Post by redbudo on Feb 24, 2011 14:54:08 GMT
Well, I tried an attachment but I guess that didn't take. So, here's an unformatted copy/paste version as requested by Steve Hyland.
SEN
Sen— The idea of initiative (decisive moment) in taking control of the combat interval-of-time to defeat an opponent. It's a timing concept: time based strategy if you like (echo Boyd). Time maneuver over spatial maneuver. It's original to the sword arts (Musashi – The Book of Five Rings). The three primary aspects are here differentiated even though there are many subtle permutations and sub-categories. In reality there is a lightning-fast and fluid continuum of all of these seemingly discrete aspects to the use of a time interval. Generally, the faster the cycle-time; the more certain the victory. Conflicts are time competitive. Stated differently: guard against entropy; gain the time advantage. Musashi and Boyd were very clear about this.
Go no sen—the waiting initiative—where the decisive moment begins at the instant the opponent's attack is launched. Go no sen involves stealing or turning the initiative against your opponent; a counter-attack. Notice that, generally, time & distance are initially controlled by the attacker; so, the focus here is really on regaining the initiative and forcefully leading the opponent.
Remember that these concepts were from killing disciplines where the outcomes were grisly and final. Musashi emphatically insisted on seizing the initiative. That's the bias. Don't passively wait for an unguarded moment (the suki—the opening, that many martial artists seek), then you place yourself on the defensive and are then led by the opponent. Similarly, the implication contained in the term response is inimical to the attitude required to positively lead an adversary to his doom.
In the JKA, not much attention was given to stepping back (taking away distance – as some styles would have it.). We might begin go no sen drills with a 1-2 count (block/strike) but these would progress very quickly to advancing the -2- count by ½ a beat with an aggressive hard block/strike, then to a simultaneous parry/strike, then to a disruptive jam/strike, then to an explosive attack without bothering to block or parry. The bias was always to attack even in the context of go no sen. The defining refinement here is in specific training to enable dominance over the combat-interval-of-time. I actually never did learn how to step back during a match. Really.
Sen no sen—the simultaneous initiative—to meet an attack with a simultaneous counter. There is no gap. There is an aspect of preemption because the response seems simultaneous. Possibly like sen sen no sen without the control aspect. Emphasizes physical skills like instant perception of intent and lightning reflexes. Though the three aspects described here all involve mastery of a time interval; a disruptive element is introduced here—the parry / strike / counter complex is moving forward; not back. Like a Bruce Lee stop-kick. The defender has taken control of the time interval as well as distance.
Sen sen no sen—the early initiative. This term can be resolved thus: you initiate; your opponent responds (in the way you have compelled him); then you exploit his response. A set-up. The Battle for Midway could be described this way. This is somewhat similar to go no sen in that one responds to the opponent’s attack which is already in motion. However, in this case, one counters with seeming precognition because he has drawn it out from the opponent via seme (seme is a kind of disruptive psychological pressure ). Think of combat aircraft in a dogfight.
Sen sen no sen has the sense of taking control early, before your opponent can initiate, thus taking the 'first initiative'. It can be described as pre-emptive initiative. The triggering moment is when he mentally commits. This is often subtle, and involves causing your opponent to initiate (calling out his ki) in the way you control or compel by presenting a logical clear opening and foreclosing other target areas. You have led his spirit. The result is an overwhelmed opponent caught in the heat of a fully committed all out attack and mentally beyond the point of no return. This is not the superficial feint that some have defined it to be. It is control!
In Japan, we would perform endless timing drills to instill all of these ideas. Neural patterning; reaction; fast cycle-time; mid-flight transitions were all emphasized. Eventually, the more subtle and advanced timing / control aspects would emerge. This was intrinsic to JKA training; not the external separate skill attributed by an earlier writer to Lyoto Machida.
It's simpler than it seems. The concepts of sen were hardly mentioned explicitly. What was discussed was the idea of entering, or meeting, or merging/blending. Closing-the-gap. Ma-ai and De-Ai (twin concepts: controlling space/time; controlling space to compel a reaction). E.g. Sometimes, during a match, I would simply move towards an opponent. At a critical point—the engagement distance (ma-ai)— the opponent would feel pressured to respond. If he did not; then I would initiate—and I had already penetrated his safe ma-ai.
Modern popular culture renders these principles as defensive. But, if you read Musashi and if you understand the principles of shotokan and how it developed from the sword arts, you will realize that these concepts are ruthlessly offensive. To better understand this, take a look at the Aerial Attack Study by John Boyd which was used as a text by Top Gun.
For a western refinement of this concept Google John Boyd and Google the Ooda Loop. On the 'net I once read an entertaining description of how Toyota beat GM using the Ooda Loop as an operating principle. Full circle—Japanese leaders adopt the principles of W. E. Deming; Western leaders read Go Rin No Sho (Musashi) and analyze The Duel at Ichijoji Temple; the Japanese study John Boyd.
