Wen Hsiu Quan

I don't know about you, but I love being the passive one in a fight. All those cool blocks, counters and throws that one can do if your opponent would just come at you... What really frustrates someone like me is an opponent who has the same idea. The majority of moves in the forms of Karate and Kungfu are defensive moves in the sense that they are responses to a hypothetical attack. When we find ourselves in the kumite arena- especially in a tournament setting- we find that our opponents do not want to attack first. They'd much rather be the one looking cool by blocking and countering your moves. We find these type of people in real life as well. Clients who don't give us anything to work with at the start. A customer who does not know what to order. If you are the type of person who likes to make things happen instead of waiting for them to happen, though, the tactic I give you in today's post will suit you really well...  For those of you who are NOT game...

Most martial artists know that an opponent using a long weapon like a staff, baseball bat or sword is at a disadvantage as soon as you have managed to get past the weapon itself and close to him. Most of us are more comfortable with using our hands to manage the weapon and stepping past it to get to the opponent. Most adversaries would most likely expect you to do that as well... Now the major advantages of using a kick like the crescent kick I am showing in the sketch are the following: 1. It uses a limb more powerful than the arm; 2. It leaves both hands free to attack; 3. It opens up a path for you before you bring your body in range; 4. It gives you the element of surprise on your side. To me- a weapon that is held poised and pointed toward me is a bigger threat that one that is being swung. A swinging weapon can be timed and often clears the way for you to move in by itself. A poised weapon, however, is a trap! The crescent kick is a good way to c...

Martial art sports that use percussive techniques will always have punches to the face. Many participants believe that punching an opponent in the face will give them the advantage they need. Fact is, however, that the head is a smaller target and easy to get out of harm's way. The amount of body movement necessary to evade a face punch is much less than that needed to move an entire body. One of the advantages of ducking and slipping is that you stay within range for counterattack while being out of danger for that moment. For advice on how to perform ducking and slipping techniques you are welcome to email me at boshoffm3@gmail.com.

Some attacks succeed while others don't. When two fighters of equal strength and technical prowess face each other the decisive factor in determining whose attack shall be effective, and whose will be a waste of energy, is tactics. The fighter with the tactical advantage will control the outcome of the confrontation. Examples of tactical advantageous positions are as follow (to name but a few): 1. Being behind the opponent 2. Having the exit behind you 3. Being "inside" the opponent's defenses 4. Being "outside" the line of attack. 5. Being out of sight. More advantageous positions can be discovered if one studies the battlefield. Positions of advantage are documented in works like Sun Tzu's Art of War, Musashi's Book of Five Rings and Bruce Lee's Tao of Jeet Kune Do. That basically concludes my blog. If anybody needs more detail or advice I can be contacted at boshoffm3@gmail.com