Using My Head

We definitely need to work on new student’s control. Good guy but very strong and very fast. Last night we closed class with our “circle game”. The key that we need to reemphasize is that when in the circle and being attacked we try to be safely realistic.

I think part of it has to do with my rank and background in other arts. When new student goes against me his “pucker factor” seems to go up. This translates into me usually getting blasted because he does not trust my control.

Well when it was my turn to attack him I thought I’d put him in the lateral vascular neck restraint. It’s essentially a form of a standing side headlock.

Perusing the internet I now see that some law enforcement and prison agencies are starting to ban this one. Anyhow, back in the day which was when ol’ Bob was almost 15 younger and not sitting at a desk all day, I used this a half dozen times to regain control of inmates. The only problem I ever had with it was not cinching it in good which usually meant they could shake free. I was never thrown…

Last night new student did something from the total power bag of tricks. He rotated and threw me over his side. In fact, it happened so damn fast I’m still not quite sure how he threw me though I do know he was able to use his hip as the pivot point. The bad news is I hit the back of my head on the hard wooden floor.

I’m thinking level one concussion here. I was definitely stunned and although I immediately staggered back up (training kicking in) he could have took me out were this real. In the last three years I’ve taken some good shots to the head from a kick but I’ve always had head gear on. This one was as bad as the ones from my bygone and lack-luster foray into boxing some 10 or so years back.

We are talking major suck.

I kept it together until we ended the beginner’s class. After they had gone I had to take a five minute knee. Somehow I muddled through the boxing and kung-fu cross training that I’m doing with my instructor. However, I did not participate in the drills other than feeding techniques. It literally felt like I was talking and teaching with my head in a block of jello after that one.

This guy is one of those students you just know can be good in several arts. I hate to call him a “natural” but he does have natural talent. He’s taken our advice and is obviously stretching outside of class. This in turn means his kicking is getting better each week and fast.

He commented last night that when he “wrestled” with his brothers they did not know how to tap out. We obviously need to work on that. Otherwise I may not make it to the cho dan confirmation in May.

When something does not work, I lose a match, etc., I like to make the event a learning moment. So what did I learn?

• If I ever have to use this hold for real I need to go 100% and maintain a good center of gravity; I was at about 70% because I did not want to knock him out.
• Make sure your partner understands the rules of engagement.
• We probably need to create some rules for free-style throwing on that wooden floor. Where it a nice padded dojang floor it would have not sucked as much. Since we do have some sweeps, throws, and take-downs we need to re-state control in relation to the surface. Last week in one-steps new student slammed his partner hard in a wrist lock take down.
• News student’s goal for next gup test is control.

Oh and yes, my head hurts.

~BCP