Thanks for the clarification, Doc. Good to get some insight on the Contact vs. Attempt thing. I am lost in a hair-split, though. Absorbing the force of the push, and riding it out, seem much the same to me.
Well yes it can be a bit disconcerting, but as I feel you know how little it takes to disrupt, or breakdown the human body, the “little” things can become huge in interaction. I remember having a contentious discussion with a well-known and vocal Kenpo “professor” regarding the subject of “bending over” versus “bent over” when struck in the lower portion of the body.
I attempted to explain that, although upon completion the postures may appear the same, “how” you arrived at any posture would be a serious factor in what is available and to the vulnerability of the body. This is another one of those type issues that on surface appear rather minor, but actually has huge implications.
Strategically, one of the advantages of Glancing Salute was, I thought, turning apparent disadvantage into advantage.
Here you are definitely on point in my opinion. It’s the incremental “how” that’s important.
Specifically, stepping back with the pin draws the opponent off balance,
As Ed Parker would say to me, “Aha!” Let’s talk about “stepping back.” The phrase would indicate a voluntary initiated action of the defender. But if you are pushed firmly you may be forced to step as a reaction, therefore you have no control over the situation until you “Survive The Initial Assault™” and “absorb” the action.
At this point, it seems like one has gone from riding or absorbing, to something akin to tai sabaaki...footwork to imbalance an attacker.
I feel you’re on target, but I go back to “absorbing” over “riding.” In Ed Parker’s published definition “Riding” infers that its execution is “…requiring (you) go with an attack …while standing in place or while stepping.”
What is not addressed is the actual severity of the attack will dictate your ability to “ride,” and also will determine “what” is possible to “absorb.” A cross push, as this technique defense suggests, can be so severe that you may be dislodged from your platform and actually spun around, or it may be so mild that you could “ride” the push with no footwork. The size, and gender of the attacker and victim as well play a part. Women because of a slightly different pelvic bone, (as well as other factors) have more problems in “riding, “ or “absorbing.”
“Riding is something you must do “after” you absorb the attack. So it is a later stage of the action. In this type of assault, in practice it must be allowed to take place, then “absorbed” and then finally you may “ride” it. You may not “ride” an attack until you reacquire some measure of control over your own body, which I presume you lost momentarily when you were attacked un-expectantly. In the commercial arts, there is a tendency to begin to “ride” or move “before” any of the attacks have occurred therefore turning all of the attacks into attempts. Obviously this is a huge disadvantage in training having never addressed the completed assault in practice.
So my position is simply, “Before you may ’ride’ any attack, you must regain control by ‘absorbing’ it first. How you ‘absorb” requires specific body mechanics that also are not addressed in the commercial art.
Bear hugs, as another example, bring body momentum that must be “absorbed” first, before any counter may occur to prevent further action on the attackers part.
Thanks Dr. D.
(more)
