Introduction
The idea behind this drill is to work from a neutral, active, fence-type position. The attack is going to be based off of a Habitual Act of Physical Violence (HAPV) which when looking at statistics is a common occurrence – this HAPV is going to be a movement towards us with the hands e.g. shove/jab/grab etc. The idea behind the drill is to use different templates from the Pinan kata series with which to work from to adequately defend oneself in a civilian self protection environment.
The drill can be applied both the right and left side, we will look at variations on a theme and try to make the drill flow so that it can be practiced in a flowing manner to help develop the unconscious thought needed in an altercation using the templates from the Pinan katas. The techniques can also be applied again in the drill so that there is the opportunity of incorporating techniques and principles time and again if for example the opponent throws the hands up to protect their head we can take two of the techniques from the drill and apply them in another way.
The Drill
For the main drill we are going to be drawing on 6 techniques from the pinan katas and from these 6 techniques there will be a flow and easy transition from one to another which are easy to apply and each technique has enough to end the situation or give the opportunity to flee in the opposite direction which should be part of every persons self protection strategy. I also wanted to take one template from each kata as especially from Nidan, Shodan, and Sandan these cover different aspects of a fight e.g. initial exchanges, to grabs, to grappling etc. The techniques are ordered as follows - The technique, then the kata it comes from, and then the stance that is used:
Technique - Pinan Kata - Stance
Shuto Uchi - Pinan Shodan - Mahamni Nekoashi Dachi
Tsuki Punch - Pinan Nidan and Pinan Godan - Shoman Nekoashi Dachi
Jodan Sato Uke and Gedan Barai - Pinan Sandan - Heisuko Dachi
Mawashi Tsuki (Hook Punch) - Pinan Yodan - Suri ashi and Heisuko Dachi
Jodan Sato Uke and Gedan Barai - Pinan Godan - Kokutsu Dachi
Gedan Barai - Pinan Nidan - Zenkutsu Dachi
Application and use of the drill
From the shove to the chest or jab/grab to the face/grab we move 45 degrees to the outside of our opponent and using the right straight hand to parry and push the attackers arm to their own chest which breaks balance and upsets their structure, we maintain contact with the arm and move in and strike shuto uchi to the base of the skull with the left hand. When the left hand has hit we then use the same hand to maintain contact with the opponents left arm and pull the hand towards us as we apply right tsuki punch to the their face, we move into the Jodan Sato Uke/Gedan Barai to snap the elbow, suri ashi in behind the opponent to apply the mawashi tsuki for a choke, then Jodan Sato Uke and Gedan Barai to crank the neck and bar the arm across the chest, using the left hand (initial movement of gedan barai), secure a grip on whatever we can i.e ear, hair, item of clothing - we then turn 90 degrees behind us with our left leg and apply the takedown using the gedan barai and to finish off we stomp on the grounded opponent before fleeing.
Key Principles being taught within the drill
1. 45 degree angle - for me I always want to take this angle as it means my
weapons are pointing towards him but his weapons are facing away from me, good
self protection strategy for me.
2. Opposites – the high-low techniques used to pull and snap limps, when
talking about variations on a theme of the drill using high low motions to break
the balance of the attacker. Using opposite hips to develop power on your shots
3. No dead hands in the drills, the hands are always engaged.
4. The importance of the stance and how this helps within the drill and in a
self-protection scenario. However, the stance is just a snapshot in time, its
dynamic, moving and flowing from one to another.
Drilling it both sides
Go right through the drill up until the bit from Pinan Godan, once the neck crank and arm bar have been applied (not applying the takedown using gedan barai), we then shove off with the hands and the drill is repeated on the opposite side. To ingrain this and drill it we can do it to time e.g. 2-3 minutes sets working both sides, this can also be used as a functional warm-up at the beginning of a class.
Variations on the theme
Variation One – same drill applied until the mawashi uchi, instead of
a choke it can be a hook punch to the head using the other hand to set your
dataum/index.
Variation Two - same as above, however, using the other hand (non-striking hand)
to dig into the lower back/kidney area at 45 degrees to break balance whilst
at same time pulling in and upwards at 45 degree angle with the choke –
opposites principle and applying more pressure on the choke.
Variation Three – after the first tsuki punch, we use the other hand to
push the opponent off but still maintain the grip (maintaining advantage) and
go for the simple high line repeat and continue to do this as my self-protection
objective is to “switch them off at the mains”
Variation Four – if the opponent at this point covers their head from
the punches we can use the shuto to clear the obstacle to give me a direct line
to go back to my simple high-line repeat, showing adaptability of the shuto.
Variation Five – same as above but instead of using the shuto, we use
gedan barai to strip the covering hands down to leave the way free for my simple
high-line repeat.
So what does this drill teach us?
There are a few things that it teaches us:
1. Clearing obstructions i.e the hand coming at us and also if the hands are
brought up to protect their head we can use the shuto uchi and the gedan barai
to clear the limb/obstruction. Again, the obstruction might not be a limb but
a person, weapon etc (adaptability)
2. Defending against a HAPV
3. Breaking Balance (when discussing variations on a theme)
4. Taking the opponent down
5. Engaging opponent at a realistic combative range/distance
6. Flow from one technique to another, the transitioning of techniques.
7. Creating, maintain, and exploiting the advantage
8. Re-usability of the same technique (when discussing variations on a theme)
9. Simple repeats using my optimum shot (when discussing variations on a theme)
10. GLF (Go Like Fook ?) when the drill has been grasped and understood it can
then be reapplied in an un-compliant manner to develop the right intent, ferocity
to allow escape with constant offensive pressure. Kata-Based Sparring…
Players to the Game
What I mean with this, is what can we do to help add to the drill, make it more effective in a combative scenario. This involves applying more use of the hips to develop the optimum power on your shots. This involves using the hips and feet to get a plyometric stretch across the shoulder for the simple repeat variation or a plyometric stretch across the shoulder and engaging the lateral muscles to develop power on the shuto uchi.
Conclusion
Just by applying different templates from the Pinan Kata’s we can easily show that the katas themselves show depth, principles, and efficient means through which we can help protect ourselves in a civilian self protection environment. The drill was developed to record principles and concepts that I believe are extremely useful in this environment. It is important to point out that each constituent part of the drill can be taken out and drilled in its own right so that it becomes “programmed in” which can then enhance the drill when the totality is pieced together. If you are wanting to play with the drill so that you can work other avenues of training, after the gedan barai we can then follow this up with groundwork drills as the opponent is on the floor or you might get pulled down in a fight, an arm could be there for you to take. This could then lead into drills that we practice for positioning, locks etc around the body using techniques recorded within the Pinan katas, because, what can be applied in a vertical position can also be applied horizontally. However, it must be stressed that the priority of my self protection strategy is to get back to my feet as quickly and efficiently as possible so that I can run away.