Book of Five Rings Examination, Part 6

This week’s piece from Musashi’s great book is entitled The Body Blow and is taken from the Water Scroll.
“The Body Blow is when you close in on an opponent’s side and hit him with your body. Turning your face slightly to the side and thrusting your left (or right) shoulder forward, you hit him in the chest. In making the hit, exert as much strength as possible with your body. In making the hit, the idea is to close in with a bound at the moment of peak tension.

Once you have learned to close in like this, you can knock an opponent back several yards back. It is even possible to hit an opponent so hard that he dies.

This requires thorough training and practice.”

In modern MMA one of the most outstanding additions to the sport was the cage concept. When fighting in a cage as opposed to a ring, there is no possibility of falling or getting pushed through ropes. Also as the cage is sturdier than ropes it is hard to manoeuvre when against it. For this reason, many cage fighters try and push there opponents against the cage weather standing or on the ground.

Using Musashi’s body blow tactic is a great way when standing to push your opponent against the cage in order to put your opponent at the disadvantage.

Obviously, this technique only really works when you are already close in to your opponent. If your more than a foot away from your opponent and you charge in with your shoulder in order to push him backwards, chances are he will see it coming and simply side step in order to dodge the charge, in which could lead to yourself being caught against the cage.

When close to the cage and clinched with your opponent but still left with a small space to manoeuvre, keep holding your opponent with one hand, whilst letting go with the other and simultaneously drop your head to the side and barge him in the chest with your shoulder. This must be done fast so as your opponent can not move out the way. By holding with one hand you shall be able to control your target slightly better. Remember to thrust with your shoulder so turn your body also to the side with your head. Drive through thoroughly with the technique so as to press your opponent tight against the cage.

As Musashi sates, “this requires thorough training and practise”

Marks

Introduction
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 7

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