Walk this way: tactical footwork

[meguro]

You might have heard me rant about how sanchin dachi and kake ashi dachi signify takedowns. This is not another one of those rants, nor is it about takedowns directly. It is about where and how to place your feet as is done in arts like Silat, and how this idea of tactical stepping might inform your kata analysis and self protection.

As a Silat newb, I am impressed by the way foot placement is emphasized with regard to your opponent. You don't just step forward, but try to step on your opponent's lead leg. Depending on your attack, you might step just to the side of his foot, or even behind it. Now, I am not unfamiliar with this kind of footwork. It is common in Judo ( though not the foot stomping part). The point of it all is to injure the opponent if he should fall, to control, to takedown.

Recently, I was practicing a transition from a throat attack from a side position, to a takedown. It involved stepping behind the opponent, kneeing a leg then sinking into a kiba dachi. The knee kick serves to off balance the opponent and the kiba dachi stance served as a fulcrum over which the opponent falls. If you manage to hold on to the opponent's arm as he falls, it conveniently breaks across your thigh. I'll have make a video of this one day if I can't find one ready made.

There is no reason why we cannot envision such applications. That they would be illegal in tournament play is obvious, still when we discuss SP, why not introduce the idea of tactical stepping (stomping).

There's more, but dinner awaits.

[MMX]

We use similar footwork in Enshin for the take downs.

[meguro]

That's cool. The idea doesn't come up at all in traditional karate or even regular knockdown.

This illustrates some of the footwork.

[MMX]

Yeah around the 1:40 mark where he starts showing take downs. Very similar footwork in Enshin take downs. In Enshin the Sabaki footwork just lends itself to that. Depending on the range and the oppononet you either attack(punch/kick/knee),sweep or take down.

[powerof0ne]

I hate to be the negative person, but I see far too compliant Uke in this video...either that, or this guy is one of the best in the world at takedowns...which I don't happen to believe. However, if given the opportunity, I would love to be his Uke, but I wouldn't fall for him unless he made me go down.

I do like his "atemi" far more than any atemi I saw in Aiki arts, though, it's much more practical. I'm sure I would have some bruised ankles and legs if I ever did jiyu kumite with this Man .

I suppose this is why I didn't stick to the Aiki arts...but I sort of want to get back into them. I'm sure the reality is I would p*** off people within a month because I don't fall for them.
Osu!

[meguro]

No one is laying down for Maul Mornie, believe me, Po1. I can vouch for Maul. I have taken a couple of his seminars, and plan on taking another this month, in addition to the regular Silat I am taking these days. He makes it look easy, and that is precisely why I thought to introduce the video. The idea is to use the stances and postures we normally use in Karate in a more active manner and not just to stand funny or to "transition" into another pose. When you are in the fight you are stepping tactically, that is to position yourself advantageously so that the other guy goes down by a simple move. Some of it looks like the regular sweeps and reaps you might see in Karate, Judo, or wrestling. Then there's just stepping on the guy's foot so that he cannot withdraw, falls down and hurts himself.

Silat is chock full of the joint destructions (no locking) and takedowns one might dream about in kata bunkai, if one had the imagination. Imagine Aikido and Judo mixed with Wing Chun and dirty boxing. There's no, "You grab my hand and I'll do this." There isn't any free sparring or randori either (at least at my level), unfortunately. I would love to combine these technique with Kudo or Knockdown style sparring, but I don't see how it can be made safe for sport. You would end up with a lot of jacked up wrists, ankles, elbows, shoulders and knees.

It's been in the back of my mind to introduce Kyokushin style atemi to my Silat instructor. One day I'll bring my Muay Thai pads to class and see how it goes.

[meguro]

So I met with another student and practiced Silat in the park. We worked on some juru (katas) and the apps. One of the things I must improve on is "stealing the opponent's space." Basically it means walking through the opponent, applying pressure, having him yield, then applying the technique. It is not shoving the guy or using strength. You move in and take over like a boss. Takedowns work better with this kind of constant pressure.