a straight blast from wing chun, a double-leg takedown
from wrestling, a punching sequence from boxing, a
barrage of kicks from taekwondo or a combination of
all of the above. The purpose is to put your adversary
in the “wounded-crane posture,” which has him flailing
his arms, trying to cover and moving backward. At this
point, he will have no base and no balance, and he won’t
be able to mount an effective response.
When you’re at a longer range, you need to stay loose
and relaxed — to “float like a butterfly and sting like a
bee,” as Muhammad Ali taught us. But as soon as you
inflict a moment of pain or create a moment of weakness,
you have to activate your killer instinct and move in like
Mike Tyson. This is the rally.
The rally stage is also the most dangerous stage.
Whenever you go for the kill, you too can be killed. The
rally takes place in the overlapping ranges of boxing,
trapping and wrestling. A move from any one of those
ranges can counter a move from the others, and every-
thing can happen in a flash. So, along with the attribute
of killer instinct, you have to develop your sensitivity. In
other words, you have to be able to feel what your oppo-
nent may do before he actually does it.
For that reason, your perception and/or tactile awareness
must be razor sharp. You can’t just blindly rage forward.
You must be aware of your opponent and able to feel what
he’s about to do — and then instantly counter him. This
is why sensitivity drills like chi sao,muay Thai clinching,
pummeling and close-quarters boxing are used so often to
develop the requisite reflexes and reactions.Endgame
In the follow-up/finish stage, you’re out to end the alter-
cation. Your opponent is likely hurt, moving backward,
and flailing and covering. Here, three levels of force need
to be considered when selecting the appropriate tactics.- Level one: The person is no longer a threat, which
means you can apply a lock or joint manipulation. - Level two: The person is still strong and very much
in the fight. You need to restart the process described
above and take another shot in an attempt to break him
down and wear him out. - Level three: You’re in a life-or-death situation. Maybe
you’re facing multiple opponents. Maybe you’re pro-
tecting your family. Maybe you’re a soldier in enemy
territory. You need to escalate the level of violence so
you can immediately eradicate the threat. Quickly trap
and clinch, then shift to the heavy artillery: head butts
to the face, knees to the groin, elbows to the temples,
gouges to the eyes and so on.
It’s essential to have the presence of mind to initiate a
cease-fire once the threat has been neutralized. If you’re
blinded by rage, it’s easy to make mistakes. If you stop
the threat and keep going, you might cause irreversible
damage or death — and you’ll likely end up behind bars.
This is why the dual cultivation of perception and com-
passion is mandatory.
Parting Thoughts
Knowing who you are; mastering your mind, body, tools
and strategies; and developing your perception are the
keys to becoming a complete martial artist — and a com-
plete human being. Only when you are in discomfort
do you find out who you truly are. That is when you are
forced to confront your fears, to make yourself comfort-
able in uncomfortable situations. It’s when you learn to
thrive in chaos.
Clearly, the way of the warrior is about more than violence.
As I said, it’s a lifelong voyage of self-discovery. There’s no
limit to what you can do and what you can achieve.
Discover the cause of your ignorance, let go of the past,
adapt to situations and circumstances, and learn to hon-
estly express yourself. As a martial artist, you know there
is no easy way, no quick fix, no certification, no title, no
rank and no lineage that can save you. Only you can save
yourself. Things don’t happen to you; you make things
happen through you.Harinder Singh Sabharwal teaches jeet kune do, wing
chun, tai chi, savate, kali serrada, boxing, wrestling and
Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He’s the founder of the Jeet Kune
Do Athletic Association. For more information, visit
SifuSingh.com.54 BLACKBELTMAG.COM § AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019