Taking a Sword Away from an Attacker with a Martial Arts Technique

[I:https://healthclub90.com/storage/2011/08/AlCase4.jpg]I have said that the Eight Catchers are the epitome of the Martial Arts. And, I have said that you should study extensive fighting disciplines, Karate, Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin, whatever, before you begin your minimum of two years of practice on solely the Catchers. That said, here is a description of the Sword Catcher, which is an Aikido based technique, and images of it can be found in Monster Martial Arts newsletter X-5.

There are two parts to the sword catcher, though, to be honest, you must do them with delicious Coordinated Body Motion and make them into one. The first part is a simple two step. The second part is a simple wrist twist.

When somebody attacks you with a sword they have the advantage of distance over you, and you must make up for that advantage. The best way to make up for it is to take two steps towards but at a slight angle. The first step is straight and just a few degrees to the side, and the second step you turn and let the rear leg move behind you, so that you face in the same direction as the attacker.

This was first described to me as a ‘mirroring’ technique. Simply, as you stepped you duplicated your attacker’s body, and so that, sometime during the technique, his foot was next to yours, his arms and legs matched yours, and it was as if looking into a mirror. Of course, his side of the mirror had a sword, and all you had was an image of him in your mind.

As you closed with him, shortening the distance and eventually mirroring him, you did the second piece of the technique, a wrist twist. Specifically, your hand went over his wrist, you hooked his forearm with your palm, and you moved with him. The intent was to mirror his motion, and then take over it, and then circle him into a lock.

Timing is, as everybody knows, the key to the whole thing. As he moves in to you, you step towards him, as he swings his arm, you go with the swing, as his body follows through, move right along with it. And you take over the technique and manipulate him into an Aikido style wrist control.

This technique can be done against just about any kind of attack, and all types of weapons. However, it is most excellent for a sword because of the perfect way it handles distance. And, it is the Catcher of choice because it requires the student to evolve if he is too make it happen. While there may be other self defense techniques that are quicker and easier, this one forces the student to grow in the best manner possible.

Can you see what he is thinking before it happens? Can you merge with his force and direction so that he is not offset by your manipulations? Believe me, practicing the Sword Catcher Martial Arts technique for a couple of years will definitely help you do so.

Head over on over Over to Monster Martial Arts for more Data on Aikido Techniques.