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KAS
10-28-2003, 12:03 PM
I have been looking over material on Kinetic Chains and pondering how applicable this type of training is for combat preperation. Of course I think it is great!

In wing chun we were always trained that attack and defense were simultaneous. In ninjitsu (bujinkan taijutsu) were were always taught to flow with the moment. In simple terms both arts said the same thing. Taking this thought a bit further, and applying Kinetic Chain theory, I have concluded that the traditional use of "combinations" in martial arts is not optimal.

When you examine a typical combination you see that the techniques are laid out in a serial fashion. One technique begins and at its completion another follows and this continues until the combination is complete.

However if you consider the "patch", "hem" and "weave" concepts of Kinetic Chains it seems that a purely linear succession of techniques does not support the maxims of effiecient energy and maximum effectiveness.

Rather than using "combinations" it could make sense to use "combat chains".

For example: When attacked by a right hook the defender could thrust arm to block, strike the jaw with an elbow and then excute a throw. This is a typical "combination"

A "combat chain" may follow as: when defending against a right hook the defender steps into the attacker, uppsetting his balance while executing a thrust arm to parry the blow. The defender carries his forward momentum through as a sweeping elbow to the attackers neck. The sweeping elbow continues to flow through its arc path, with the defender's body following in circle. Near the end of the path of the sweeping elbow the defender continues the circular motion and uses the contact of the elbow to neck in order to execute a modified Seoi Nage (judo shoulder throw).

From a combat perspective are Kinetic Chains designed to help the fighter naturaly flow throw a series a combat chains? Is this a correct application of Kinetic Chains to combat?

-Kyle

dave_rusin
10-29-2003, 06:16 AM
Kyle,

Kinetic Chains are intended to internalize efficient and effective movement at all times. We use KCs as a tool to explore and develop such flow in our movement. Use them to see what infinite options are available to you. Don't get caught up on any particular chain, because if you do you might just reduce it from a liberating exploration of movement to merely a combination. Use them to maximize the functional potential of the joint systems in your body. They are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves.

Use them to explore principles of efficient movement. Keep good posture (musculo-skeletal alignment) and remember to relax your respiration so that your breathing can be coordinated with your movement. Generally speaking upon compression of the torso you should be exhaling and upon expansion of the torso, inhaling.

CST (EMCs, BMEs and KCs) is excellent for learning how to integrate your breathing with your movement with your structural alignment. Through ROSS we seek to integrate these within ourselves and disintegrate them within our opponents.

KCs will help develop attributes that are directly applicable to fighting eventhough some may appear at first to have no particular combative value. Core stabilization, dynamic flexibility, agility, enhanced respiration, etc. all result from the use of KCs and are very important attributes for a fighter in any venue.

Scott Sonnon
10-29-2003, 07:09 AM
Superb response! Sounds like the skeleton of an article :!:
:wink:

dave_rusin
10-29-2003, 07:22 AM
Thanks Scott!

I have a couple of ideas for articles that I hope to be able to get rolling soon.

:D

Robert V
10-29-2003, 08:13 AM
Yes, great!