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More Class Notes – October 16, 2012

Notes on Pamana Tuhon’s visit from David D. …

Kali Footwork Strategy: introduction and overview

Strategic Angles: their purpose.
The concept behind Sayoc Kali footwork is based on Newton’s Third Law (Brightstorm, 2012). The law of motion tells us that walking is controlled falling. In other words, when we walk our brain tells the legs to function as a tripod which keep us from falling; thus we regain our uprightness. We combine edge weapon technology with this law in order to gain a strategic advantage over the receiver. For instance, we in essence are the third leg of the tripod. Our objective is to cut off the receiver’s footwork mobility and exploit vulnerabilities in the receiver’s balance, forcing the receiver to become unstable when we perform a leg sweep. Our footwork, thus becomes the receiver’s compensation step.

What should I understand about footwork?
The purpose of Sayoc Kali footwork is to help the feeder devise strategies for better decision making for target acquisition. The nature of footwork strategies serves a multi-purpose function: (a) they help the feeder to become increasingly skillful at interpreting, manipulating, and anticipating the compensating movements of the receiver, (b) they assist how we should take into account the receiver from various angels (45 and 90 degrees) of attacks, (c) they serve as a reference to the receiver’s positioning/structuring so that their balance is compromised when their legs are swept, and (d) they assist the feeder in the completion of positioning/structuring so that his/her balance is uncompromised when sweeping the legs, and trapping the feet.

How can I apply footwork?
We should strive to recognize the receiver’s stance in relation to the 45 degree angles of the male and female triangle. The 45 degree angle serves as reference points for destabilizing the receiver.

Manipulating the receiver’s stance along the angles creates opportunities and threatens the receiver’s ability to counter the attack. For instance, have the receiver stand with feet shoulder width apart in the scare crow stance. Envision that an imaginary easel is placed behind him. Stand behind the receiver as the imaginary third leg of the easel. Lean receiver backwards until the receiver eventually compensate to regain balance, of course, we need to support the receiver to avoid a falling accidence.

Tuhon gave us drills to practice rear leg sweeps. His activities helped me understand the importance of staying low to the ground. For instance, he had us take sliding step backwards as we hip checked one of the receiver’s leg and drag it along the 45 degree angle to off balance our partner’s stance. Another activity, we practiced parrying the jab, cross, and low line round house kick. With the low line round house kick, we would place it on the triangle and then perform a sweep to a groin kick and then sweep the opposite leg.

How does footwork fit in with what I already know?
Footwork of this drill should be performed in some semblance of the offensive/defensive footwork drills, such as 3 of 9 and TD’s. They should be integrated as a natural part of walking. For instance, as we apply forward pressure on top while clearing for entries and breaking the receiver’s plan of balance, we should have the awareness to know the location of the receiver’s forward foot for executing a foot trap or just a slight nudge to create an opening without looking down. Ways in which a feeder can evolve and develop an awareness strategy is simple, play with the concepts of the angles. Once we understand the concepts then we will know how to create. Moreover, we should discover and explore what works and why.

Reference:
Brightstorm. (2012). Law of Action and Reaction – Newton’s Third Law of Motion. Retrieved from http://www.brightstorm.com/science/physics/newtons-laws-of-motion/law-of-action-and-reaction-newtons-third-law-of-motion/

mdkali

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