Thread: touch response
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Old 06-06-2003, 05:34 AM   #10
L. Camejo
 
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Dojo: Ontario Martial Arts
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
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Re: Sticky hands:

Quote:
Dave Miller wrote:
One of the things we do regularly is "stick hands" drills. The point is to develope sensitivity to your partner's movements. The ultimate example of this would be to maintain perfect mai without actually touching.

The next step is to add simple "attacks", all done very slowly, of course. Again, the point is not to simply attack or defend but to feel what the other is doing. Doing this with eyes closed is also good.
In Shodokan we do an exercise called Tegatana Awase that has this effect. The idea is to maintain ma ai at tegatana distance (roughly the distance where uke must make a step to land a successful attack). Contact is kept where the 2 wrists touch, utilising an aigamae stance relationship. The purpose of the exercise is to move in all directions keeping ma ai by not allowing the tegatana arm to collapse and using correct tai sabaki (unsoko). Keeping the body square to maintain centreline and keeping weight low so one can respond to the subtle changes in movement are also elements of this exercise. The results of this exercise are of course tested in Tanto Randorigeiko afterwards, where ma ai must be maintained in the face of persistent tanto thrusts where tanto (uke) is trying to really hit you without giving any openings for you to apply techinque.

Relaxation is key in this. This exercise, done with eyes open helps with developing metsuke, with eyes closed (or the lights off ) it helps develop even greater sensitivity.

A step upward from this, where strikes are utilised is an exercise called sei chu sen no bogyo (centreline defence). This includes all the elements of Tegatana Awase, but allows one person to strike at will with either the other hand or foot, in which case the other must respond by sinking and pushing through the attacker's centre before the attack lands. Reaction development is a major benefit of this exercise.

The speed of both of these exercises of course depends on the skill level of those involved. These are basics done at the beginning of all sessions and are practiced at all grade levels with varying degrees of intensity.

On another level though, Tegatana Awase can also be practiced with Bokken and Jo, to develop metsuke and sensitivity to be applied during weapons practice as well. From my experience, Bokken awase has greatly helped my abiity to be sensitive to changes in distance and body movement at the touch level, but even more so at ranges beyond touch, where most strikes tend to originate.

Just my 2 cents.

Arigato Gozaimashita

L.C.

--Mushin Mugamae - No Mind No Posture. He who is possessed by nothing possesses everything.--
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