{"id":219,"date":"2017-04-15T17:14:43","date_gmt":"2017-04-15T17:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/?p=219"},"modified":"2019-03-31T03:04:11","modified_gmt":"2019-03-31T03:04:11","slug":"math-and-science-in-the-martial-arts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/?p=219","title":{"rendered":"Math and Science in the Martial Arts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Math and Science in the Martial Arts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a9 Copyright 2017, tim boehlert<\/em><\/p>\n

The title alone could speak volumes if I knew more, and was any good at math. I don\u2019t, and I\u2019m not. Unfortunately the saying that \u2018youth is wasted on the young\u2019 is true here. I appreciate education now more than I ever did.<\/p>\n

Over the last few years I have sought to bolster my library by exploring the more technical aspects of what we do as Martial Artists. It actually started with some materials that I bought from TFT (Target Focus Training, Tim Larkin) \u2014\u00a0which I sought out based on his marketing.<\/p>\n

Back in 2008, when I had started my career as in Security, I\u2019d also started my second journey in the Martial Arts at the age of 53. It was a necessary evil, but I gladly took it up because I needed fast and effective solutions to what I was about to face.<\/p>\n

After reaching Purple Belt in Kenpo I started to look for other \u2018arts\u2019 that might be a better fit for my specific needs. My son had a friend that suggested that I look at Krav Maga. Hell I couldn\u2019t even pronounce that then! She knew what I did for a living, and thought it might have what I needed, but cautioned me \u201cit\u2019s very brutal!\u201d<\/p>\n

The macho side of me said \u2018Hell Yeah!\u2019, but the responsible side of me said \u2013 \u2018stay away!\u2019 Responsible went out the window. I got on-line and started looking around. I was looking for a package deal, an all-in-one solution, and I was new to this. I bought one of the more expensive packages that I could find, packaged as a 17 DVD disc set, it seemed like a good idea for the money. I placed an order direct for the Commando Krav Maga set, based on the marketing once again.<\/p>\n

I started to watch once the package arrived and wow! I\u2019d never seen things like this before. It was hosted by Moni Aizik. What I\u2019d learned was that Moni was based (then) in Canada \u2013 just a few hours away. As I jumped ahead in his series of DVD\u2019s, I came across one that may featured footage of a seminar that he\u2019d given, and there I found Avi Nardia, my teacher. Avi and Moni are friends, both sharing some things in common \u2013 Martial Arts, Military Service, both exports from Israel to the United States, and both urged to do so by Jim Wagner. Fact check that, but I think that\u2019s correct.<\/p>\n

What I liked about Avi was his calm. Avi was taking the students to school, Avi style.<\/p>\n

Avi is a well of information, deep and rich. He dissects everything with a very critical eye. Through him I have learned some of how to do the same.<\/p>\n

Small-circle JuJitsu by Wally Jay may have been the earliest book that I bought that explained things in a mathematical or scientific way.<\/p>\n

I found Tim Larkin on-line. Here\u2019s a guy that has a specific niche, and with a very well planned-out course. In a nutshell it\u2019s all about breaking people. This to takes some time to assimilate. You need to know the context, and I think once you get that, it makes sense. Again, not what I thought I needed. But\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u2026 the information was good and relevant in some respects. Tim\u2019s program is not<\/em> Martial Arts, it\u2019s intended for those who need<\/em> self-defense, and in his product, it\u2019s about efficient ways to shut your aggressor down. Period. Exclamation Point!<\/p>\n

What I eventually found was the beginning of what this article is all about \u2013 math & science! In the Lethal Leverage series you will find a treasure-trove of information related to dealing with anyone who may seek to harm you.<\/p>\n

The accompanying book is less than 100 pages, double-spaced text, and with some very good illustrations. Tim\u2019s partner, Chris Ranck-Buhr, does a lot of the writing. This product is designed with your survival as it\u2019s main goal. It\u2019s not a sport-system.<\/p>\n

Starting on page 31, you are introduced to three classes of levers. The purpose is to describe and understand what they are, how they work, and then how they are applied. We are introduced to new terminology and concepts that are key to understanding and using this material in the field.<\/p>\n

On page 61, we are introduced to the joints of the body and what TFT describes as Base Leverages. There are six that you will need to understand. You learn about each joint, and how it works, and it\u2019s limitations \u2013 known as it\u2019s pathological limits.<\/p>\n

Over the next 30 pages you will learn about each joint, and what, and how to break each and every one of them. This is not to say that you should, but if you found a need to do so, it\u2019s here. For most of us, it will be good to know where the limits are but also how these wonderful things work. Only then can we use it to our advantage.<\/p>\n

