very interesting!!!

[Stryke]

Hulk Smash !!!!!

[Bill Glasheen]

my preference is to concentrate more on the yeild and be softer and more fluid , but hard is good too at times , but I`d rather program the feel . I refer to this as the outside position .

to uechify it is simple , take arm rubbing and the sanchin thrust , but dont do it force on force or just shearing , when one pushes the other yeilds and vice versa , Sanchin mechanics , and exactly pushands , closer to tai-chi flavour the way I focus it . Once you`ve done it it fits so well hard to think it wasnt ever in there .

There's a technique in every Uechi kata that works well in this venue.

When you're getting resistance from the outside of the arm in an extended arm contact (like a hard block), collapsing with the elbow while charging in works really well. No matter what side of their body it was, there's a position of advantage to be had. One such idea comes from Sil lim tao (little idea). Go figure...

The "elbow" in Uechi has countless uses. I hate it when people call it a strike. It's just an elbow thingie. All kinds of things can be done with it.



It's just a circle.

It's just an arm extension.

- Bill

[jorvik]

Quote
"to uechify it is simple , take arm rubbing and the sanchin thrust , but dont do it force on force or just shearing , when one pushes the other yeilds and vice versa , Sanchin mechanics , and exactly pushands , closer to tai-chi flavour the way I focus it . Once you`ve done it it fits so well hard to think it wasnt ever in there ."

I also think that you can use the wa-uke here, and the fish tail blocks..or something close to them. When I last did uechi I sparred with a guy and when we had right arms against each others, I turned my arm over and gripped his arm with my hand and pulled it down to punch his face with my left fist when he blocked this I did the same, without letting go of the other hand .so that he was tied up .........when we got in that situation again he pushed hard on my right arm to stop me doing that.so I just pulled it downhard, and him as wlel........also I found that the position I was in sort of dictated what I could do ( all from Sanchin though). Some folks always go in face on but you can try and "turn his corner" and come in from the side.......I think also you can aggressively predict what he will do .like this guy

http://www.tairabunkai.com/

When I did Aikido ( and this is not usually shown ) we would backfist somebody in the face to get them to block so that we could get into Ikkyo position...this worked against a shuto/shomen-uchi as well.....and though I was never taught any variations on these it is a relatively short step to haveing all the Aikido throws fit around either strike
so really there is no shortage of material even starting with relatively few moves

[JimHawkins]

When you're getting resistance from the outside of the arm in an extended arm contact (like a hard block), collapsing with the elbow while charging in works really well. No matter what side of their body it was, there's a position of advantage to be had. One such idea comes from Sil lim tao (little idea). Go figure...

That's definitely an interpretation... The little idea as I would explain it would be a bit different.. As for the elbow, the elbow is immovable but not intended to be used with force against force.. Rather the idea is to adapt to their force which leaves the line.. If they move you out they move themselves out, the trick is to not try to force position and rather take the path of no resistance.. This is where the circles (extremely small) come into play in the system.. We don't fight for position we use their energy and position--we "run away" from great force (jao).. Otherwise little folks like Ip would never have been able to control his much larger and stronger students.

[Stryke]

IMO, Uechi is a system that does well at ALL ranges. It is thought of as a "close combat" range system because it has a plethora of tools to use in the "bad breath range" where other styles do not. However, look at Kanchin and Sanseiryu. In those forms, you are scooting across the floor like a waterbug. The kata are supposed to be done covering as much distance as you possibly can muster through youth and/or athleticism and/or an internalized understanding of body mechanics. It's the best form we have for dealing with someone who has a weapon. And that generally starts from a distance.

In some ways though you are correct, Laird. The formal style lacks the in-close partner exercises. Why do you think I spent time looking at WCK tapes?

And yes - the benefits of MOST sport sparring formats are at a distance. That's why this should not be the only jiyu work done in a dojo.