Invisible Strikes

Friday Knight News

"If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything." Miyamoto Musashi 

This is a follow up on last Friday's topic geared to understanding how to throw invisible strikes or at least nearly invisible strikes. It will also address what to watch for to avoid these invisible strikes or unexpected blows. The truth is all strike are invisible strikes if we don't see or at least perceive them coming. This ability to precise is most likely what Musashi was commenting on when he said, “Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” 

This would suggest that we need to pay attention and focus our senses to listen to what is not being said, as well as watching for tells, as a gambler would watch for tells in a card game.  Feelings are important to keep aware of too, the major difference is in combat you are betting your life or at least your safety. More often than not people who have been jumped/mugged/assaulted, have noted that they felt something was wrong before the assault but they ignored the feeling.

When it come to throwing nearly invisible strikes the concept of pet techniques comes to mind. Pet techniques are termed tokui waza in Japanese arts. Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis both are fine examples of men in karate, who have developed high degrees of skill in applying tokui waza at an almost invisible level. Everyone knew what they were going to throw but still they succeeded in it. Joe Lewis often mentioned the value of having a few techniques that you could rely on. He felt that the key to success was being able to execute these pet techniques in such a way that the opponent would never know when or how you would use them even if they knew what you were going to throw. 

All it takes is some insight and discipline to develop these awareness skills. Having the discipline that allows us to become detached from our emotional desires of the moment to achieve our goals is part of the training of the mind that it needed to learn how to both throw and perceive invisible strikes. This focus on discipline is the ability to delay gratification to meet our long-term objectives. It is the aptitude to override contrary thoughts or feeling can be taxing and being too strict on yourself can bring about failure that could derail your ambitions. Discipline is a sort of mental exercise of our will power to focus our conscious minds to temporally overcome petty physical and emotional wants or needs allowing us to be centered and in the moment at least when we are around perceived danger. 

We should be able to turn our awareness on and off like a switch when needed. The reason for this is because when we employ self-discipline we need to give the mind and body an occasional break to allow our resolve a chance to recuperate, just like any other form of exercise. One of the greatest tricks in a martial artist repertoire is to employ an indulgence that is in our favor. Letting our guard down is part of what is needed to keep us sharp so we can be refreshed so that we can keep our awareness or mental guard up. Awareness is the key to avoiding and perceiving opening for invisible strikes. 

My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.

Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.