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Illusion of Speed for Strikers

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:33:35 PDT

A famous martial artist once said “if you hold a focus pad in front of me and an untrained guy and we must strike it when a red light goes off, I would probably win by about 1/10th of a second”.

Martial artists can train themselves to produce faster strikes. It takes hard training and lots of it, but it can be done. However, a martial artist will only be able to produce a small amount of faster movement speed compared to an untrained person. Where a martial artist can excel though is by creating an illusion of speed.

An illusion of speed is when someone creates the illusion that there strikes are fast but what is really happening is that tactics and timing are being used with strikes. Ways in which this happens include.

Simultaneous defend and strike – Most fighters are used to having there strikes defended in some sort of way and then counter strikes thrown back at them. However, if one can learn to defend and counter at the same time it would be unexpected to some, and will seem as though a counter strike is being thrown with great speed after defending oneself.

After feinting – A feint should be convincing enough to make an opponent defend or react in some sort of way. The person performing the feint should keep this in mind but must also keep in mind the fact that a follow up technique must be thought of and performed immediately after the feint, once the opponent has started to defend it. Feinting high and attacking low or vice versa is perfect for this. If the follow up technique is successful it should seem as though great speed has been used in combination.

Sidestepping and countering – Similar to the simultaneous defend and strike you side steps your opponents onslaught of attacks whilst simultaneously performing a strike of your own. Normally the expectation is to move backwards when attacked. By side stepping whilst still staying in range to deliver a counter blow it seems as though a defence and counter is performed with great speed.

Timing - Most people react to an opponent’s technique. However one must react to an opponent’s movement. Say your opponent throws a jab. Instead of waiting to react when the jabbing fist reaches the target if one can react as soon as the jabbing arm moves, even a slight inch, it will seem as though on has reacted with great speed when in actual fact one has used good timing.

These are just a few ways in which one can seem to be moving with great speed when in actual fact it is good timing and tactics that produce this illusion. These of course are subtle attributes that can only be achieved through years of training and paying strict attention to the art of combat for success, rather than just simply padding up with 16 oz gloves and beating each other brains out. Sparring slow and with light contact will help when trying to develop these different illusions of speed.

Marks

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