THREE-STEP FIGHT IS WHAT??? Pt. II

 by Phillip Starr

As I mentioned in the previous article on this subject, it is critical that the Attacker have the actual intention of striking the Receiver forcefully. The “why” of this is important.

All attacks begin in the mind and brain. They go something like this:

*The aggressor decides that wants to strike and hurt you.

*Before the phjysical attack ensues, he must necessarily determine just how he wants to strike you (what technique to use, even if it's just a street punch).

*He must also decide where he plans to hit you...in the groin? In the jaw? Where? Is he going to grab you first? Exactly where will he grab you?

*Once all of these things have been determined, the brain must fire the signals to the various nerves and to the muscles that will be involved in the attack. It is here that the enemy is weakest.

*Once the signals reach the muscles, the physical attack ensues.

Now, we know that the brain sends out electrical signals/impules (hence, the EEG), Kind of like a radio. And any device that sends signals can also be converted so that it can detect signals from another device.

When your partner attacks with strong yi, you unconsciously learn to detect it – the signals that are sent to his nerved and muscles to initiate the physical attack. If he doesn't have the INTENTION of striking you forcefully, you won't pick up anything at all because there is no real attack.

In the final stage of training in Three-Step, you face your partner and when you “feel” the signals (we say “when his mind moves”), you must ATTACK HIM FIRST, unhesitatingly. You must have no regard for your personal safety and survival because if you do, a part of your yi and energy (qi) is held back, slowing your response. That can have disastrous consequences. You must attack at the instant you feel his mind move- but control your counter-attack so that it doesn't actually strike him.

Again, training for this is thoroughly outlined in my book, MARTIAL MANEUVERS.

Once you get the hang of Three-Step and have practiced it for some time, you begin by learning how to “break the opponent's timing” by hitting in a half-beat (between his attacks). This is the Broken Rhythm, which must be learned and mastered first.

Then you can move to learning to strike the opponent at the exact time his strike would have hit you (Mutual Rhythm). This necessarily requires that you either block and strike at the same time, or evade the attack and strike the opponent at the same time that he strikes at you.

When the Mutual Rhythm is mastered, you may begin training to learn the Preceding Rhythm, striking the opponent as he prepares to deliver his first attack - when his “mind moves” and he is just initiating the attack. In actual combat, the enemy is helpless at this point because in order to defend himself, he must:

*Negate the previsouly sent signals that are in use for delivering his attack, which is about to fail...

*Perceive you incoming blow and estimate its ETA (when it will strike him)...

*Determine where your counter-attack is directed.

*Determine what defensive techniques or maneuvers can be used against it.

*Then his brain must send out the required signals to the nerves and muscles involved...

And all of this takes much too long. He's in an “attack mode/” To change that over and go into a “defense mode” takes too long and he is struck! There's nothing he can do. He's helpless.

To master this will require patience, LOTS of practice, and TIME. You're not going to fully “get it” in a week or a month. Don't worry about how long it'll take. Just practice. A lot.