Uechi-Ryu.com

Here's a thought as I was rolling along the mat with those high school wrestlers the other day. Why don't styles have legitimate finger techniqes? I know we all probably show our students that the fingers are a great place to grab; they bend and break so easily and can cause so much pain in the process, and yet, I haven't seen anything in anyone's curriculum. Have you?

From my teaching perspective, I teach people to get out of grabs and such through a sequence of options; the firs being the fingers. Why? Because they are usually the most accessible, the easiest to manipulate, and the easiest to break and stated above. Plus, they give me a control factor and some distance at the same time.

Moreover, I also teach the Kubitan on occasion, and the amount of pain that can be delivered to the fingers with the use of this short stick is awesome. Any comments?

mike

I agree with you 100% Mike.

I have preached about this for years with my students.

While sparring with my students, if I see that their fingers are not "together' and focused, I deliberately punch at their hands. It doesn't take much power to break one of their digits.

Shutos, urakens, and grabs to the fingers while sparring can be devistating to the person who pays no attention to the proper control of the fingers.

Bill Glasheen has a thread on his forum about a good finger technique that I was taught when I was a white belt.

It sure brings back some old memories and some drills that I had forgot.

The thumb grab is also an excellant manuver when executed properly.

Do you use finger and thumb grabs in jujitsu? I would assume that you would.

I also like to wrestle, but I have no regard for any rules. It makes a lot of sense to me when wrestling that you should strike anywhere were there is an open target.
Of course, striking is not in the rules of amature wrestling.

------------------
Len Testa

Mike, check out Small Circle, they are finger and wristlock specialists. Wally Jay and his students/successors have really got it down to a science.

I've incorporated much of it for DT's at work.

Rory

Rory,

Small Circle? Really? I'll have to take a better look. Thanks! I have a Wally Jay book on SC but I don't remember much in the way of these techniques, but I'll have to re-look.

mike

Check out the video clip site. There is a 7 minute video of Professor Wally Jay doing techniques by twisting this guy around by his fingers.

The video is in the "Masters And Other Styles" section. The 6th clip down (as of Jan 7, 2001)

Site is in the signature below.



------------------
VISIT:
Uechi-Ryu.Com Streaming Video & Audio
The Uechi-Ryu.Com Hotlist
Taking Charge - Cable TV & Video Martial Arts Show

Mike,
Theres a small circle school on the north shore in stoneham or woburn. The sensei there teaches seminars with Pantazi sensei. I went to one of these last year. He sells video tapes of small circle which he has made. I don't have them to recommend, but he is an excellent teacher and i'm sure the tapes are good. I've heard there is some Uechi guys on the north shore who go there.
f.

Mike,

What Fred said. Ed Melaugh (?spell) teaches Small Circle, aka "dancing with fingers," and has been at camp. I believe he has been designated by Wally Jay to assume leadership mantle after him.

david

Thanks guys,

I'll have to check out Ed next year at camp!

mike