“It’s strange that the tactile sense, which is so infinitely less precious to men than sight,
becomes at critical moments our main, if not only, handle to reality.”
Vladimir Nabokov
Many of you will have noticed the ‘bumpons’ (self-adhesive raised markers) Natalie attaches to the Tai Chi fans. These are not just for aesthetically pleasing reasons they actually serve a martially practical purpose.
Many weapons, such as sabres or knives (and their corresponding sheaths), are more or less symmetrical which can make orientating them correctly rather difficult especially in low light or high stress situations.
It is all too easy to have an edge facing opposite from where you thought it was, for example:
1/ I have a straight sabre which is remarkably simple to mistakenly edge-drag out of the scabbards throat.
2/ There are field reports from WW2 which mention commandos using daggers with ‘coke bottle’ style handles trying to slice with the flat of the blade.
3/ Single edged balisong being spun open and escrimadors trying to cut with the back of the blade.
These things aren’t just a question of complacency, of people taking their tools for granted, disorientation can happen to the most professional of people especially when combat stress is shredding your fine motor skills.
So since ancient times warriors the world over have learned to mark their weapons or take advantage of inbuilt design features to solve this.
Inbuilt handle features for a set grip could be things like ring guards (hammer grip), sub-hilts (modified fencer grip), thumb-ramps (Filipino grip), thumb-slots (pronated), thumb divots (pikal grip), finger-stalls (hammer grip), jimping, checkering, and in the case of balisongs the addition of a single handle latch for edge up/down orientation. All of these allow for correct edge alignment.
If a handle is cylindrical ‘flats’ can be filed or ground in line with the blades spine giving
instant tactile feedback.
If a handle is neutral (which does provide you with a greater variety of grip choices) its haptics can be enhanced with an index point in the form of a locator dot / stud (or studs in the form of a Braille type pattern as can be found on old Scottish Dirks or American Bowie Knives) as a tactile coefficient which allows for correct orientation with or without the use of eyes. Sometimes this index point is cleverly disguised as ornamentation such as Japanese menuki sword fittings.
Bringing us to the Tai Chi fans. Now be they right or left handed models all fans open mechanically in one direction only (though you can achieve this in many ways), to apply techniques such as distractions and eyeball slicing you have to have them the right way around or otherwise they open up about an inch and then jam on you, and with the forces generated by fajing flicks often something breaks especially if it has the throw weight of a steel vaned tessen.
It can be hard to tell which way a fan is facing as you hold it so the addition of an index point be it visual, tactile or both makes for fool proof orientation.
It’s a little thing but in life or death encounters every little thing to your advantage helps increase the odds in your favour.
Learn how to read your weapon, know your tools aspects – every one of them has some form of combative use, not always obvious but there nonetheless.
Soft Skills :
Most people know how to touch. We touch objects every day, and yet many do not truly feel them. It’s all so commonplace that we tend to forget that we are actually feeling while we touch.
To enhance tactile sensory perception to go with your index point (which we also need for push hands skills) I’ve found this subtle exercise very rewarding.
1/ Methodically rub and massage your hands and fingers, ideally with light hand lotion. Do this for a few minutes. Once the lotion is absorbed loosely shake your hands/fingers so they become sung and very gently pull each finger to relax the joints.
2/ Now take a single grain of sugar, place it on your forefinger and roll it around with your thumb, then transfer it to other fingers and the palm. Really try to feel the shape and texture of the sugar give it all your attention, it’s amazing how clearly defined it feels, there is almost a sensation that the tiny grain is much bigger than it really is. No need to rush, take your time with this and give it a few minutes. Stay sung and try to keep the fingers, hands, forearms, shoulders and chest relaxed.
By bringing focus to the nerves the fingers become far more sensitive. After a few weeks of regular practice you will even be able to feel the smallest sensation vibrate through your bones.
3/ Take this practice out into the everyday world. Daily practice feeling objects of wood, metal etc. Play with the feel of mechanical vibrations from the TV or fridge. Try to sense the world around you as a source of information. This will open up a whole new vista of sensory experience.
The Writings On The Floor :
Taking this tactile concept further. In an emergency urban situation where for instance you lost your sight do you understand how to make use of tactile paving to its full effect? It’s not just a warning system beneath your feet it provides direction flow as well. Employed as personal bodyguards and security escorts martial artists have always made full use of the
immediate environment in all its aspects.
A quick UK overview :
An in depth overview :
Blessings
Mathew
Yorumlar