to ask questions of your opponent and force them to answer. The conversation should be like this:-

Fighter A: “Can you defend my Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “I’ll ask again, can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Straight Right”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Cross”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my low round kick”
Fighter B “Yes I can and I can crush it too”
Fighter A: “Ouch…Can you defend my fake low round house ,head kick”
Fighter B: “Here is my crush to your low round house and ..Ouch missed the head kick”

Now don’t get fixated by the above, use the strikes and combinations in sparring that fit your body type, skill, which feel natural to you. JKD is about honestly expressing yourself, if a particular combination doesn’t work for you in sparring don’t use it. My suggestion is to write it down in your notes as in your martial arts journey you may come across the technique again and because of your personal growth it now feels natural to you and becomes part of your major arsenal.

Furthermore we’ll be covering how to move around your opponent with a high probability of not being hit. We’ll be using the following drill as a basis and then in true JKD fashion we’ll break from it as Sifu Bruce says “Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle”

Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook (In left lead stance)

Jab, Cross

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab, Cross – on centre line punching (Straight left , Straight right)
2. Jab, Cross – off centre line punching (Wide Jab, Cross)
3. Mix and Match – all the above including the Speed Jab , the Stiff Jab and the flicker Jab
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab catch using rear hand (right hand)
2. Combinations of Jab catch rear hand and inside parries when necessary
3. Using any combination- Outside parry, inside Parry , Jab Catch , Waslik ,Heun Sau etc

Body Hook

Attacker
Using the Step & Slide footwork the attacker must be outside the Defenders right hand/arm and not in front. The Defender should also use their right arm as cover from the defenders possible punches.
Options (technical advancement)
1. Body hook to Liver
2. Body hook to Kidneys
3. Shovel hook to Liver or Solar Plexus
Defender
Firstly if Attacker is directly in front of your right hand (not outside it) give them a gentle cross punch to remind them of the consequences of poor footwook.
Options (technical advancement)
1. In response to Liver shot: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
2. In response to Kidney shot: Tilt elbow backwards onto punch
3. In response to Shovel hook: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
4. Suck in stomach (evasion)

Head Hook

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Lengthen or Curve hook to avoid defenders covering arm
2. Shorten hook to avoid defenders covering arm and hit chin
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Cover
2. Cover using Jamming technique on the Attackers Cross
3. Bob & Weave
4. Bob & Weave with groin slap or Jab to the Solar plexus
5. Snap Back (evasion)

As always when training, train intelligently, train sensibly, respect the Art, respect yourself and have fun.

Trapping

Sifu Bruce Lee refered to “Trapping” as Hand Immobilisation Attack (HIA), however the Immobilisation of your opponent is not restricted to the hand, it can also apply to the foot or any other part of the body.

HIA originally comes from a system called Wing Chun which is the original style of gung fu that Sifu Bruce studied. Now while the trapping used in Jeet June Do (JKD) may have come from Wing Chun it was adapted by Sifu Bruce through extensive research of body mechanics and motion.

HIA is an attack which momentarily immobilises (traps) one or both of the opponents arms, allowing you to hit in an open line, or draw a reaction that can be countered with another trap. This now gives you the opportunity to utilise ballistic striking or grappling.

HIA is best employed when you gain an attachment against one or both of your opponent’s arms. This then allows you to manipulate your opponent’s arms to where you want them and to create a situation whereby the opponent is forced to give you a reaction, which will be to their disadvantage. The opponent may not want to give you the reaction, but they may not have any other choice. If they don’t give you the reaction they will get hit.

What makes HIA work is correct distancing, sensitivity and a certain degree of forward pressure, not too much and not too little. This takes dedication and practice to master and even when you’ve attained a certain degree of skill you must train it regularly to maintain what is termed “muscle memory” and sensitivity.

In trapping forward pressure can rarely be seen only felt. Therefore it’s best described like a bird flying in the sky, too much energy and it flies too high; too little and it flies too low. Once the trap has been initiated the opponent’s attached limbs will feel like tension against their arms at all times which will affect their movement and restrict their actions. Guro Dan Inosanto said when Sifu Bruce trapped him it was “…like being in a washing machine on full agitation cycle…constantly being pushed, pulled, or jerked all over the place while at the same time being hit with a constant barrage of punches…”

Now it is important to reflect that your primary purpose is not to trap it is to hit. If you have an open line to hit safely, then hit. If your opponent blocks the open line then you may wish to utilise your trapping skills. Remember if the punch is not blocked then you’ve scored a hit. If the hit is blocked then your opponent will dictate the technique you will use e.g Pak sao , Lop Sao, push or pull.

The current JBB curriculum is as follows:-

Pak Sao (Slap Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist, punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks on the centre line.

Double Pak Sao (Slap Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks on the centre line.
3. Using rear hand which is currently holding the defenders lead arm. Thrust your lower forearm onto the defenders lead arm to pin it against their chest.
4. Rear hand grabs and pushes the defenders rear hand away from the centre line.
5. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.

Pak Sao, Lap Sao (Slap Hand, Grab Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist, punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks over centre line.
3. Attacker’s rear hand grabs defenders rear hand in a tight arc towards defenders hip which should trap the lead hand underneath.
4. Attacker’s lead hand folds due to the defenders push (Boang Sao) and then strikes as a backfist (the classical or Art option is option (A) however do not limit yourself try them all).
Backfist options:-
A. Backfist vertical using two front knuckles (Gwa Choi)
B. Backfist horizontal ridge of the hand. (hammer fist)
C. Backfist vertical ridge of the hand. (hammer fist)

As always when training, train intelligently, train sensibly, respect the Art, respect yourself and have fun.