|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
CANADIAN |
||
|
SOME FACTS ABOUT ATTACK COMBINATIONS I'd like to give you some history and facts regarding "attack combinations". Many systems that are teaching WW II style combatives utilize these combinations. I also need to clear up some mis-information that has been posted on the internet. A person who refers to himself as "Professor" ( a title that he bestowed upon himself) claims on his website that anyone using "attack combinations" is simply copying him. Well let's look at the "truth" ( a rather novel concept for the martial arts). Did Fairbairn or Applegate ever use "attack combinations"? The answer is yes and no. Fairbairn and Applegate mainly taught the use of single strikes, or course they emphasized continuing to attack but they never taught "combinations" per se. They did teach a knee strike to the groin followed by a chinjab (which could be considered an attack combination). Who is the man who developed attack combinations? In the greater sense I'm not certain we can credit this to any one man. Combinations have been used for centuries. We need only look to the sport of boxing to see the use of combinations, all boxers are taught the ol' "1-2": a jab followed by a cross. But in the lesser sense of WW II combatives we can easily point to the man who started the concept of attack combinations. John Styers is that man! Styers (a marine who fought on Iwo Jima) wrote the classic text "Cold Steel", a book that is still in print and which I highly recommend you getting a copy of. Page 82 of the book shows the first attack combination that Styers teaches: a thrust followed by a wheeling attack followed by a back wheeling attack. Styers also shows a sidekick followed by a slashing edge-of-hand blow. It's interesting to note that BOTH these combinations are taught by "The Professor" exactly as detailed in this book. What's the purpose of attack combinations? The sole purpose is to develop your reflexes, to ingrain methods of attack so that when called upon to defend yourself these actions will begin to spill forth. Some methods overlap and you will find yourself blending parts or one combination with those of the other. This is a good thing and allows for spontaneity of action. Beginners must be shown specific examples of these combinations, a beginner just will not have the insight to be able to develop their own combinations. The teaching of combinations should cease at an intermediate level, by now the student is aware of the techniques, how they function, and what movements best suit his physical/psychological makeup. The student can begin to experiment with creating his own actions or just sticking with those methods that he favours. The endless teaching of new combinations serves no useful purpose. So I hope of clear up some questions and given you some truthful information that will be of use to you. |
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
