-all techniques are for educational purposes only. practice them under the supervision of a qualified instructor-

POWER STRIKING AND COMBAT:

The size and strength, as well as technique, of an individual are important factors in determining the victor of a confrontation. An individual with superior strength and mass has an advantage over his opponent which must be compensated for with skill and speed. This is why large individuals often lack superior technique. They simply do not feel a great need for it. This is unfortunate as it can result in a surprising loss to a smaller opponent with more skill. A large individual would be a smart fighter to focus on technique, thereby taking advantage of his natural strength.

For any size fighter, strength is a must to a certain degree. By this, I do not necessarily mean muscular strength. A fighter must either be strong enough to apply a finishing lock or be able to create enough devastation with a strike to incapacitate the opponent. An individual with enough power to incapacitate with one strike can theoretically defeat any opponent. Of course, the trick is in scoring that strike before getting knocked out yourself. In any case, with the proper power, you are always only one strike away from victory.

SIMPLICITY OF MOVEMENT:

Martial artists have a habit of devoting a great deal of time to practicing set routines of self defense. These range from somewhat practical and believable to the highly dubious and overcomplicated. The idea behind these is to practice a routine to give a basic sense of a maneuver and then to use your own variation as necessary in a real life confrontation. Still, I find that most of these routines are nothing more than an awkward combination of very basic techniques. For example, an instructor will counter a would-be attacker with a block, grab, throw, then strike combination. Students are then left to practice this highly conditional routine.

I am a firm believer in the basics. Basic strikes, grabs, etc. are the moves that you will need for sparring and self defense. Why block, grab, spin, throw, and so on, when a simple evasion and punch to the face is obviously the most efficient and effective? I also believe in a student's ability to use good common sense. There is no need to practice a set self defense routine unless performing for an audience or trying to keep inexperienced students busy. Teach the basics and a good student will know how to put them together. When a guy charges you, should you spin, sweep him, roll, kick him on the ground five times, then rake his eyes? Of course not, when a swift kick to the groin will do the trick.

This is partly why I believe so much in breaking and conditioning. Breaking insures that you hit hard, very hard. If your strike is true, one will do the job. Keep things simple. Practice the basics. Have students practice without set routines and without a designated fall guy. If you find that you cannot apply your maneuver in a sparring situation when the opponent is really resisting, keep practicing.

When my father practiced martial arts in his youth, his father once warned him of using karate in a fight because the other guy might not know it. He was suggesting that martial arts would only work on an opponent practicing the same art. This was in the early days of karate in the U.S., and such a comment seemed ridiculous to my father at the time. Even so, what my grandfather said, as an offhand remark, holds more truth than he realized. Practitioners become so involved with practicing against opponents of the same style that they are caught off guard against unorthodox street fighters. Remember, there is no such thing as an illegal move in a streetfight.

TECHNIQUES AND TARGETS:

Different styles have a variety of forms and meditations, but when it comes down to it, the hand and foot strikes are essentially the same. The reason for this is simple, the human body can attack in only so many ways. Basic strikes are the tools of success. Make your hits count.

THE PUNCH: The punch requires little explanation. You can punch the face and almost any area of the body. Aim for the chin, jaw, nose, and back of the head. Remember when striking the body that, unlike bricks, it flexes and may collapse your wrist if you aren't ready for the different kind of impact. Practice for this on the heavybag and think penetration.

THE PALMHEEL: Thrust this into the face, head, and chest to stun the heart. It is very unlikely you will hurt your hands when using this technique.

THE KNIFEHAND AND HAMMERFIST: These work on the side and top of the head, the collarbone, the neck, and the arms. When sparring, chop your opponent's forearms, biceps, and triceps to paralyze his means of attack. Be careful about breaking bones. In lethal self defense, chop the neck.

IRON PALM: Slap the chest, back, and side of the head. Palm heel iron palm strike to the top of the head.