Some Tips on Feinting

Feinting is a delicate balance of physical and psychological deception. It takes a good amount of practice to master. Being able to portray many different “faces” in combat gives you an added edge.


Sequence of Feinting
1. Give a false movement
2. Make the opponent react
3. Take advantage of his reaction


Types of feints
1. False movement
2. Eye direction
3. Slow down
4. Change of speed
5. Psychological

Set-ups

Setting-up is often confused with drawing or feinting. While drawing and feinting lure the opponent into your trap, a set-up uses the opponent’s strength, habit or preconceived thought against him. The best way to understand a set-up is to look at some examples.

Example 1
Attack the opponent continuously with a straight punch to the face. He will raise his guard to block, expecting that the punches are your only strategy. When he becomes comfortable with his defense, attack with a hook kick to the leg. Make him create a habit, based on your habit. When you break your habit, he will be unprepared to respond.

Example 2
Attack with kicking combinations and give your opponent time to adjust to your kicking style. When he feels confident handling your kicks, rush in and throw him to the ground. Your unexpected change of tactics will catch him off guard.


Example 3
If you know the opponent well, you will not have to spend time to create a habit or psychological pattern as in the first two examples. For example, if you know he likes to counter with his right hook kick, give him a short right hook kick to the body. While he is countering with his favorite technique, follow up with a back kick to the groin. This will make him hesitate to use his best skill again soon.

Combat Range

Simply put, combat range is the distance between you and your opponent. This is, however, a broad definition and can be interpreted in many ways. To apply combat range to the science of strategy, you will need a more specific working definition. Combat range has to be thought of in two dimensions: real distance and relative distance. First practice real distance skills and when you understand them, look at the implications of relative distance.

Change of Tactics

Change of tactics states that if conventional tactics work, use them and if not abandon them for what works. Use every available option until you succeed. There are situations where even the mastery of conventional tactics is not enough to save you.

If you try striking and it fails, change to grabbing or throwing. If that doesn’t work, try locking or immobilization. If that doesn’t work, go back to striking. Often a combination of different attacks and tactics can extricate you where a single type of attack cannot. Consequently, Junsado emphasizes a diverse array of simple, practical skills that can be combined to defeat any style of opponent.

Often, empty hand striking alone will not be strong enough to defeat your opponent. When you find yourself in this situation, search out and use common environmental weapons. The list of possible environmental weapons is limited only by your creativity. Use whatever is necessary and works for you.

Using Circular Movement to Destroy the Opponent's Balance

Circular movement is excellent for destroying the opponent’s balance. Circular movements create two opposing but complementary forces that follow each other on the circumference of the circle. Examples include hip throws,
shoulder throws and rear hook takedowns. The theory of the circle applies to many different movements. The primary circles found in combat are:

1. The circle created by you and your opponent moving together.
2. The circle created by one person moving independently of the other.
3. The circle created by the movement of individual body parts.
4. The circle created by the force of one or a series of movements/blows.
5. The circle created by one person’s manipulation of the other.

Circular motion has the added advantage of centripetal force. When you move your arms and legs in circular kicking or striking motions, you become the center of the circle and the force of your blows is increased by the circular force generated. When you execute a throw, your body becomes the center of the circle and initiates the force of the throw. The weight of the opponent increases the force, which culminates in the impact with the ground.

Timing in the Fighting Arts

Timing is the ability to control the speed of your attack so it reaches its maximum efficiency at the proper moment. Timing is a combination of speed, accuracy and reflexes. To achieve proper timing, you must synchronize the various parts of your body to fit the speed of the movement being executed.

There are two types of timing: action timing and reaction timing. Action timing means selecting the right action at the right time. Simply put, find an opening and take advantage of it. Action timing is used for initiative attacks
against a neutral or defensive opponent.

Reaction timing is assessing your opponent’s offensive movements and selecting a proper response. It is commonly used in counterattacking. Reaction timing is always in response to an attack by the opponent and is more difficult to establish than action timing.

Both types of timing require good perception and judgment, accurate muscular response and correct performance of the intended movement. The body and brain must be synchronized to assess the current situation, select a proper response and execute the response in the time allowed.

Long Range Fighting Tactics

The long range is the distance at which either combatant can strike with their longest attacking implement usually by kicking, by striking, or cutting with a weapon.

Advantages


Long range is ideal for kicking or for using a long weapon such as the stick or sword. In long range combat, you can protect your vital organs and still strike the opponent in a split second. Long range strikes are good for applying maximum force in every strike because you have enough space to create acceleration force with long, powerful weapons.

Disadvantages


The long range and neutral range have similar disadvantages due to the amount of time a long strike takes to reach its target. It is both slower and more difficult to conceal than a short attack. Long attacks also leave you vulnerable immediately after the attack because you must sacrifice some space and time to execute a long range strike properly. Give special attention to maintaining your guard between long range attacks.

How to attack


Long range combat is well suited to linear and thrusting attacks. Take advantage of the time gap between your attack and your opponent’s response by following up every attack with another. Make maximum use of footwork to cover and close the distance.

Tactics


Study your opponent’s speed and habits. Understand his style so you can adjust your timing accordingly. Use both regular and irregular rhythms to confuse your opponent and draw him into your attack. Attack decisively and follow-up every attack with compound combinations.