NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/martial/14738

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-23 | 2.5 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!ames!data.nas.nasa.gov!taligent!apple!mikel
From: [e-mail] (Mikel Evins)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re:  Aikido, jujutsu, aiko-jutsu, etc...
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Nov 92 18:39:24 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 37

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (wharfie) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mikel Evins) writes:
>>and in sparring to see people attmpting [...] flying scissors, leg-locks,
>>standing knee-locks, [...] dives, and so on.
>
>    How do you practice these techniques safely?

It depends on what kind of practice you are talking about.
Take the flying scissors as an example. In the down and ground
class we begin by showing students how to slowly maneuver into
position to apply the scissors (it turns out that, in terms
of physics, this is actually quite a bit more difficult than
just hurling yourself into the technique, but it's a lot
easier psychologically). They start out supporting the scissors
on a willing opponent with both hands on the ground. The
person receiving the technique is learning how to fall in the
technique while acting as the attacker's crash dummy. We gradually
work our way up to applying the scissors by jamming the opponent's
guard as we jump into position. The worst injury I've seen
so far in this practice is a very slight bruise on an attacker's hip,
and a slight bruise on a 'crash dummy's' (padded) elbow.

Later in one-on-one waza-style practice, students will more-or-less
reproduce this approach. In free-sparring we keep a correlation between
the student's advancement and the intensity of sparring. Beginners
start out sparring, but at half speed or less, and the only allowed
contact is for foot sweeps, grabs, and deflections. As students
advance, they begin to try more of these techniques, their
skill and coordination improves, and they are working with
people who are better at defending and at falling.

The worst injuries I've ever heard of in the system were a dislocated
shoulder from a trapped punch, a foot sweep that landed
its receiver on his head, and a broken leg when a large, strong
student tried to stop a smaller, but more experienced student's
sweep. I can't think of any other serious injuries at all in
all the time since 1981 that I've been associated with the system.
Much more common are jammed toes and fingers.