Difference between revisions of "Reciprocal action"

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(Created page with "right '''The Eight Points of Harmony''' represent the eight directions which attacks can come from -- and the eight directions that one can move...")
 
 
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[[File:Points_of_Harmony.png|right]]
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Unlike most other striking arts, there is a peculiar component to karate techniques -- '''hikite''' (literally: “pulling hand”). '''As one hand drives outward to perform a technique, the other hand must pull back inward.''' This is why within [[Goshin-Jutsu]], hikite is referred to as '''reciprocal action''', because your arms reciprocate like the pistons in a gasoline engine. Many practitioners of other striking arts criticize karateka for pulling their opposite-side hands to their hip, instead of using it to cover their head. However, the advantages of hikite far outweigh that of using your arms as a temporary meat shield. These advantages include:
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'''The Eight Points of Harmony''' represent the eight directions which attacks can come from -- and the eight directions that one can move to stop these attacks. Although people can move or attack from any direction, we will limit ourselves to eight directions at first, until all of our biomechanics lessons have sunk into your muscle memory. There is one Point of Harmony for each of the cardinal points of the 2-D plane you are currently atop. As such, aerial bombardments, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q|orbital strikes]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q|subterranean mole-person attacks]] will not be addressed in this art.
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#'''Improved balance.''' A punch's momentum can pull people off-balance. This is why most people lean forward as they punch, and this excess motion wastes energy and creates exploitable openings. Pulling the opposite-side hand to the hip counter-rotates the torso, leading to improved stability.
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#'''Fewer exploitable openings'''. While throwing a technique, the opposite-side hand pulls back to set up (or “rechamber”) the next technique. By reloading one gun as the other shoots, continuous fire can be achieved.
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One wall of your dōjō needs to be arbitrarily declared the #1 wall, and some subtle and tasteful wall art is usually hung there to denote that it is special. Since this wall art is usually a portrait of a martial art’s founder (joseki), the #1 wall is commonly called a “joseki wall.” Ideally, the joseki wall will face the door. From there, the corners and walls are each numbered in a counterclockwise fashion. '''Please note that this numbering scheme is entirely arbitrary and devoid of symbolism'''; these numbers could be exchanged for compass points without any real loss of meaning.
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#'''Balance breaking.''' Any hand technique can become a grab, since the hand is conveniently there. By grabbing and rechambering, reciprocal action pull opponents off-balance, rendering them less able to intelligently defend or counterattack.
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#'''Augmented striking power.''' The act of grabbing and rechambering pulls the opponent into your incoming counterattack. In addition to merely punching your opponent in the face, reciprocal action forces the opponent to smash your fist with their face. Reciprocal action causes simple fender-benders to become head-on collisions.  
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Karate is primarily taught through a series of solo exercise sets, called [Kata|kata]. The directions on how to perform the kata (e.g., where to put what foot and how, etc.), will be described using this convention. Non-square rooms can still be used as a practice space (“any place can be a [[Dōjō|dōjō]]”), by marking a square on the floor with tape to allow correct orientation. Move with respect to the square, and not to the room. (New people often struggle with this.)
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#'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_in_depth Defense-in-depth] against sneak attacks.''' Reciprocal action can be interpreted as a [[Elbow_strikes#Rear_elbow_strike|rear elbow strike]] to a second opponent sneaking up from behind.
 
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Latest revision as of 16:57, 8 July 2018

Unlike most other striking arts, there is a peculiar component to karate techniques -- hikite (literally: “pulling hand”). As one hand drives outward to perform a technique, the other hand must pull back inward. This is why within Goshin-Jutsu, hikite is referred to as reciprocal action, because your arms reciprocate like the pistons in a gasoline engine. Many practitioners of other striking arts criticize karateka for pulling their opposite-side hands to their hip, instead of using it to cover their head. However, the advantages of hikite far outweigh that of using your arms as a temporary meat shield. These advantages include:

  1. Improved balance. A punch's momentum can pull people off-balance. This is why most people lean forward as they punch, and this excess motion wastes energy and creates exploitable openings. Pulling the opposite-side hand to the hip counter-rotates the torso, leading to improved stability.
  2. Fewer exploitable openings. While throwing a technique, the opposite-side hand pulls back to set up (or “rechamber”) the next technique. By reloading one gun as the other shoots, continuous fire can be achieved.
  3. Balance breaking. Any hand technique can become a grab, since the hand is conveniently there. By grabbing and rechambering, reciprocal action pull opponents off-balance, rendering them less able to intelligently defend or counterattack.
  4. Augmented striking power. The act of grabbing and rechambering pulls the opponent into your incoming counterattack. In addition to merely punching your opponent in the face, reciprocal action forces the opponent to smash your fist with their face. Reciprocal action causes simple fender-benders to become head-on collisions.
  5. Defense-in-depth against sneak attacks. Reciprocal action can be interpreted as a rear elbow strike to a second opponent sneaking up from behind.
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