Friday, September 23, 2016

Simple Directness

Friday Knight News



"The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity." Bruce Lee

It isn't always easy being direct, but when it is needed simple directness in life, and the martial arts, cuts right to the heart of the problem. It is easy to see this when dealing with a weapon as it magnifies speed, power, and intent. Yet, unarmed training was my foundation in the arts even if my love was with the sword. So, as you might have guessed, striking training was always a big part of my grappling arts education. Just as grappling was a big part of my striking arts education. Hitting smarter works when you can time it right, hit accurately, and drop the opponent to their weak point.

Hitting harder also works, as it stops them in their tracks even if they don't feel the pain. In the end it will give you an extra second/moment to strike smarter. It's really simple to see that both are needed. The ability to transfer power is enhanced by hand-to-hand combat weapon study. Weapon study also helps develop subtlety and fluidity. In fact, all three areas interplay with each other. Hand-to-hand weapons skills enhance unarmed striking and grappling arts, and they all take repetition to assimilate. It is just that simple.

Knowing that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line also helps. In the martial arts we use this information to make direct attacks. There is no such thing as a straight line, as a straight line extended eventual will make a circle, loop, or other elliptical shape of some sort. This can be mentally observed by imagining a line extended through space across the universe, galaxy, solar system, or simply encompassing the globe. It can be more readily observed by drawing a line vertically or horizontally across a sheet of paper. Once across draw a line down the side of the page and continue to the opposite side. Then turn it over interconnecting it with the original line.




(Adam Chan on Hitting Harder)

In the martial arts we use this information to redirect forces off of straight line attacks. Circles, straight lines, and angles are almost interchangeable if there are enough examples and space between intervals. So, when it comes to power we generally look at distance and velocity to acquire this force. However, that is not needed if you can imagine the beginning and end of terminal velocity as the highest velocity of a big circle inside of the short straight line.

Terminal velocity is the highest velocity attainable by an object as it falls through space. The less resistance by outside forces it encounters the easier it is to reach its full potential. They say that space satellites can reach near light speed given time and distance that is even with only starting from a speed of 15,000 miles per hour. We, however; are burdened by the length of our reach, and overcoming outside forces of the drag of our atmosphere and gravity. Even more so as we have to contend with friction from both internal and external sources.

The two biggest factors here are first the opponent and this can be overcome by primarily timing. Which sounds simple because it is, but it isn't necessarily easy just because it's simple. The other and bigger of the two factors is internal. It can be overcome by relaxation mentally first and physically second, in fact they go hand in hand. Relaxed muscle make a relaxed mind and the other way around too. Most of the time in life our biggest problem is ourselves. It is just that simple being direct.

"In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rand Law Books



The above link will take you to my authors page. Let me know if you like it and feel free to drop me an email if you like or you can use the comment check boxes below. I try to incorporate as much of my experience and observations as I can into my sci fi adventures. I come from a background that taught that should only write about what you know. As I know nothing else other than my perspective, I was left with limited options. The Dream Walker book series are tales about martial arts adventurers with an essence of the para-normal from dream mediation. Each book in the series reveals their struggles as they work to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

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