Checkmate Self Defense

A special thank you to everyone that was in class this evening (3-29-10) for being an Uki. My journey in martial arts can not be made alone and I can not fully express in words my appreciation for all your help. There is certain to be other days in which you will be asked to sacrifice yourselves again. Le me assure you I appreciate your efforts and consider it an honor to Uki for each of you.

In transmitting the maximum amount of force and producing maximum pain, focus plays a vital part. Try to pinpoint pain to the smallest base possible. Transmission of energy to a wide base means that the energy is distributed over a larger area and less energy is directed to the point where the pain should be felt.

Be accurate with the direction of force. All small-circle techniques employ dual action of the wrists, pulling in with the fingers and pushing with the thumbs. Learn to use the extended arm movement in conjunction with this wrist action. With locks such as the bent elbow wrist lock, use the centerline  (from throat to solar plexus) as the target of application.

Proper gripping when executing the technique is also very important. Learn where the fulcrum is and pull in toward your body to keep the opponent in maximum pain.

Jay, Wally. small-circle jujitsu. United States: Ohara Publication, Inc, 2007.

Everyone has the ability to mentally resist pain. Try this with the bent elbow wrist lock applied on you by a partner. As the hold is applied, concentrate on the spot where the pain is felt. Imagine that there is a flywheel spinning at high speed at the spot, going in the opposite direction, which is counterclockwise. Do not use physical resistance, but remain calm and relaxed as you give your total concentration. If you are able to go into deep concentration, you will be surprised to find that you will feel no pain. If however, someone were to slap you on your wrist, causing you to lose your concentration, you will feel immediate pain. This also points up the vital part that the element of distraction play in self-defense.

Distraction of the opponent’s concentration is important when executing a counterattack. During application of a technique when resistance is met, distract your opponent by attacking the weak areas of the body. This leaves him with less power and a split second loss of concentration. An unexpected shout or grunt may also allow you sufficient time to escape or counter. A sternum strike while simultaneously executing a wrist lock hold, for instance, or a kick to the shin while escaping a lapel grab, or a pinch to the inner thigh of someone using a bear hug on you may enable you to gain control of the fight more readily.

Jay, Wally. small-circle jujitsu. United States: Ohara Publication, Inc, 2007.

I established a Checkmate Martial Arts group on Facebook. The group will have limited access to the Checkmate family only. It will not be open to the public.  In addition to the posts on the website, join and check the group for Dojo info, updates, events, and to just communicate with your extended Dojo family.   We’ll see you on the mat and remember; It’s Your Move!!!

To avoid the full power of your opponent’s attack, avoid the head-on collision of force by evading, deflecting, blending, or redirecting. Unlike other systems of martial arts training where you pivot in toward the opponent, this principle is just the opposite. As in all small-circle moves, always pivot away from the opponent when blending, redirecting, or evading. Try to evade the opponent’s striking force by stepping back. Move 45 to 90 degrees to the left or right, or move laterally left or right.

Jay, Wally. small-circle jujitsu. United States: Ohara Publication, Inc, 2007.

Your center of gravity plays an important part in the principle of mobility and stability. Lower your center of gravity and you will achieve stability; raise your center of gravity and you will gain mobility. The hub of your action is at you midsection. When your center of gravity rises, you lesson your stability and increase you mobility and vice versa.

Your mind can also control your center of gravity. Try these exercises for example. Lift your partner up slowly holding him around the waist. If your partner thinks of riding an elevator going upward with high speed, his body will be easier to lift. Lift your partner again. If h concentrates he is riding an elevator goin downward, his body will be more difficult to lift.

For mobility move on the balls of your feet, and when pivoting, your knees should be either above or beyond your toes, and not directly over your heels. For stability, lower your body slightly. Stability is essential in punching and throwing.

Jay, Wally. small-circle jujitsu. United States: Ohara Publication, Inc, 2007.

BALANCE:

Balance is perhaps the most important principle in any sport. The basic strategy of Judo, for instance, is to keep your opponent off balance while maintaining your own. By keeping your own balance, you will have use of your maximum power while your opponent uses part of his energy trying to regain his balance. The more off balance he is, the more strength he will need to recover.

Jay, Wally. small-circle jujitsu. United States: Ohara Publication, Inc, 2007.

The following principles form the basis of Professor Wally Jays Small Circle Jujitsu and an important part of Sensei Leigh’s style. During this weeks class we focused on transitional flow and rotational momentum. Continue to refer back to these ten principles and understand how we apply them.

1. Balance
2. Mobility and Stability
3. Avoid the Head On Collision of Forces
4. Mental Resistance and Distraction
5. Focus to the Smallest Point Possible
6. Energy Transfer
7. Create a Base
8. Sticking Control and Sensitivity
9. Rotational Momentum
10. Transitional Flow
    1. Exert Continual Pain During Transitions
    2. Create Maximum Pain Without Dislocating Joint
    3. Mobility During Transition Rather than Stability

Thank you everyone for your participation and dedication to training. This was a great class and everyone demonstrated excellent Jujitsu. It was a pleasure to teach and I’m looking forward to the next class.

Apply these elements each time you square off with your training partner. A very important part of learning to defend yourself is to visualize the attack or to treat every training attack as a real attack. Then, follow these elements in order.