|
Sticky Hands
In Okinawa, the basic
blocks were sometimes taught as very hard moves,
like attacks that could destroy an opponent's limb.
I've seen documentary footage, for example, of senior
Goju-Ryu practioners pounding their arms together doing
the blocks, building up their pain tolerance and developing
destructive force.
But the blocks can also be used to softly redirect
energy, more along a Chinese model. Take, for example,
sticky hands or pushing hands practice (tui shou).
This is a two-person drill from the Chinese internal
arts that teaches you how to become aware of an opponent's
attacking energy, redirecting it as it tries to disrupt
your centreline.
 
To further develop the centreline awareness,
try Chinese
pushing hands or sticky hands practice, in which
you redirect the attacking force.
In the one-hand version of the practice shown here,
you are blocking from the inside, like soto-uke. As
your partner pushes straight toward your centreline,
you don't resist with your blocking hand, but draw
it back with the incoming force.
At the same time, you rotate your body and centreline,
so the attack is deflected. And then, in a continuous
motion, you counter with an attack to your partner's
centreline.
To do the block properly, the blocking arm and your
centreline must be lined up through the whole motion.
If they are not, then you only use your arm strength.
|
