Hand to Hand Library

Hand to Hand Library

    It would seem odd to have me delve into something such as hand-to-hand combat.  And as a total disclaimer, I am not --nor ever have been-- trained in any sort of self defense (other than a child's scream) or martial arts.  But when I went to the library, my eye was caught by one of the new books on display...Modern Hand to Hand Combat, Ancient Samurai Techniques on the Battlefield and in the Street.  Says the opening: Today's ground soldier can carry up to 125 pounds of equipment and personal armor during any typical mission.  The trade off for this protection is a lack of mobility.  In a close proximity situation the modern combat solider is at a decided disadvantage compared to his more nimble opponent.  Similarly, on the battlefields of medieval Japan, the heavily armored samurai faced the same battlefield conditions.  In order to disarm or incapacitate a more nimble opponent, the samurai developed a system of effective techniques based on their limited range of movement.  This book gives step-by-step self-defense instructions on how to effectively and realistically respond to life and death hand-to-hand combat situations through movements and principles that are as valid today as they were 1000 years ago.

    Why pick up the book?  For one thing, the author points out that early samurai fighters wore armor that weighed about 60+ pounds, which is close to what today's field soldier wears.  And as a special Ops member, he was surprised that little hand-to-hand training was given while in that armor or with that weight (imagine protecting yourself, your weapons and your fellow soldiers while battling the bulk of things on your person).  But I was drawn more to the author's history of the martial arts, at least those in Japan.  From his book:  In regards to most of the systems that originated in Japan, which are either taught in America or are the foundation of American systems, their origins probably reach back to the start of the peaceful era of Japan's history: the Edo Era, which began around 1603.  This eventually transitioned into the peaceful era known as the Meiji restoration, which started in 1868.  Most martial art systems studied today originated during the Meiji restoration.  Martial arts born during this period were called budo (:martial way/path"), but are now called gendai budo (:modern martial way/path").  Because they were spawned during peace, these martial arts focused more on the inner aspects of the practitioner than they did on battlefield preparedness and application.  Thus, these arts --though tested in competitions and in other fashions-- were not necessarily tested on the battlefield.  Some of the martial arts born during the Meiji Era include judo, kendo, iaido, aikido, and kempo.

    This all brought back memories of the Zatoichi character I knew as a child.  Known as the "blind swordman," his character (an excellent movie version was made some years ago of the series) relied on the "aura" that ancient samurai apparently felt, thus preventing an arttact from behind or from around a corner, much as a fly senses the air movement of your hand just milliseconds before your close it.  My grandmother used  to tell me that my great grandfather was a samurai, although one at the village level (there were apparently five levels of samurai skill, for to even reach the bottom level of a samurai --vs. just a swordsman or even swordswoman-- was to display extraordinary skill...the top level was to be one of the emperor's samurai, something so eloquently captured in many a Japanese samurai film when ninja assassins attempt to invade the emperor's palace).

    Of course, martial arts took on many versions and traveled the world, some being close combat oriented and using primarily hand defenses while others utilized knees and feet.  My friend who has practiced many of the Filipino martial arts techniques used to tell me of the idea of seven gates, each gate opened meaning that you would shift to a different style of fighting.  As one example, the leg stretched out (to keep your opponent the farthest away from you) is the first gate; once your opponent comes closer, you move the the next gate, the last being virtually face to face or on the ground (yes, there's an entire system for fighting while on the ground).  A good film to watch if you're brand new to all of this history is The Grandmaster, beautifully done and incorporating many Chinese styles of self defense, from the drunker warrior style to the white crane style.  To see such fighting in slow motion (T'ai Chi Ch'uan, while now done meditatively, was and is an actual form of martial arts) is to recognize the beauty of the human form and it's flexibility in movement.

    All in all, a trip to the library can bring unexpected memories flooding back, even in an area where one has no knowledge.  Admittedly, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially in the martial arts where trying to pretend your Hollywood knowledge of fighting will apply in the streets will likely mean you'll get more injured than ever (Bruce Lee, despite his high leg kicks and leaping flips, said in an interview that you would never exposed yourself that way in a real fight, his kicks never being higher than above the knee).  For me, as fascinating as all this sounds (the lone warrior putting down a group of rowdy drunken gang members), I would likely be set free simply because of my scream...unlike a trained martial artist, it would be me first primal reaction, and likely the one thing in my "arsenal" that I know best.