Dealing With Someone Faster Than You

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"To suffer the penalty of too much haste, which is too little speed." Plato 

My shooting instructor always said, "Smooth is fast and slow is smooth." However, it requires much practice to be able to instinctively react this way. Beating someone quicker than you doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to perform at you best. Being fit and learning to relax is essential to enhance your optimum speed, but no matter what you do someone will always be faster than you. So in each case timing and understanding the rhythm of an attack is essential for compensating for the attackers greater speed, this is especially apparent when dealing in unarmed combat. 

I’ve always been told that there is only one art of jujutsu but nonetheless there are many ways of expressing it even within individual systems. In our style of jujutsu we utilize the name Tokoshi. The word tokoshi means to cross a great distance, this is the distance between two opponents under drawn swords. This principle is taken from an old-style kenjutsu teaching. This teaching is still relevant today as it deals with closing the distance and how you go about beating someone that is faster than you. You can begin by learning the phrase, “Take anything given" which can be stated simply as the acronym (TAG). The goal of TAG is to gain time when being attacked. There is a second allocation for the acronym TAG which can be defined as (targeting acquired goal), this is using a target of opportunity. Sensei called this controlling the offending appendage.

The best way to beat someone who is faster than you is by controlling the distance. In Japanese martial arts this is referred to as maai. The trick to controlling distances is realizing that when your attacker is moving forward and you’re moving backwards they have the advantage. This is because in general people move forward faster than you can move backwards, plus they have the advantage of seeing where they’re going. So if you simply try to step away from an attacker you may only gain a fraction of a second for your efforts; only to be overwhelmed in the next instant. You are better off using lateral or circling movements to control your distance.

In essence, what I’m saying, anytime the attacker throws a strike, punch, kick, or grabs at you this is when you TAG them. Whatever unarmed weapon that is used against you becomes your target of opportunity. This is from the old jujutsu concept of take what is given, and you don’t have to plan and burden yourself with a strategy. The mere act of thinking requires time to process the information whenever your strategy does not collate with that of the attackers. Never having to close the gap between you and the attacker saves you time. When the attacker supplies the target (which was whatever attack he threw), you have your target within range. You may not achieve the finishing attack in the first millisecond of your fight utilizing this method, but again referring to kenjutsu philosophy, “Be satisfied with the cut.” Like I said you may not win in the first millisecond, but it can open the door for victory in the next millisecond.

“The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.” Bruce Lee 

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.