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Hidden Technique
Part of the ‘secret’ of Budo is the generation of internal power without it being outwardly obvious, and storing that internal energy just prior to a strike. For the latter half of class (I only made it in for about 40 minutes this evening), we simply worked from ichimongi no kamai…precision strikes, opening up ‘channels’ within the body, using footwork to generate power (not just arms), having the body work as one unit, storing energy in your spine, striking from ichimongi and then turning the ‘second move’ into just about anything you desire (all pathways are open). If your ichimongi is “good,” you don’t really need to move from it at all. If you opponent is fixated on your head as a target, he’ll walk right into your fist. If you think ichimongi is ‘easy,’ try striking as a cat would; when your opponent’s punch comes in, strike it as you leap out a considerable distance (you are the own best judge of that distance relative to where your opponent is when he strikes, where he will be after you attack his striking arm, where you think he will be for a response, and where you should be to receive/give).