Using Geometrics in Kung Fu San Soo

Hi All,
I never took geometry in school didn't have to in my day, but every time I went to kung fu class I was learning how to move on triangles, crosses and circles. Though I didn't realise it until years later. Kung Fu San Soo's techniques and and lot of other martial arts are based on moving on these geometric shapes. Done correctly you will most of the time outflank your opponent by moving your self to a more advantages position. You will be able to strike your opponent with him not being able to hit you because of your position. I've used these principles several time in real confrontations in the past when I was a little younger and not so wise. Some martial artists say stepping on angles does not work in a fight , they are wrong ! When combined with good timing and distance you definitely have the advantage. Paying attention to your surroundings always helps too. In Kung Fu San Soo we combine all of these into our fighting techniques. Here is a simple technique that illustrates moving on a 45 degree angle.

Opponent Throws a Straight Right Punch at Your Nose
You are at your safe distance (just out of reach) as your opponent steps and throws his punch, using the time that staying at your safe distance gives you . You step on a 45 degree angle with your left foot and block and grab your opponents right arm at the wrist with your right hand, turning your feet from left to right horse stance you bring your left arm over his right arm and switching your feet back to a left horse to generate power you do a left backhand strike to the throat or left back hammer fist to his nose. Your opponent cannot hit you because you are at his right side, he cannot punch or grab across himself with any power you have already hit him in the throat or broken his nose. This technique is very effective and takes about 3 to 5 seconds to do. So using timing, distance and a geometric shape (a triangle ) you have evaded, neutralized and disable your opponent. Give it a try, slowly !
If you want to learn more about using geometric shapes in fighting, Go get my book : The Use Of Lines,Angles and Circles In Hand to Hand Combat. HERE

Peace , Jerry

Master Dave Hopkins

Here is a video of my friend and instructor, Master Dave Hopkins , Great guy and instuctor !!

Kung Fu San Soo Freestyle

Hi ,
This is a friend of mine Phill doing a demostration work out at Dave Hopkins studio.
What is happening here is these two fighters are practicing their techniques, they don't know what the other person is going to throw at them. During a demo like this it's usally right punch , left punch for safety's sake.When in class a freestyle work out means you just throw whatever punch , kick you want at the other guy or girl.
After you have trained for a while your reflexs are so sharp it really doesn't matter what the other person does. Thats what a lot of people don't under stand about Kung Fu San Soo. You kinda have to be there !!

Master Bill Lasiter

Hi All,
This is a tribute video made by one of Bill's students.
I had the privilage of meeting and training with Bill a few times at Dave Hopkin's studio a few years back.Bill is one of San Soo's best.
Enjoy, Jerry

One of The Basics of Self Defense

Hi All,
I watched a couple of people having a little confrontation the other day, I noticed that they were all up into each others faces, getting almost chest to chest and just yelling. This is the last thing you want to do in a confrontation. So today we will talk about the first rule of self defense, Keeping Your Safe Distance !
What is your safe distance ? Your safe distance from anyone is just out of their reach. Enough distance between you and them , so if they want to hit or kick you, they have to take a step to do so. You never let anyone get close enough to touch you if you are in a hostile situation. I gauge this by taking the length of the other persons leg and then adding a few inches. You can easily eyeball this distance after a little practice. This distance gives you enough time to react and attack instead of defend. Give this drill a try, have a friend stand in front of you, try and judge the length of their leg and then have them bring their leg up as if to kick you . Can they reach you when their leg is fully extended ? If yes, you are too close to them. Back off a little and try again until they can't kick or punch you with out stepping forward. That is your 'safe' distance from them. If you have ever seen a mugger at work you will notice that they are usually talking to the other person and inching themselves closer and closer until they are in striking range,then it's a blast to the face or chin and the other person is down and robbed before regaining their senses. Remember this pattern of behavior. If you are approached by some street urchin and he is slowly but surely getting closer and closer, before he gets in your safe zone put your hands up and tell him to not come any closer, if he continues to come forward you can do the following.
Once he is in your safe zone and has ignored your warning, as he is stepping forward you step forward to the center of his body, keeping your hands up to block his arms and palm him on the nose hard with which ever is your strong side, this will push him back, now kick him in the groin with what ever foot is back. This should cause him to bend over or just fall over and puke. If he justs bends over grab is hair or head if he is bald with both of your hands drop on to one knee and push his face into the ground. Remember keeping your safe distance will keep you safe.
If you practice this be careful, it's easy to slip you don't want to mess up your partner.

Note to my friend Aron, Good to hear from you : drop me an email at jgid2001@yahoo.com

Peace, Jerry

Happy 4TH. Of July

Hi All, Hope you have a great 4th. of July, I'm posting this video as areminder to all Americans to not forget our heros in the armed services. While we are having a BBQ they are thousands of miles away from home doing their jobs. Raise a drink in their honor today I will be !!
Jerry

Martial Arts Conditioning

Hi All,
If any of you have ever been in a fight, you know you can get pretty tired very quickly. So if your going to practice self defense you need to get into at least decent shape. You don't need to run 5 miles a day and a 1000 push ups. You can do a few exercises a day and get into good enough shape to hold your own in a fight. Here is what I do to stay fighting fit.

Jump rope for 3 to 5 minutes.
On the 80 lb. heavy bag, Imagine it's some one your own height.
Do 20 high, medium, low punch combination, say you start with the right side, so you straight right punch first at face level on the bag. Then you left cross punch at solar plexus height (middle of the bag), then a right round house punch at rib height. Do this twenty times 1,2,3, 1,2,3, get the idea ? on both sides.
Then 20 front kicks both sides, 20 side kicks both sides, 20 round house kicks both sides
Using the heavy bag helps you learn to generate power into your punches and kicks. Next You can do some forms if you know some. I have 3 forms I do 3 times each. Finish up with stretches and 20 push ups. This little workout takes about 30 minutes.
I do it every other day and isometric exercises on the days in between, so you don't have to do a lot just have to be consistent. If your interested in Isometric exercise you can get to some books on my other post on Isometric exercise.

Give this a try , Have fun

Peace ! Jerry