Instead of grabbing...
Slip, Slide, and No Grabbing On
Here's a great practical exercise for practicing on slick, slippery terrain:
I thought this game up, when I realized that most people try to grab on to something when they lose their balance.
When standing in a river in the summer time, when one of my family or friends loses footing, he or she usually grabs on to me. I am big, solid, and have a good sense of balance.
This is OK, if it's a family member or friend.
It's not so alright if it's the "enemy."
Practice for the losing-balance-grab.
I have two methods:
You do a mini-step to move beyond your partner's reach. Or maybe you check the hand, allowing it to pass you; your partner still loses balance.
* The other way to practice is to slip your opponent's grab mid-sequence. In the middle of your practice your opponent suddenly tries to grab you. (Actually, it's not so sudden. A little obvious telegraphing when first starting out will make recognizing the grab easier.)
Your goal is to continue your techniques without allowing your opponent to get ahold of you. This is harder to pull off than the first method, because you'll probably be closer, since you are mid-response.
Well, defending out in the cold presents the opposite problem. It's easier to grab bulky coats, long scarves, and layered clothing.
You really should take the time to practice avoiding someone else's grip -- especially since, with the added bulky clothing, you will be easier to grab on to.
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