I answered my instructor with this reply....
1. Delayed Sword is vs. a right-handed push/punch/grab to your upper torso.
Experiment with each of these variables: what would happen if his grab made
contact? How would it alter what you do? How would your actions (step/block
- kick - chop) affect his body position differently?
The execution of Delayed Sword would remain the same. That I think is the underlying principle. Step back & block, thrusting kick then outward hand sword to the neck.
The step back performs @ least two purposes.
1. It creates distance between the attacker and yourself. This allows room for the execution of the block, kick, & hand sword.
2. The step also allows one to establish a good solid base. We all should know a good foundation begins with the base!! With the step, one should also establish his/her own heighth zone. With the proper stance, you get a good anchoring of the buttocks. (This is something that has been refreshed in my mind due to this letter.)
If the attacker completes his grab, I have a tendency to make the step back and block much more solid or focused on mentally. I do not want to be tied up or end up in a wrestling match. In a punch, the block is solid, but I view it as more of a redirection and look towards the rest of the technique. I realize a strike is a block. Maybe I am wrong here. This may be the reason I do not have the same commitment/focus on the block when it is a punch. In the case of the grab, the block would have more of a mental focus from me with intentions to break the hold. I also see that the step back with the proper anchoring would cause the attacker to be pulled off balance. This disturbance would most likely cause them to hesitate and give me additional time to execute the kick. The disturbance is similar to the same frustrations I get from Mr. Haag in Deflecting Hammer.
I am wondering when pulling the attacker off balance when stepping into the neutral bow if this would be back up mass. Although I generally think of back up mass being the force behind the punch, is this the same force that allows you to pull the attacker off balance? I can see where it could be viewed as borrowed force, but if the attacker has grip on my lapel and is not moving forward already, then the shift in one's own body weight a use of back up mass.
2. Consider: How are you generating power in Delayed Sword? Here are some
Kenpo Principles that are involved in Delayed Sword....you find out how they
are applied as well as how to get the most out of them.
Power in Delayed Sword is abundant. The move to a right neutral bow is a key due to establishing a solid base. With the initial move to a neutral bow, I believe we are using torque to our advantage. The counter-clockwise rotation of the hips with the right inward block causes the shoulders to move and be aligned with the hips. In theory we are rotating 45 degrees. This is 1/3 of our master key number of 135.
When you execute a right inward block by itself the hand is rotating from the upside down telephone grab to a hammering fist below the attackers elbow. I am not too confident on this point but i believe the rotation would help create additional forces. The right inward block is also involving three dimensions in the delivery. It is using the vertical plane, horizontal plane (left to right) and the depth plane (front to back). If properly executed, one will use a 45 degree angle in all of these planes to strike the attackers arm below the elbow. The combination of the three planes generates a tremendous amount of power, with a minimal amount of effort.
The next place I see a tremendous amount of power being generated is in the outward handsword. The combination of three planes again will come into play in the same way they did with the inward block. An additional source of power comes from the marriage of gravity. You can lower you center of gravity while executing the outward hand sword to add to the power. I believe this principle is marriage of gravity.
So here is my opener. :asian:
JD_Nelson