| The Art of the Feint The Importance of Broken Rhythm By Java Bomani Here’s a shocker… Bruce Lee was right. Much of winning in combat relies on speed, power and broken rhythm. We’ve all seen Martial Artist that have trained so diligently and doggedly, they seem to defy all known and accepted physical laws. Speed is the greatest of the great equalizers; it can nullify a lot of disadvantages in a match against a more skilled foe. If a person has speed on their side, they carry the most significant advantage there is. A Martial artist with less talent can defeat an opponent possessing more power by utilizing great technique, movement and quickness. Some Martial artist are blessed with so much speed they can land an effective blow on a target before you could blink. They used to say about Muhammad Ali, ‘he could turn off the lights and be in bed before the room gets dark’. Another popular saying was about old Negro League Baseball player, Cool Papa Bell. Legend has it: that he was so fast, one time while batting he hit a line drive up the middle and the ball hit him in the back as he slid into second base. Indeed, some are born with quick to burn. Then you have the powerhouse type. Some have honed there skills so much they seem to have nitroglycerin dripping from their fingers when they impact a target. The heavy bag nearly breaks down in tears when they send shots smashing into it. Catching a few of these explosive shots, from someone with such gargantuan strength is not a good way to spend a day: although you will get a good night sleep. The question is how do you combat such foes? One way is with broken rhythm. If one just stands in front of someone with great speed, they will get peppered with shot after shot without any effort from the opponent. Stillness in front of an opponent with great power, makes one an old dried out heavy bag in no time. The key is not to be where they expect you to be. One simple move, a Click before their opponent intended to strike, takes away any advantage they have. The opponent must then reset: go back on their heels and become vulnerable to attack as frustration sets in and patience fades. That’s one of the things broken rhythm does. |
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