SEN
Sen— The idea of initiative (decisive moment) in taking control of the combat interval-of-time to defeat an opponent. It's a timing concept: time based strategy if you like (echo Boyd). Time maneuver over spatial maneuver. It's original to the sword arts (Musashi – The Book of Five Rings). The three primary aspects are here differentiated even though there are many subtle permutations and sub-categories. In reality there is a lightning-fast and fluid continuum of all of these seemingly discrete aspects to the use of a time interval. Generally, the faster the cycle-time; the more certain the victory. Conflicts are time competitive. Stated differently: guard against entropy; gain the time advantage. Musashi and Boyd were very clear about this.
Go no sen—the waiting initiative—where the decisive moment begins at the instant the opponent's attack is launched. Go no sen involves stealing or turning the initiative against your opponent; a counter-attack. Notice that, generally, time & distance are initially controlled by the attacker; so, the focus here is really on regaining the initiative and forcefully leading the opponent.
Remember that these concepts were from killing disciplines where the outcomes were grisly and final. Musashi emphatically insisted on seizing the initiative. That's the bias. Don't passively wait for an unguarded moment (the suki—the opening, that many martial artists seek), then you place yourself on the defensive and are then led by the opponent. Similarly, the implication contained in the term response is inimical to the attitude required to positively lead an adversary to his doom.
In the JKA, not much attention was given to stepping back (taking away distance – as some styles would have it.). We might begin go no sen drills with a 1-2 count (block/strike) but these would progress very quickly to advancing the -2- count by ½ a beat with an aggressive hard block/strike, then to a simultaneous parry/strike, then to a disruptive jam/strike, then to an explosive attack without bothering to block or parry. The bias was always to attack even in the context of go no sen. The defining refinement here is in specific training to enable dominance over the combat-interval-of-time. I actually never did learn how to step back during a match. Really.
Sen no sen—the simultaneous initiative—to meet an attack with a simultaneous counter. There is no gap. There is an aspect of preemption because the response seems simultaneous. Possibly like sen sen no sen without the control aspect. Emphasizes physical skills like instant perception of intent and lightning reflexes. Though the three aspects described here all involve mastery of a time interval; a disruptive element is introduced here—the parry / strike / counter complex is moving forward; not back. Like a Bruce Lee stop-kick. The defender has taken control of the time interval as well as distance.
Sen sen no sen—the early initiative. This term can be resolved thus: you initiate; your opponent responds (in the way you have compelled him); then you exploit his response. A set-up. The Battle for Midway could be described this way. This is somewhat similar to go no sen in that one responds to the opponent’s attack which is already in motion. However, in this case, one counters with seeming precognition because he has drawn it out from the opponent via seme (seme is a kind of disruptive psychological pressure ). Think of combat aircraft in a dogfight.
Sen sen no sen has the sense of taking control early, before your opponent can initiate, thus taking the 'first initiative'. It can be described as pre-emptive initiative. The triggering moment is when he mentally commits. This is often subtle, and involves causing your opponent to initiate (calling out his ki) in the way you control or compel by presenting a logical clear opening and foreclosing other target areas. You have led his spirit. The result is an overwhelmed opponent caught in the heat of a fully committed all out attack and mentally beyond the point of no return. This is not the superficial feint that some have defined it to be. It is control!
In Japan, we would perform endless timing drills to instill all of these ideas. Neural patterning; reaction; fast cycle-time; mid-flight transitions were all emphasized. Eventually, the more subtle and advanced timing / control aspects would emerge. This was intrinsic to JKA training; not the external separate skill attributed by an earlier writer to Lyoto Machida.
It's simpler than it seems. The concepts of sen were hardly mentioned explicitly. What was discussed was the idea of entering, or meeting, or merging/blending. Closing-the-gap. Ma-ai and De-Ai (twin concepts: controlling space/time; controlling space to compel a reaction). E.g. Sometimes, during a match, I would simply move towards an opponent. At a critical point—the engagement distance (ma-ai)— the opponent would feel pressured to respond. If he did not; then I would initiate—and I had already penetrated his safe ma-ai.
Modern popular culture renders these principles as defensive. But, if you read Musashi and if you understand the principles of shotokan and how it developed from the sword arts, you will realize that these concepts are ruthlessly offensive. To better understand this, take a look at the Aerial Attack Study by John Boyd which was used as a text by Top Gun.
For a western refinement of this concept Google John Boyd and Google the Ooda Loop. On the 'net I once read an entertaining description of how Toyota beat GM using the Ooda Loop as an operating principle. Full circle—Japanese leaders adopt the principles of W. E. Deming; Western leaders read Go Rin No Sho (Musashi) and analyze The Duel at Ichijoji Temple; the Japanese study John Boyd.