The process of mastering any martial art or self-defense system always involves learning all of the respective elbows, knees, strikes and kicks included in the system. What I have discovered over the years of teaching is that most students only partially learn how to throw each of these combatives. In order for a student to truly master any respective strike, there are three factors that must be thoroughly learned and practiced:
1. Proper Mechanical Technique. Full awareness of body rotation, relative limb extension and weight transference dictates how much power is delivered in each strike. This is the area that most instructors spend all of their time working. Without question, understanding how the body functions as a unit to deliver power is invaluable, but it is not the sole criteria for success.
2. Appropriate Targeting. For any strike to have meaningful impact we must first understand where we are delivering the shot (blow/kick/punch). Failure to understand appropriate targets can lead to inefficient use of time, energy and can often create exposures to counter attacks from the attacker.
3. Range Awareness. I find this area to be the one that is most commonly lacking in understanding with students. It is important to learn how far a range each respective combative has within a violent engagement. Learning to throw a strike from the incorrect range is like trying to enter a gunfight with a knife. Your weapons will only be as effective as the range you find yourself in when trying to deliver them.
As a person continues their journey to master combatives, always keep in mind that ALL three of these factors must be correctly utilized for your empty hand skills to have the appropriate impact during a fight.
