Attacker forgets you?

[tapiotuomaala]

In "The Combative Body"-dvd's Pre-emptive striking part after Vladimir has explained why it's better not to hit with tension he said something like: "It's better to just hit the guy...and he will forget about you and you can go home." He said it with a serious face so I suppose it's not a joke.

So can you really hit the attacker so that he will forget about hurting you? And then you can continue what you were doing? Or what is this about?

[Kwan Lee]

It is a bit philosophical but completely true and practical. I believe Vladimir meant that if you hit your attacker cleanly (i.e. stun him significantly without telegraphing and from a "blind spot"), he will tend to momentarily forget about pursuing you (at least to the level of vigor with which he started) and will tend to start looking "inward" due to the effects of the strike(s). This is of course if he isn't knocked-out.

The flip side of this is if you deal with him with a classic "fighter's" approach and intent, which may allow him to hook deeper into you (or vice versa) and which might then cause him to either fight harder/longer or, in the aftermath, carry some kind of persistent grudge against you (having a hard time of letting it go later) due to some injury or epic effort on his part. He'll then have a story to tell.

In effect, hitting properly and imperceptively can be a merciful act

His statement is a reminder of where Systema comes from and the elusive goal of being professional enough to enter into an "event" without attachments, complete your work, and leave cleanly without attachments.

Kwan Lee
_________________
www.systema.us

"Bucket work implies much more discipline than most men realize." -- R. Bly

[tapiotuomaala]

Thank you, your post was clarifying.

[cole parzenn]

This is the second time today I was reminded of something Martin said (I'm paraphrasing, of course):

"If you want to disappear/hide in plain sight/become invisible, make him [the guy trying to hurt you]think about himself-he'll look right through you."

[Blake LeBlanc]

Reading Kwan's and Cole's posts, I can definitely vouch for this "forgetting your attacker" type of hit. Most recently was with Martin Wheeler (but it's something I find common in all well-experienced Systema persons).

When the solidness, depth, and placement of the strike are a complete surprise, I find my body starts to go into escape mode as it tries to create distance so it can draw a frame of reference for what just happened. When two or three of these strikes are landed in succession, it truly is a dumb-founding place to be in. I feel completely helpless and, like Kwan alluded, the total lack of ability to perceive what/where/why is happening has a very profound effect on a person's state. If even for the span of a few moments.

It's brilliant work!

[Mark Jakabcsin]

I recall Mikhail saying "Three or more strikes is marital arts, two strikes is a good fight, one strike is Systema." Something I strive for.

MJ