Continuous motion

  When student's are first shown a technique (to practice and learn) they work (only) on that technique's actions. Once those actions are understood, they will be introduced to the possible conflicting elements of those motions of which they are practicing. Knowledge of the numerous (other) technique's will aid and assist the student in compensating for those variables.

One of the conflicts that student's often experience, is technique stutter. This is when the student will pause, or freeze between stages of a technique's implementation. This can result from the student (either) not knowing the required motion(s), or from not understanding the correct implementation of those motions. The ability to surpass this tendency, is (usually) attained through repeated practice of the motion/technique.

When one is in a defensive situation, one can not spend time figuring out what motion would be most prudent to apply. Frankly, there's no way that anyone can pre-plan their actions (for any/every situation). One has to rely on practiced motions. Though the majority of practiced motions, will rarely occur (“Murphy's Law”, LOL), those motions practiced will prove similar enough, that they can be implemented with a reasonable expectation of success.

Part of that practice should include the idea of constant motion. Not motion without purpose necessarily, but motion that is continuous. If one is constantly in motion, it becomes more difficult for an aggressor to predict what motions could be utilized against them, or be a hindrance to their own aggressive actions.

This attempt is initially began with the practice of Exercise 4. This exercise has the student alternating the arm's (Left/Right) in a rotating (like) manor. This offers constant protective coverage, while allowing counter-attacks to be made from any direction. By creating this constantly moving defensive action, an aggressor is less able to utilize their own aggressive actions against the tori. It also provides enough distractive motion, that an aggressor is placed in a defensive posture (thus deterring those aggressive attempts).

This manor of defense often appeals to the student who is inclined to prefer the bludgeoning manor of defensive tactics, though it (actually) works very well for the student who prefers to utilize Tuite and/or (simple) limb manipulation defensive actions.

The majority of aggressive motions, tend to be linear. By creating this circular and linear defensive motion, it becomes more difficult for the aggressor to establish an effective attack method. When one attempts an attack, it will tend to be a linear motion. The “hook” (punch) is the most prominent exception to this rule (it's also the easiest to see being attempted), as well as being the easiest to avoid.

Continuous motion is often confused with repeated striking attempts (usually as an attacking and/or counter-attacking method). This often turns into a flurry of action/motion with the (“hope” of) landing an effective strike during it's occurrence.

 As we utilize it, this manor of defense is used (more) as a manor of continuous deflection actions, while utilizing openings for counter-strikes as they occur. Those deflection actions, include causing damage/injury to the aggressor's limbs during their execution.

Developing effective practice of this manor of defense, requires that the uke (during practice sessions) begin to apply multiple attacking motions (as opposed to the single-punch method). Though often feeling (as if) one is doing/accomplishing an effective/practical defensive action, the reality is, that an aggressor will continue with additional attacks (being attempted) whether their first/initial attempt is successful or not.

What is usually practiced, is the “one-step, two-step” (type of) exercises (with the uke attempting a single or double striking attempt). Though being fine for initial practice (of learning defensive actions), this should only be recognized as a beginning method (of practice). In an actual situation, an aggressor will (generally) continue their attack until they have effectively neutralized the tori (which is what the student is practicing to avoid), or they (the uke) are unable to continue with those aggressive actions.

Because of this, student's should (also) be practicing for those multiple attempts (as well as accounting for failed defensive attempts being made by the tori). Though well and good to say that correct execution of the practiced technique's will neutralize an aggressor's attempts, it needs to be remembered that anyone can/will make (their own) mistakes when attempting the practiced defensive motions (thus giving credence to the numerous saying's, ie. “even monkey's fall out of tree's”).