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The use of the term, “Complex,” seems insufficient as the application of forces are not actually complex but rather a combining of forces in applications to overcome the bodies natural defense mechanism against what is termed, “simple forces.” When a martial artist strikes, uses take-downs or applies various methodologies for control they need to apply those complex forces involving a change to the simple forces.
Simple forces are those the body, over time and through nature, developed natural defenses for so that it can receive force effectively. This type of force also ensures survival of humans in a social context as well. When competing with others in the tribe for status, etc., having the ability to do without the danger of death or great bodily harm is necessary for the tribes survival. You see this in modern times as a social monkey dance where the blows are not intended to kill or give great bodily harm but rather a contest to achieve a goal for the tribes survival and so on.
Simple force can be described as straight, non-rotating energy that hits the body flatly. It describes how one applies the vertical fist strike against the body and also helps us understand why striking with the fist is not necessarily the best tool in self-defense regardless of the beliefs of karate practitioners. It does demonstrate the concept of simple force well. It applies direct and forward applied energy and power but fails to achieve one’s goal in self-defense, stopping the damage of the adversary.
But, when you add in the proverbial complex forces then that same vertical punch takes on greater abilities to get the job done (it is to be noted that regardless, the fist is still not the best tool as it is also physically created to accomplish work such as handling tools with dexterity thereby making the structure susceptible to damage and injuries.). It should be noted as well that when striking with the fist karate-ka and martial artists often make the false assumption they need to compensate by simply applying more force and that violates other principles especially in regard to self-defense.
Delivering force and power to an adversary cannot be just about how much we apply, it has to be about the types of force applied such as spiraling, scissoring, carving, vibrating, and/or sheering forces. These are the forces that will, if applied properly, bypass and/or overcome the bodies natural defenses of a hard skeleton, flexible joints, and muscular padding and so on. These natural defenses are also exploited by the complex forces when applied.
Spiraling is about applying the force while turning or twisting that strike, lock, etc., in a spiral or what some call a circular manner. We can think of this like the sub-principles of centripetal and centrifugal forces, etc. Spiraling exists in many karate and martial arts in the form of the strike, the twisting /corkscrew punch. It should be noted that in applying this or any force there must be application that is efficient and maximizes the force and power to the target. In the case of the corkscrew punch the application of the spiraling action/force must include a spiral action during the actual contact of the technique into the target/body. It can also be described as applying centripetal motion while hitting and penetrating the target on the body.
Practitioners will recognize the spiraling force as taught by the Wally Jay Small Circle Jujitsu system.
Scissoring involves the use of two opposing applications of pressure, power and force to the body as can be seen and felt through the application of joint locks, etc. It is done simultaneously with other principles involved such as basing.
Carving is about grinding force into the body using rotation and torsion forces.
Sheering is best described as using a plowing motion to apply force and power.
Vibrating is a more subtle mixture of the above forces where one essentially applies a slight movement that actually causes the adversary to drop into a OO bounce thus ignoring the actual technique applied and so on.
To explain vibration a bit further when a chokehold or wrist throw, etc., are applied one causes a slight movement that is vibrational like to force the adversary’s mind to focus on stopping that feeling, while forcing the adversary’s mind to ignore any one energy application so as to respond to the vibration force the OO to a non-important application allowing the actual application to achieve its goal.
Applying motions, simple forces, by applying such complex forces create a more powerful application of force and power to achieve “not how hard we hit, but how we hit,” in achieving our goals in self-defense.
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