IOUF joint movement question

[Cossack]

I understand the benefit of hyperfunction movements over dysfunctional techniques. However, I am unclear about how to best manipulate joints (neck, elbows, shoulders) so that they hyperfunction and place the opponent into the triangle point.

In IOUF Scott talks about how joints are highly articulated and three-dimensional. If I attempt to move my opponents joint along its full range of motion will I be on my way to proper hyperfunction use? In the heat of battle I am unclear as to how I know which way to automatically manipulate the joint to use hyperfunction.

Mark

[dave_rusin]

Mark,

Hyperfunction is not an end in and of itself. It is a means to an end. That is, you use hyperfunction to gain a position of mechanical advantage. You need not take a joint through its full range of motion in order to utilize hyperfunction. What you are doing is accentuating the natural function of a joint or series of joints through whatever portion of the full ROM that is necessary to effectuate your goal. This will be very difficult to resist since it is natural function. The body will defensively brace against dysfunction, but not hyperfunction.

So for example, let’s say that you are trying to manipulate your opponent’s right elbow to bring him to his triangle point. Flexion is a natural function of the elbow and you can cause your opponent’s arm to flex. Further, in the flexed position, his arm can naturally move along the vector of force that coincides with the long axis of his forearm. You can hold his right wrist with your right hand and place the palm of your left hand into the pit of his elbow. Using your arms move his flexed arm along the force vector of his forearm away from you so that the point of his elbow ends up behind his frontal plane. This will also cause his shoulder to be misaligned and will therefore deform his structure. From there it is relatively simple to take him down. Once his elbow has been thrust back you will then change your level by lowering yourself along your spine (not bending over), using your bodyweight and gravity to transmit force along the vector of his upper arm in the direction of his triangle point. And there he goes.

Try to find a cooperative training partner that will help you work through some of this stuff. Understand the mechanics in a non-resisting opponent before trying to do so with a resistant opponent.

Let me know if this helps at all.

[Cossack]

Dave:

Thank you for the reply. I am sold on the benefit of hyperfunction over dysfunction. As a police officer I know well how a large person will fight against the pain of a painful joint lock.

You gave a good explanation with your elbow joint example. However, I am at a loss as to how I apply these principles in the heat of a fast paced battle or tournament. Scott emphasizes principles over technique so I doubt if he recommends memorizing force vectors for each joint in the body.

How do you apply the hyperfuction principle quickly, effectively, and efficiently.

Mark

[Scott Sonnon]

Mark,

Don't try to "apply" anything in the heat of the battle. Just DO what you feel appropriate to the situation. The 'heat' is not where you 'try' - it's where you do the best that PRACTICE has prepared you.

Pracitce: Fluid Drills and Soft-Work.

[Cossack]

Scott:

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunatly, I don't think doing what I feel in the situation will help me much since I do not yet have a good understanding of how to move joints using hyperfunction along their force vectors.

When, for example, you have hold of someone's head how do you "know" which way to move their appendage so as to put them into the triangle point without contending with dysfunction? I am still doing Warrior Wellness, body flow, and recently, leg fencing, but I am determined to understand IOUF.


Mark

[Scott Sonnon]

Mark,

If you want access to this position, force/tension and kinesthetic sense, then continue Soft-Work Fluid Drills in every practice.

[dave_rusin]

Mark,

There is no need to “memorize force vectors”. That is not the point. Since you have a body of your own, you know, or at least can know through exploration, exactly how the body CAN function. Knowing how the body is ABLE to move, or BE MOVED. Try not to get caught up in terms. Though the intent of terminology is to allow for accurately describing in the spoken or written word that which is easier experienced, it can some times muddy the waters of comprehension.

As Scott said, you should not be trying to apply something as this suggests thinking your way through an encounter and/or attempting to impose your particular will upon another. This may work if you are stronger, better conditioned, have the element of surprise, etc., but it may not always be that way. It is not efficient to use your force against an opponent’s force. Attempting to cause dysfunction before you have gained control or at least positional advantage will be met with fierce resistance, as you know. Don’t look to impose your application on him… accept what he is offering you. Move his body the way it naturally moves in order to disrupt his posture. From a ROSS perspective, our goal in conflict is to disintegrate an opponent’s breathing, movement and structure.

So since you can explore how your body moves you already are aware of the force vectors that coincide with particular body segments. A force vector is simply a line of potential force application, or said another way, a path along which any particular body segment (or series of segments) can naturally move. How can your body move? How can you cause his body to move along vectors through which it naturally functions that will affect his postural alignment? It is a simple matter to take a man down whose posture you have disrupted. Furthermore, your opponent will not be able to generate much power of his own while his posture is misaligned.

It is easier to explore such matters, attempting to increase your kinesthetic sensitivity to body positions, with a partner who understands your training process. This is the beauty of the Static and Fluid drill and Soft Work protocols. These training methods remove or at least decrease the stress normally associated with hard, dynamic training. Once your Fear Reactivity kicks in, your training will be much less productive, at least in terms of these protocols and their associated goals.

A cooperative and understanding training partner is paramount!