Think about a simple arm-bar. A typical arm-bar requires that you apply force to three joints in tandem and in succession, quickly \u2013 the wrist, the elbow and the shoulder. So, as an example, the wrist can be moved in six directions, anywhere from 20\u00b0\u00a0to 90\u00b0 before reaching it\u2019s pathological limits, then the elbow rotates, and the shoulder is a ball-socket and thus has the largest range of motion available. When you learn about these ranges for each joint, the light bulb will go on, trust me.<\/p>\n

Doesn’t everyone wonder why a throw works, and how? Well I used this information to learn more about Control & Constraint. Now I could understand how to make some of that work better for me.<\/p>\n

I knew in my first year of Hospital Security that I was going to need to find other \u2018solutions\u2019 to my \u2018problems.\u2019 I knew that I couldn\u2019t compete size for size or against muscle forever. Knowing and then admitting to that fact that led me to do this research.<\/p>\n

I later found two books by Martina Sprague. Fighting Science is the first book. In a nutshell, it\u2019s all about why things work or don\u2019t and how to improve that ability in your techniques. Physics is the key here \u2013 Torque, Kinetic Energy, Power, Force, Momentum\u2026. you get the idea? It\u2019 about getting around size and strength, which is universal I think, right?<\/p>\n

Martina\u2019s next book, The Science of Takedowns, Throws\u2026 introduced things like timing and balance to her previous leverage and momentum studies. What this all really comes down to is not<\/em> using muscle, but using what you have against what your adversary has, by using this knowledge to your.<\/p>\n

If you really want or perhaps need to know more, I can recommend the following two books:<\/p>\n

[1] Human Body Dynamics by Aydin Tozeren. If you want to study math as your primary goal to understanding the how and why of the body, this is likely a good choice. It\u2019s about human movement and mechanics of how the body moves. You will learn about muscle and bone structure, joints, laws of motion, and all of the mathematical formulae associated with movement, etc\u2026 not for the weak of heart or nimble of mind!<\/p>\n

[2] Biomechanics of Human Motion by Emeric Arus, PhD. This book was written with the Martial Artist in mind. You\u2019re going to learn about such things as Kinematics, Kinesics, biomechanical and physiological human motion. Because this is more about how things work specifically in the Martial Arts, it\u2019s a great reference, again laden with math formulae.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a few more to consider looking at:<\/p>\n

[3] Fight Like a Physicist by Jason Thalken, PhD. Jason\u2019s approach is to talk about fighting and the use of physics \u2013 to your advantage. Now thus far, all of these books have applicable information in them, and not just for Martial Arts, but also for Self Defense methods. You will have to explore, and perhaps you will discover that tiny missing piece that puts it all together for you. There is some really good fight info in this book \u2013 transfer of energy, efficiency, angular velocity, and yes even brain damage.<\/p>\n

[4] The Anatomy of Martial Arts by Dr. Norman Link and Lily Chu discusses in how some of the techniques work \u2013 but specifically what muscle groups and bone structures support those movements. Good to know. By adding some of this knowledge, you may be able to start to see the connecting dots when it comes to understanding how<\/em> to generate power for example.<\/p>\n

[5] Book of Martial Power by Steven J. Pearlman. In this book you will find a set of basic fundamental principles. Complex force, economical motion, penetration, extension, and the dynamic sphere are introduced. Reading the back cover quotes, I\u2019m now seeing the names of friends and mentors who\u2019ve already beat me to finding this particular book \u2013 damn! I guess it comes highly recommended!<\/p>\n

[6] The Principles of Unarmed Combat by Mark Jacobs \u2013 a book about empty-hand combat. More technique and insider information. Covers the gamut of strikes, throws, chokes, submission, and even sacrifices!<\/p>\n

[7] Vital Point Strikes by Sang H. Kim. This book is about meridians, pressure points, targeting. Very well illustrated, and covers a lot of ground including training drills.<\/p>\n

These are just a few examples from my personal library that may take years to get through and truly understand.<\/p>\n

The more you know and understand, the more likely it is that you\u2019ll make smarter\/better choices when you need them, and perhaps with less effort \u2013 by using the math and science that you now know. It\u2019s not the technique that is important, but in the knowing of what makes it work. If you understand how, you can design your own techniques and solutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Math and Science in the Martial Arts \u00a9 Copyright 2017, tim boehlert The title alone could speak volumes if I knew more, and was any good at math. I don\u2019t, and I\u2019m not. Unfortunately the saying that \u2018youth is wasted on the young\u2019 is true here. I appreciate education now more than I ever did. … Continue reading Math and Science in the Martial Arts<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conflict-research-group-international"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=219"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":678,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219\/revisions\/678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}