Memories come flooding back as I think of those words.
When I was training with Charles Murray we spent a lot of time with hard body
sparring, Every class, almost any time of day. Of course from my perspective
that meant I was his striking bag. For he would pummel me over and over. I
don’t mean he injured me, much. Rather I experienced what it felt like, over
and over, to face someone way above my abilities. (And at that time he was way
above most other abilities too.)
So much so, I remember I was never able to strike him once when we sparred.
Yes, it was humbling. (Then on a later date I did strike him once, the stuff of
legend, and he promised I would never have the chance to do so again, And he
kept his word. LOL)
Finally he explained what he was doing, “Vic,” he said, “ just imagine you are
in the middle of an imaginary circle, with a 3 foot line around you. When
someone touches that line you decide 1) to explode over them, or 2) to move
back keeping your distance. The point is you are in charge of your actions, you
decide when you will attack, or you decide when you will move away keeping your
distance. The key, You decide, nor your opponent!)
Of course far easier to say than do, but it provides a template for controlling
yourself in confrontation.
Then at one of our earlier meetings John Kerker shared one of the last studies
Sherman Harrill was working on with him. A brilliant answer on how to attack
something coming in your direction. When I apply what Charles told me, with
that, well I suggest that is when things start to get interesting.
Of course that is not my story to explain, consider taking the time to attend
one of John’s clinics, and perhaps he will cover that.
My point being able to know what is unseeable and then learning how to use that
knowledge. Priceless.
A challenge for a lifetime!
No comments:
Post a Comment