CLOSING SKILLS

The following is a re-post from the Art of Manliness:

Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote that a people “that shortens its weapons lengthens its boundaries.”

By this he meant that men who were capable of fighting fiercely at close quarters also possessed the essential courage, the thumos, that ultimately won battles, turned the tide of war — protected and expanded the borders of their nation. Spartan warriors, for example, carried swords just a foot long, which they thrust into an enemy’s throat or groin when the space between the battle lines grew so thin that their spears were no longer effective.

In contrast, troops that relied on weapons that put greater distance between the combatant and his foe – lances carried on horseback, javelins hurled from a place of safety, arrows shot from on high – lacked the requisite andreia, the manliness, that would win out in the end.

Holmes didn’t mean his epigram literally, in that longer-range weapons never offer strategic advantage. Rather, he was making the point that the men who can back up their technology with the bravery to fight hand-to-hand, are those who come out on top.

This principle truly applies beyond the battlefield to every area of life.

Especially in a time when it’s easy to attempt to execute one’s strategy from behind the safety of technological screens, success goes to the man who’s still able to step right up to the threshold of risk, conflict, and challenge – who can talk to people face-to-face, have difficult conversations in person, ask directly for what he wants, put himself out there.

The man who ceases to do endless research and finally takes action, who feels the hot breath of the opposition when he grasps a barbell, approaches a woman, steps up to a podium, is he who gains the victory, expands his empire, lengthens his boundaries.

Precisely!

There is a strong correlation with these old-school manly virtues and the mental fortitude necessary to enter into close quarter combat. >Ranges of Combat< Closing as a skill is akin to an outright attack. As Master Keating outlined the issue:

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How about the difference between the attack arts and the defense arts? Few people address this split in the core principles of what a fighting art is really all about! Why? Too uncomfortable of a topic for today’s PC world? And now many of the older “attack” arts have turned into “defensive” arts whether it is admitted or not. Social pressure and public image shapes what is done in some arts. Others cling to their heritage, not giving in to the prim & proper. Fighting is ugly, the rules of fighting are non-existent. Anything goes is the true way. Win, win at all costs, win by any means possible. The end justifies the means. Only one chance, winning is the ONLY way of ways! The majority of martial arts pride themselves in being the “good guys”. They only respond in defense. They teach defense as the way to engage a killer. The stuff they tell you sounds good, “defend yourself.”  And the old standby “Once they attack, they expose themselves.” Tired rhetoric of the defensive crowd to support their beliefs. They need such material ready at hand because they too secretly understand the power of attack, yet are uncomfortable to admit it. Defending immediately puts you one beat behind – right off the start! You’ll need to shoot out a brisk double-tap to take the lead back! Other arts and individuals openly admit they practice “attack arts.” They take the lead beat upon entry and keep it! These are highly successful methods of hand to hand survival. Most arts that attack will use weapons (it’s a grown up world right?).

In uncertain, deadly times the discerning practitioner opts for attack arts. Attack arts breed a different, more hyper awareness level of personal being. One more suited to today’s needs. You are NOT a bad guy for learning attack arts. The use of these arts must be governed by sound judgement of course. But never doubt it, attack arts are better when the chips are down. They will win in 80% of the situations you shall encounter. We are talking about life & death encounters here. Develop your attack sequences & win your life! There are many people who can tell you all about defending yourself. Too many really. But how many can accurately tell you how to attack? How does one simply walk up and launch a solid attack sequence? Yeah, no clue. I don’t refer to bully boy bullshit, but rather to a trained fighters entry skill in all-out attack mode. Such skill is an awesome thing. It’s “always there for you.” Nice!

Time to get beyond sports, martial arts must come full circle back to their deadly roots. Let them take the guns. Let’em ban every thing they want. There will always be men such as you and me. Bans on certain items cannot stop us from our tactical duties. The hoda korosu, or “naked kill” idea [1] – being able to employ anything as a tool or weapon in your personal quest to bring peace to a violent world is viable. These are still secret things, yes even today. Ya gotta learn this stuff first hand from someone who knows. Behind every cool weapon, be it a gun, a knife or a sword is someone just like yourself. It’s the man that makes the magic – the weapon weaves the way. But the all critical man guides its path! Develop yourself for the coming times. Teach others. Do not depend on guns and technology. They absolutely will NOT save you. When the overlords are ready, they shall take such toys away from everyone and then many helpless, lost children will cry in the dark. Yes, I too shall “cry,” but a war-cry, not a wail of despair. Stop, look & listen – learn now and prepare. Much can be learned from very simple things. Simple is good enough / You are good enough / Attack arts anyone?

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These perspectives may sound archaic and unpopular, but I submit that they remain salient truths regardless of how impolite they may be to print or utter aloud.

What is an attack art? Of course an attack art includes the basics of striking skills, but to my mind the physical skills taught are secondary to the necessary spirit.

And the sheep baa “but Aikido is a defensive art…”  Wake up! Watch O’Sensei’s movements: his art is all ABD! Atemi is the creation of an opening by means of an initial action (leading the opponent) which is Attack by Drawing (ABD). Read Saito sensei (the keeper of the kihon) who stresses the importance of atemi. Atemi in its broadest sense the secret of the art, and atemi at its highest expression is leading the spirit of the opponent.  It’s psyops!

Take as axiomatic – you cannot win by defending and winning is important.

What then follows? There are philosophical and historical reasons Aikido fails to teach solid striking skills – and I admonish you to correct that deficit – but recognize this: The strikes are a means to an end – the goal of achieving shikaku. Yes they are manifest physical skills (e.g., you must be able to punch, and slip-enter), but the larger question is, do you have the mental fortitude to close with your opponent to engage at trapping distance.

The locks, traps and throws of Aikido are energetic but are predicated on closing. Striking is not emphasized because the punch is less effective than the lock or the throw that results from closing the gap. In an attack art, atemi is a bridging skill to close the gap.

Closing in Aikido results in nage achieving shikaku (the dead angle). From the dead angle (the point of bargain) where you can deploy the life giving sword.

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[1] Hoda Korosu – “naked kill” – the implication is that you do not need to carry a weapon on your person because you will use improvised weapons from the environment you find yourself in. Master Keating references Shibumi (1979, a fun read) because the main character, Nicholai Hel, is an expert in improvised weapons. In an airplane he kills with a straw, exceeding and predating John Wick by more than three decades. Jason Bourne also expertly uses improvised weaponry. There is no secret art of hoda korosu (albeit you should research Ronald Duncan), rather, the term labels the importance of mental preparedness and situational awareness required to make effective use of your environment.