SIMILARITIES IN SELF DEFENSE FORMS by DOUGLAS DWYER and BARRON SHEPHERD

PART ONE:

Relevance in the martial arts world is determined by a person’s ability to execute effective techniques. Resting on past laurels, teaching ineffective techniques and justifying lack of skill does not lend itself to practical application within the martial arts. Being effective requires constant training, a hard work ethic and discipline.  In order to sustain viability with technique there is no secret formula. There is absolutely no substitute for doing the work.

Over the years Sensei Douglas Dwyer and I have never rested on our laurels or past achievements.  We have made every effort to train and have discussed at great length the similarities in our different systems. Whether it was scheduling conflicts, health issues or even ageing our training has never been abandoned.  Master Dwyer works out daily, trains students privately (of which I am one) and continues to learn, ever moving forward. Douglas is very much a contemporary martial artist and instructor. Those who think he has slowed down or “retired” are quite frankly wrong.

Sensei chooses to stay active and continues to walk his path as an independent martial artist who remains dedicated to the way of bushido. He has long since lost any tastes for organizations and does not appreciate inferences of his involvement. When in fact there is none.

Douglas and I have maintained a friendship that has grown and flourished due to our love and devotion to the martial arts.  We have spent hours and hours on end discussing technique, history and training. Both Sensei Dwyer and I would like to once again express our heartfelt gratitude to photographer and friend, John Hendricks for offering his expertise, his time and efforts, shooting hundreds of professional quality photographs of our training and techniques for future projects.

The following is our most recent collaboration regarding taezu forms.  Most advanced taezus, which contain a combination of 7 to 9 techniques, are to be executed in a matter of a couple of seconds. Sensei Dwyer performs these taezus in the times set for each and every one. To this day he is not one to shy away from a long hard and grueling training session. He still does hundreds of blocks, striking techniques, and kicks with weighted hands and feet.

While working these techniques we realized how similar these forms in our two styles really are.  Though technically different they are very much the same and equally lethal. Both styles focus primarily on self defense, which is our combined interest; both are fluid albeit explosive hard styles.  We decided this would be an interesting example of comparing our two styles side by side.  We are both primarily concerned with the effectiveness of any techniques as it pertains to self defense.

Sensei Dwyer explains:

Taezus can be defined as: a pre-arranged combination of 7 - 9 techniques, beginning and ending with a block, performed in continuous motion for the purpose of developing speed.

Generally speaking, the Taezu forms require a mastery of basics which are essential to executing the forms correctly with maximum effect. Individual techniques must be done with precision and speed and transitioned with fluidity using the entire body dynamic and not just the upper torso.

One of several, the following is an overview example of an advanced Black Belt level Taezu Naru Waza form. In this Taezu, once the attacker is blocked and wrist grabbed, the defender never releases the primary attacking arm until the defense is complete. Self-discipline and controlled breathing is vital for success. This form should take approximately 2 1/2 seconds to perform when incorporating a takedown.

Attack: The attacker moves forward quickly throwing right and left combination punches to the face and mid-section.

Defense:

#1 Defender counters by stepping back with his right leg into a high, layout cat stance and almost simultaneously executing right high and left low, open-hand ox-jaw blocks. These are done approximately 1/10 of a second apart.

 

 

 

 

 

#2 Immediately grabbing attackers right lower arm with his left hand while stepping slightly to attackers left into a bow stance, the defender strikes the mid-section with a right hand roundhouse elbow.

 

 

 

 

 

#3 Stepping into a narrow, open-leg stance, with a firm grip on attackers right arm, he strikes the neck with a backhand hammer fist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 Still holding the right lower arm, defender pulls the attacker forward and continues with a groin grab while standing in a square stance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5 Grabbing attackers collar, he's pulled off balance as defender also sweeps the left foot with his right leg as he's also turning the attacker counter-clockwise.

 

#6 Pulling attackers right arm toward defenders left thigh, he follows with a full take down still holding the right arm and controlling the fall.

 

#7 Once the attacker is on the ground, with his right arm being held and fully extended, defender bends forward and strikes the bicep with a forward knuckle fist.

 

 

#8 He follows with a flat-foot stomp to the lower, right rib cage.

Release the wrist, step back into a static defensive left lunge stance with a left low block and defender is ready for another attack.