We all know that a tripod is more stable than a biped.
This is evident in how a tricycle and bicycle are parked. The tricycle, with its three wheels, can stand on its own while the bicycle needs a kickstand to stand on its own. That makes it a tripod structure. But how does this relate to martial arts and Kempo in particular?
Human beings are bipedal creatures. We use two legs to stand. In theory, that should make us tip over easily but we have joints, muscles and tendons to keep us upright. We can become a triped or quadruped by putting down one or both hands. This makes us stable but not very effective in a fight.
However, we can use this concept to help us become more effective. We have two feet, which equates to two vertices of a triangle’s three vertices. All we need is the third point to complete the tripod structure. Using a bit imagination and basic geometry, you can pick a place on the floor where the third point should go.
- You can use that location to place your knee down for stability, especially for randori and jujutsu mat work.
- If your opponent’s foot is there, you can push or pull his foot out of the stability spot to disrupt their balance.
- You can use the spot as a target for your throw. Aiming at that spot will naturally create a stronger, more effective throw.
- If you have a joint lock, move it towards that spot to create a soft throw.
- You can also use that location by putting the opponent there to prop yourself up if you begin to loose your own balance.
- If you believe in chi energy, create a pillar of force attaching you to that spot creating a tripod stance.
It is important to visualize and use your imagination while training or during a confrontation. The mind responds to those impulses faster than if it explicitly or discretely thinks about the problem. If you practice doing this during your training sessions, you will develop muscle memory thereby making it part of your repertoire.
Train hard. Train for real.
