The Four Types of Lessons Taught

As I was clearing out my email In Box I came across this article I had written for a book and thought it would be some good info to pass on. In talking with Barbara, we discussed the issue of continuing to share info on this page and decided to continue out of respect for Jimmy’s wish for his Art to go on. Many times, we use verbiage and words without understanding their true meaning such as “Basic 45”, Nam Pai, and Fut Ga. If asked by a student to explain the difference some may have problem. This particular article was designed to explain some of the true meanings.

 

 

There are four distinct categories: The Basic 45, Chi Na, Fut Ga, and Nam Pi. Each has its own purpose however a Basic 45lesson may end up using a leverage to end the fight.

 

Basic 45: Your opponent starts the fight by attacking, you usually move as you block and counter attack. There are many tactics and combinations, but you become the aggressor and finish the fight.

 

Chi-Na: This includes many types of joint locks, breaks, and leverage holds.

 

Fut-Ga: You start the attack, set him up, fake a move or attack directly to make him respond and attack the opening that you see and finish.

 

Nam-Pi: This is the highest form of attack, the perfect response and ends very quickly if properly done.

Many of the guys that worked out at Jimmy’s were brutal. There was a middle-aged Mexican guy, I liked him, being there longer than me he would show me a move. One day he said he had a move that if a guy grabbed you from the front by your clothes. So I grabbed him, he reached up and pinched and twisted one of my nipples causing me to let go….. I could not touch that area for a month. I sure watched what I asked him after that, and I sure never asked him about a groin move!

 

The Basic 45 weighed heavily on protective advancing movement and windmill type blocking which were very large circular movements. We used to brag that the one block using both hands could protect the groin while the other protected the head. As the years went by, we mostly grew out of those larger windmills and tightened them up for less and faster movement.

Complaints by those who “don’t get it”.

 

Our workout consists of one student who attacks and the other defends, then the exact order again then the order reverses. We call this working out 2x2s and some who don’t understand say it should be 5x5s or something (who knows what). It really makes no difference, someone always complains thinking they know better, but they don’t, we could make it 10×10 and it makes no difference.

 

Then they complain that a partner just sticks out their arm and you block it, and it is not realistic, they call that a “statue” punch. Realism is up to you and your workout partner. I have seen guys who would put one fist in the air and that is the one they are going to throw, or they will point to the other arm and they will punch with that which is very stupid, you should mix them up, throw fast or slow and avoid patterns. When someone would throw sissy punches, I would stop them and say, “When you throw a punch you try to hit me, if I miss, it will be my fault”. Working out in that manner brings growth and expertise but don’t do it until you are ready.

 

The big complaint is you don’t have a non-compliant workout partner in a fight so how do you know he can’t hurt you. That shows their lack of understanding on their part, big time. San Soo trains the brain to react instantly and if you miss you counter his move violently and decisively striking, kicking, or breaking, anything you need to win the fight. We don’t practice Wrestling, Judo, etc., where a non-compliant partner is acceptable, but we are street fighters and our fight does not have a referee, we could die. If a real street fighter who has trained his brain properly works with a partner who tries to reverse him, someone is going to get hurt real bad. Master Woo always wanted us to work reversals and that is quite different because you expect him to reverse your move. So, he may reverse and throw you, you take him with you to the ground, he grabs your leg, and you may apply a choke, then you start over, few ever practiced this.

 

There was a large guy who hit hard and always would step out when you tried to throw him, which he always denied. I made sure I worked out with him every week to make sure I could and would throw him during a workout. He did not control contact but that was OK I was on a mission, it was brutal. Finally, I perfected when he evaded, I followed up till he went down, I remember him saying as he sat there, “You crazy guy” but after I learned to move and control him it worked on everyone.