Some thoughts on Ghost Techniques

Yes it is the Halloween season. This time I'm listing some of our Ghost Technique practices.

What you’re using is the attacker’s awareness against themselves. They ‘know’ where you are and attack that point of space, so don’t be there. Often that awareness can be used against them.

When done with speed and fluidity you disappear from their awareness.

Basic Ghost Techniques

Attacker Right Foot Forward With A Right Strike

1. Shift back and not be there.

The same principle is found in Tai Chi applications where you retreat, leaving a void, and opponent then enters the area.

1. Step to the left, slipping the punch, and now be there.

1. Step to the left, slipping the punch, then step to the right and walk away.

1. Step to the left, slipping the punch, then step to the right, behind them, then walk away.

More advanced Ghost Techniques
Attacker Right Foot Forward With A Right Strike

1. Step to the left, slipping the punch, then step to the right, behind them, then turn to the left to face the attacker’s back. Push them.
1. Step to the right, slipping the punch, then walk away.

1. Step to the right, slipping the punch, then turn left to your opponent’s back and moonwalk away from them.

There are other more advanced versions using sweeps to attack their base.

I can explain a similar function from Isshinryu's kata Chinto. Where after the hammerfist you step out into a horse stance and then your right foot and steps back.

Consider the attacker is lunging at you with his right hand and right foot…

1.You turn so your front is parallel to his arm as you step out (remaining parallel) with your right foot into a high horse stance.
2.This caused the attacker to miss you, and as his body weight is flowing forward not having intercepted you to absorb his momentum, instead you
3.Turn your body to the right, so your chest is facing the same direction the attacker is punching
4.Finally you take your right foot and step back behind your left so your in a Left Foot Forward cross over stance.

Other examples are found in Hiroaki Sato's magnificent book "The Sword & the Mind", where he translates and comments on "The Heiho Kaiden Sho (Family Transmitted Book on Swordsmanship)" from the 1500's and the 1600's of Japan.

There in there is a section of scrolls titled "The Goblin's Selection: Eight in All". Page 43. Taking one "Tehiki (also know as Eiibo): Entrapment "When parrying appears to be leading nowhere, feign sudden withdrawal by lowering your fists. The moment the opponent takes the bait and strikes at your fists, quickly reverse the positions of your feet, forward and backward, jerk your fists to the right to dodge the coming blow, and strike to his fists."

Yep sounds like a Ghost technique to me.

Year’s ago in Rhode Island I saw a young (late 20's which is young to me) Shorin Ryu Dan challenge Mr. Sherman Harrill that he had to teach sparring if his students would learn to defend himself. Mr. Harrill responded he did no free sparring, but his students did learn to defend themselves from natural stance, arms hanging at their sides, with attackers who could come at them with anything.

He asked the Shorin Ryu Dan to throw a punch at him. The may drove a strong lunge punch towards Mr. Harrill, who simply turned to his left and drove is right forearm down on an arc through the attackers arm.

It hit with a crack and the immediate response was the attackers arm dropped…

Yep seemed like another Ghost to me.

Being able to evade an attacker is an important part of our art.