Cross-Crawl

 

Example Theory of Kyusho/Atemi Application and Reaction

  People generally miss-interpret the concept of Kyusho. It appears to be generally believed that the body is covered with these little points that will elicit debilitating reactions from their being struck.

    

  Though (sounding) nice in theory, not exactly an accurate description (or possibly just misleading). It is the (massive) misinterpretation of what those “points” are, and what they will (and won't) do that have so corrupted the martial arts world today.

     

  Numerous systems (but mainly individuals) are presenting the information that they have, as if it is the only methodology available. There are several (different) approaches to the concept of interpreting how to create the reactions attained from striking these locations.

     

  Though (obviously) there are plenty of charlatan's out there to push all manners of para-psycho-bullshit, a (fairly) basic understanding of kinesiology and body mechanics (combined with a knowledge of anatomical R.O.M.) will get a student farther than any amount of TCM nonsense will ever get them.

      

  Once someone has acquired that knowledge, it becomes (much) easier to explain the bodies natural reactions to various forms of stimulation (technique).

        

  One of the first things that students need to be (made) aware of, is which part of the aggressor's (uke's) body is most susceptible to being manipulated (whether through it's own motion, in reaction to being manipulated or from being struck) at any given time.

       

  That is usually determined from understanding how the body functions. Not so much in an anatomical way, but in a "kinesiological" way. One's initial understanding of this concept is through Cross-Crawl.

      

  This is a well understood and used concept of how the body generally moves (as well as responds) to stimuli. The simplest example (for illustration purposes) is by watching someone walk.

     

  As the walker's Left foot moves forward, their Right hand (also) swings forward as well. Alternately, when the Right foot motions forward, their Right hand moves back and the Left hand motions forward. This alternation is a coordinated balance response to maintain an erect and balanced posture. 

        

  Being aware of these balanced (Left/Right) motions, we can anticipate the activation of the involved muscles (for the individual limbs). When a muscle is being utilized, the nerves that control that muscle are active. Activated nerves are susceptible to strikes and/or manipulation.

       

  Once one has determined the area of the body that one can most easily create an effect, then they need to be aware of which muscles (of the targeted limb) are most likely active. When one knows which muscles are active, then they can determine whether the muscle (belly), or the tendons will provide the most productive response (and further clarify where the most productive strike can be applied).

    

  There are numerous reactions that can be connected to these manipulations, but we tend to initially focus on the natural motions first (then individually) begin to identify the separate responses (possible) from applying impacts and/or manipulations.

     

  In a (very) generalized sense, if one strikes the Left leg of an aggressor, it would prove most productive to also strike the Right arm (or at least the Right side of the aggressors body somewhere) as well (or vice-verse). This inter-relationship is attributed to the Cross-Crawl (interaction), as well as the fact that the Right Hemisphere of the Brain, controls the Left side of the body.

    

 It's this Cross interconnection (within the brain) that creates these susceptibilities to being manipulated. As signals (from the nerve receptor's) are sent to and from the brain (from the struck muscles/nerves) they will also effect those nerves that send signals to the equivalent muscles/nerves on the opposite side of the body.

   

 This is also evidenced in the application of Tuite techniques (in that the opposite side will suffer similar effects to the side that the technique is being initiated upon).

   

 In all, it's important for the student to be aware that these reactions will occur naturally, and that there is no "magical/supernatural" cause for their occurrence (meaning the "TCM" trash is irrelevant).