THE 3 GEMS OF COMBAT; PART TWO TIMING

 by Phillip Starr

Timing is the second of the “Three Jewels” of combat (Distance, Timing, and Rhythm). I define timing as the moment during a given movement when the technique is executed. That is,

• Does your technique occur AFTER the movement is completed?

• Does your technique occur AT THE SAME INSTANT that the movement is complete?

• Does your technique occur BEFORE the movement is completed?

  

There is no right or wrong answer... The first form of timing is for beginners who are still learning to move and punch. First, they must step properly into a solid stance, then they must ensure that they execute their technique correctly.

Once the above timing is learned, we learn to step and strike simultaneously. And that's where most martial arts practitioners stop their timing development. This is, after all, essentially what is done in all the forms (kata), right? Yes...but there's more and it's often IMPLIED in certain forms.

Firing off a full-throttle technique before the step is completed is an advanced method.

Like Distance, we divide Timing into 3 categories. First Timing (aka. “body timing”) is YOUR timing; that is, at what point during your movement do you execute your technique?

Second Timing is the OPPONENT'S timing; at what point during his movement does he execute his technique? This requires training with a partner before it can be determined.

The third timing is called Interval and it is said that whoever controls the intervals usually wins the fight. If we liken 1^st Distance to a melody played on a musical instrument, and 2^nd Distance to a melody played on another instrument, Interval is what happens when they both play at the same time...a third, different melody (which is a blend of the first two) is created.

The above analogy is probably difficult for you to imagine (that is, how does this apply to fighting?). So let me use another example...a professional boxing match. Watch such a bout when you get the chance. But don't bother with watching the punches; notice how one of the fighters seems to “take control” of (the timing of) the contest. I assure you, one of them will. And he'll likely be the victor. He seems to gradually get this opponent to move just how and where he wants him and he takes full advantage of this.

Some of the best fighters have learned to do this to some degree. The renowned full-contact fighter, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, is one such fighter. I first met Bill back in the 70's on the point-fighting circuit. In a few years, he learned how to “read” his opponent and take control of the interval within only a few seconds! And THAT is what made him so effective. Yes, he had/has extremely fast kicks...but if his distance or timing was off, he wouldn't hit anything! He learned to control the interval and “place” his opponent right where he wanted him and even how to “manipulate” him into firing off a technique(s) or make a particular movement so that Bill could take advantage of it.

This concept is known as “seme” in Japanese, which means (roughly) “attack.” It is most often heard in the practice of kendo. Seme doesn't necessarily refer to an actual physical attack; it can also imply an attack against the opponent's spirit or qi (“ki” in Japanese). Few people ever master this peculiar skill...

Years ago, one of my former students took up kendo and iaido. At one national event, she was approached by an elderly Japanese teacher who had taken a liking to her. A hachidan (8^th dan, the highest rank in kendo), he asked if they might “keiko” (practice sparring. Of course, she enthusiastically agreed. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare! When they squared off wit their shinai (split bamboo swords) the older man stood stock still in the position of chudan kamae (middle level fighting posture). Now normally, my former student is a very aggressive fighter. Very. Aggressive. And fearless (but not stupid). As she faced her opponent, she felt as if there was almost a “force field” between them. She WANTED to attack but her body simply wouldn't comply. The older gentleman had “taken the center” and she was completely at his mercy.

Sensei Akira Hino (a martial arts genius who I met in Japan in 2016 and who I regard as a mentor), mentions this in a story... in the late 180's in Japan, one of the best swordsmen was Shirai Toru. As a boy, he was extraordinarily strong and at the age of eight, he took up the study of Kijin-ryu Kempo. At fifteen, he began training in Nakanishi Itto-ryu (a school of swordsmanship). He practiced every day and even at night, swinging a heavy wooden sword and shreiking as he delivered blow after blow. As a young adult, he went on a journey to further develop his skills. When he returned to Edo (now Tokyo), he called on the senior of his school, Terada Muneari sensei. Shirai was then 28 years of age and Terada was 63.

Shirai wondered if martial arts was only for the young or if he had been training properly. Most swordsmen, he noted, begin to decline after the age of 40 or so. Was he a fool who had wasted so much time? He determined to find out. When he met Terada, he reasoned that he couldn't possibly be as good as he once was and he asked if his senior would teach him. Terada calmly agreed and they took up fighting poses...Shirai was excited about the prospect of defeating this man, who he admired. He described what happened next...

“I wanted to hit his upper torso with my best technique but I could not move; Terada sensei was calmly waiting, holding up his sword in stillness. It felt as if his sword was enclosing my whole body. His spirit was go great that my body shrank and sweat kept running down. I felt as if I was in a dream, not knowing what to do with my arms or legs.” Shirai threw down his bokken (wooden sword), kneeled, and put his forehead to the ground. He asked if Terada would accept him as a pupil...”

With lots of practice, you'll come to understand that Distance and Time (timing) are ACTUALLY THE SAME THING. Like space-time. But don't concern yourself with that now. Just practice. A lot.