KAPAP ACADEMY COMBAT CONCEPTS AND BASIC PRINCIPLES
By Albert Timen

In order to successfully deal with any opponent the hand-to-hand fighter must be familiar with the basic principles and concepts and be able to apply them when needed.

The principles mentioned are only a few of the basic guidelines that are essential knowledge for any hand-to-hand combat. There are many others, which through years of study become intuitive to highly skilled fighters.

- Physical Balance
- Mental Balance
- Relative Positioning
- Timing
- Distance
- Momentum
- Leverage

Physical Balance: The ability to remain in a stable, upright position. The fighter must maintain his balance both to defend himself and to successfully launch effective counter attack.
Without balance, the fighter has no stability with which to defend himself, or the base of power for an attack.
There are two aspects of balance in a struggle:
- The fighter’s own balance – maintaining the legs shoulder width apart, flexed knees lowering center of gravity to increase stability.
- The opponent balance – exploiting and exposing the weakness of the opponent balance by constantly changing his body position (relative position).

Mental Balance: The fighter must maintain a mental balance, not allowing fear or other emotions to overcome his ability to react instinctively.

Relative Position: It refers to the location of the fighter /defender in relation to his opponent. A vital principle when being attacked is for the defender to move his body to a safe position--that is, where the attack cannot continue unless the enemy moves his whole body.
To position for a counterattack, a fighter should move his whole body off the opponent's line of attack. Then, the opponent has to change his position to continue the attack. It is usually safe to move off the line of attack at a 45-degree angle, either toward the opponent or away from him, whichever is appropriate for the given scenario. This position gives the fighter safety, allowing him to exploit weaknesses in the enemy's counterattack position. Movement to an
Advantageous position requires accurate timing and distance perception.

Timing: The best time to move to an advantageous position in an attack. If the fighter moves too soon, the opponent will anticipate his movement and adjust the attack. If he moves too late, the opponent will have time to strike him. Similarly, the fighter must launch his attack or counterattack when the opponent is the most vulnerable.

Distance:The relative distance between the positions of opponents. A fighter positions himself where distance is to his advantage. The hand-to-hand fighter must adjust his distance by changing his relative position and developing attacks or counterattacks. He does this according to the range at which he and his opponent are engaged (long, medium or short/close).

Momentum:The tendency of a body in motion to continue in the direction of motion unless acted on by another force. Body mass in motion develops momentum. The greater the body mass or speed of movement, the greater the momentum. Therefore, a fighter must understand the effects of this principle and apply it to his advantage.

Leverage: leverage is used in hand-to-hand combat by using the natural movement of the body to place the opponent in a position of unnatural movement. The fighter uses his body or parts of his body to create a mechanical advantage over parts of the opponent’s body. He should never oppose the opponent in a direct strength; however, by using leverage larger or stronger opponents can be defeated.

It’s not about us, it’s about them!

What it really means, to be a good instructor…

By Jon Kleineman and Albert Timen

Imagine how you would feel if someone you trained was brutally raped or murdered because you did not prepare them to the best of your ability for real life violence.

Imagine you were to teach someone that would knowingly go off and face a life or death confrontation that would affect them, their families, and their loved ones for the rest of their lives. Think about the humiliation, the violation of trust, the fear, and the sense of helplessness that they carry with them after not having been able to defend themselves.

Suddenly, it wouldn’t matter what level of instructorship you were. It wouldn’t matter that what you learned came from the Special Forces. It wouldn’t matter how hard you punched or kicked. It wouldn’t matter how tough you were, or how many competitions, or street fights you won. Nothing else would matter, but the fact that you did not do the right thing to guide that student out of a violent confrontation.

Unfortunately this is so often forgotten by us as self defense instructors. We train, We hone our bodies to high levels of pain and endurance. We get certificates, belts, and titles. We pat ourselves on the back and our students admire us.

The grim reality is that no amounts of our own personal accolades are going to help our students to survive in the street or the battlefield. It doesn’t matter how fast we are, how many “moves” we know, or how many boards we can break. It doesn’t matter what we can do, ourselves, if they are the ones attacked. It’s about what they can do.

“Don’t show them what you can do. Show them what they can do.”
~ Tony Blauer

We as instructors have an incredible responsibility to teach people how to defend themselves and survive a confrontation…..even if they are not as fast, strong, or as tough as us. It is a HUGE responsibility, and one that you should take very seriously. We are dealing with the safety of other people’s lives.

We need to think about this the next time we pat ourselves on the back for having a 1,000 students training in a huge facility. We can never be complacent and always be continuously learning HOW TO TEACH.

We need to study the behavioral and psychological aspects of a confrontation. We need to study human anatomy, physiology, and motor learning as it applies to combat. We need to be able to say that we have worked hard to make students understand the mentality of survival, and make it apart of their lives.

If you are willing to do these things you may be on the path to being a good Instructor. Never lose sight of the fact that it’s not about us, it’s about them!

MENTAL CONDITIONING

Mental conditioning may be just what you need to enhance your performance. Consider the benefits — improved concentration and focus, controlled emotions, confidence in the face of challenge.

Mental conditioning is often based on four core techniques: relaxation, imagery, goal setting and positive thinking.

Relaxation:

Simple relaxation techniques can help you relieve anxiety and tension to improve concentration and focus. Take a few deep breaths before your performance to prepare for what you're about to do. Slow down. Stay calm. Focus on what's happening now, rather than possible upsets or mistakes.

Imagery:

Imagery can be a powerful tool for increasing confidence. Picture yourself doing your activity — dressed as you would be, hearing what you might hear and smelling what you might smell. Feel your muscles. Sense your emotions. Imagine yourself playing with confidence and skill. Let distracting thoughts or feelings float away. If you see yourself doing something incorrectly, switch gears. Replay the image in your mind exactly as you hope it would happen.

The confidence you gain from these mental practices or rehearsals can help you stay on top of your game when it really counts.

Goal setting:

Setting goals can increase your motivation, provide you with a sense of challenge and help you determine what you can and can't control — leading to greater confidence. Combine long-term and short-term goals related to your personal best or the actions you must take to meet your objectives. Keep the goals realistic and manageable.

Positive thinking:

Negative thoughts can get in the way of concentration and confidence. Mantras such as "Don't miss this shot" or "Don't strike out" may only cause you to do the exact thing you were trying to avoid. Instead, remind yourself that you can do it. Repeat positive phrases to yourself as you play. If you make an error, consider it a simple reminder that your focus is off. Concentrate on what you're doing right and the changes you can make to improve your performance.