Killer Concepts!
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I recently posted on Facebook that I had updated my “Bamboo Spirit Concepts” list to include two more, expanding the list from 20 to 22. I also reordered the list so that it makes more sense. Surprisingly, the response was robust; many requested a copy of my updated list.
To that end, I’ll make it available for this blog’s fans. Click on the download button!
I added two new concepts: #4 (Active Defense) and #6 (Footwork To Counter Pressure). Neither is exactly groundbreaking, and they are self-explanatory.
Let’s start with “Active Defense” by watching this video from four years ago.
If you are not able to view this video, click here.
Fast-forward to 1:05 of the video, where Dref heavily checks my hand. What he did not do in the video and what he could have done is immediately followed up by punching me—in other words, “heavy check and punch.” This would be a good example of the “Active Defense” concept. The more active you are, the more control of the situation you’ll have.
Regarding the “Footwork to Counter Pressure” concept, let’s return to 0:42 of the video, where Dref pushed my hand away. In the video, I countered with the pull-off. Due to the limitations of the video, I did not include the evasive footwork that should be done. The instant I feel Dref pushing my arm, I’ll step sideways to the right to dissipate his pressure and execute the pull-off simultaneously.
Otherwise, if I stand in front of him while he pushes me, he’ll break my structure. As a result, I’ll lose the technique. Hence, the concept of “Footwork to Counter Pressure.” Capisce?
I have told my students to think about collecting concepts, not techniques. Collecting techniques is useless if you are not aware of the underlying concepts. On the other hand, if you understand a concept, you can create multiple techniques based on it. The continuous refinement of my list is an attempt to make the art more accessible to my students.
Over to instructors, do you have a similar list? Let’s hear it from you!
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Additional Reading
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