Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
Historical background from a personal perspective. I was not taught the crescent step and it didn't appear in my circles until I saw it performed in a video series created by one of the Isshinryu luminaries. Before I continue with this thread you may find my past thoughts of interest so:
Yes, now, the crescent step is merely a tool like any other in the martial disciplines because no one thing in the drills and kata and such are directly applicable to any self-protection or competitive endeavor. Look at them as the beginnings of a bridge that must span the chasm between the training and practice to that which resides so far across the gap in the application of skills to defend and protect in a violent situation. If you allow the understanding that something must happen once you learn a drill or skill or technique or methodology from the foundation that makes up a martial discipline like karate then you can begin to build that bridge to span the gap from one side to the other otherwise you will simply fall in the canyon and die.
The crescent step is explained as a technique and in my view those are actually creative renderings of what is possible not what is necessary to achieve a certain goal or objective in self-protection for self-defense. One such explanation is about moving one leg/foot or the other over slightly and into the center-line of an oncoming force or adversary but that one for me doesn’t really fit.
Remember, another very professional violence person talked recently about the ‘block’ in empty handed systems. Literally using the block to block is pretty much dangerous and injurious but if you change if from a block to a defection while you move off the adversaries center line of movement you achieve two goals.
- One, you move off his line of attack.
- Two, you are stepping at an angle to that off-center position while moving forward using your hand and arm to defect his arms/hands/feet allowing his mass and momentum to drive them through your previously held position thus providing you targets of opportunities and this is one of many ways that the crescent step as a teaching tool provides you one of many methods and methodologies to get-r-done.
Of note is to observe that if you tried to use the crescent step as it is often defined as a technique rather than a tool you will find that you are broadcasting to your adversary what it is you are planning to do and that gives him or her lots of time to do grave harm to you when you trigger your move.
Think about this, the crescent step is not a technique. Think about this, the crescent step is a tool by which a creative adept person can find a method or methodology that will work - which is more conducive to you achieve self-protection for self-defense?
For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)
p.s. if you tie yourself to what seems logical and technique-based you lock your options up.
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