STIFFNESS. I do believe that most of us are struggling with this... habit (?) sometimes not even realizing what the issue is.
The deal is still the same - I am helping you by highlighting the problem using myself as an example and I really hope and expect to hear back from you correcting me. Please constructively criticize me as much as possible! Especially if you disagree with the summary of the article.
As we've agreed before, the fist should be very solid. As solid as a... stone. Your fist is a so-called "end-effector". It is your "weapon of choice" (here we go - video :-) ) actually chosen by one for a particular purpose.
It is as good as any other weapon: SHUTO (the outer edge of your palm), HAITO (the inner edge of your palm), HIZA (knee), EN(M)PI (elbow), IPPON NUKITE (one finger) etc. but let's imagine for the next attack I have chosen a "closed fist".
What was happening to me before was the following? I was trying to hit the target with such power and speed that I got stiff in shoulders, elbows, and forearms that in fact, it made my attack (technique) slower and weaker. We, the Westerners, are so focused on our shoulders! It is so macho-like to be wide in shoulders and carry your chest as if it was a wooden one. We are extremely stiff in the upper body because we believe that power comes from muscles of the upper torso mostly. Therefore we are trying to show this "power" out by even carrying ourselves through the posture.
Now, I should talk more about visualization as lack of this skill was another issue I have highlighted to myself for improvement. Next time. But let's just say for now that every martial artist regardless of the art should be very skillful in visualization.
Visualize 2 following visualization scenarios then:
1. There is a long stick with a stone attached to it. You are holding it and trying to hit a target with the stone fast and hard by either swinging the stick or poking it like with a spear.
2. There is a long rope with a stone attached to it. You are holding it and trying to hit a target with the stone fast and hard by just wiping it.
In which case do you think you create more speed, more power and get less tired?? Visualize!
Yes, #2 is the winner. Now convert these simple and rather mechanically primitive examples into the complex one of your body, muscles, and ligaments. Do you see what I mean? In fact (and it took a lot of time to understand this idea and start using it regularity) the more relaxed your "rope" (arm) is the faster and more powerful the technique will be considering that you know how to make a fist and hold it as one piece tightening it at the very end of the punch for the impact.
The move is generated by hips as we all know. Hips create a "wave" (to be discussed in a separate post) and the wave is transferred into a whiplash motion to the arm (rope) that carries a heavy solid "stone" on its end.
Now, what is happening, at least to me, when I become stiff or how do I become stiff when it happens. I have noticed that when we are trying to deliver a strong punch first thing that comes to our mind is to make a very strong, nearly stressed, fist. We believe that only strong fist can deliver power. It is partially true. Indeed at the very last moment, we want to make a stone of the fist. But If the timing is wrong and we tense the fist earlier it leads to arm muscles becoming tense as well as the pressure in arm arteries rises, not even touching the Qi for simplicity. All this make the arm so stiff and heavy that in order to move it with the desired speed we have to employ shoulders and upper body. You can imagine that the speed is not the case anymore. On the other hand, if the tension moment happens at the very end of the motion and for a split second of actual contact with the attacked surface then the whole arm is most of the time is relaxed and free to move like a whip.
Now, what is happening, at least to me, when I become stiff or how do I become stiff when it happens. I have noticed that when we are trying to deliver a strong punch first thing that comes to our mind is to make a very strong, nearly stressed, fist. We believe that only strong fist can deliver power. It is partially true. Indeed at the very last moment, we want to make a stone of the fist. But If the timing is wrong and we tense the fist earlier it leads to arm muscles becoming tense as well as the pressure in arm arteries rises, not even touching the Qi for simplicity. All this make the arm so stiff and heavy that in order to move it with the desired speed we have to employ shoulders and upper body. You can imagine that the speed is not the case anymore. On the other hand, if the tension moment happens at the very end of the motion and for a split second of actual contact with the attacked surface then the whole arm is most of the time is relaxed and free to move like a whip.
Advantages of the whip-motion:
- natural power
- needs little preparation
- virtually invisible
- the only way one can move and commit completely in one direction and, without stopping or losing speed, reverse direction
- size, weight and gender or person using it makes no difference
- can be thrown from any angle, anywhere close to or far from the body without losing effectiveness or form
- completely confusing to the opponent
- seldom used or known
- needs no particular state of emotional preparation compared to other strikes
- the fastest way to generate the most power using any or all parts of the body
- needs no previous conditioning of flesh or bone being used to hit
- adds power to even the most rigidly used movement
- can be adjusted while in flight or when totally committed to a move, to compensate for a change in the position or angle of the desired target
