Martial Arts Targets and Take-downs
For understanding angles in martial arts it is recommended that you read about martial arts mathematics. For understanding dimensional zones and the center-line in martial arts, it is recommended that you read How Not to Get Hit.
Introduction
In terms of self defense, not only is it important to protect your center-line and keep a strong base (or stance), in addition to entering your attacker's center-line, and understanding distance and range to achieve this result, but it is equally important to understand how to open the opponent's center-line and take away his base. For him to defeat you, he must attack your center-line, where your vulnerable targets are, and disrupt your base; so the reverse is true: For you to defend yourself, you must unbalance the attacker, disrupt his dimensional zones, and enter and attack his center-line.
This can be achieved in various ways, which we will explore in this article.
Ways to Open the Centerline and Disturb the Base
Move to His Centerline
| Move the Opponent to Open His Centerline
| Move to Where He Has No Base
|
|---|---|---|
Use foot maneuvers to position yourself in your opponent's centerline
| Block, bump, strike, kick, sweep your opponent into a position that opens his centerline
| Conveniently also in his centerline, the opponent has no base. Move to this position and he is more easily taken off his feet or otherwise unsettled.
|
Moving Yourself To His Center-line
One way to gain access to the attacker's center-line is by putting yourself in a position, at the correct angle to attack his center-line. This is done by moving at angles that render a straight line to his targets.
Move The Opponent To Open The Center-line
The other way to gain access to your opponent's targets is by moving him, through manipulation, blocks, or strikes.
Move To Where He Has No Base
In your opponent's center-line is also the place where he has no base; in Kenpo terminology, where he has no Bracing Angle. This is where if he is hit, you disturb his depth zone, disrupt his balance, and if pulled or pushed he can be taken down.
Conclusion
So, it is advantageous to understand at what angles you can enter your opponent's center-line, how to get there to do it, and how to disturb his base or balance.
