KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

A Cold Issue! No Bowling-Ball Steps! If I get in a fight, I want to fight indoors, where it's warm. I want soft lighting -- well lit, natural light, but no glare. And I want to fight on a smooth surface -- not too slick, but not carpeted, if I have a choice. And, and ...

Wouldn't it be great if you could choose optimal fighting conditions?

Of course, if you really had to fight, and a magic genie allowed you to wish for the perfect conditions, you'd probably choose to ambush your attacker -- the "get him first" attitude, right? Or maybe you'd wish for a nice weapon to use on your would-be assailant.

(I'd wish for the attacker to be whisked away by magic.)

Unfortunately, conditions aren't always conducive to self defense.

For example, it's freezing outside, now. As I am sure those of you who live in cold climates know, the pavement outside is slick. It's slippery from the frozen moisture outside. A little frost, a little ice, and the potential for an accident.

So, what would you do if you were attacked outside, on freezing pavement.?

Do You Fight On Your Knees?

How do you practice gaining skill at defending yourself while slipping around on ice?

Since I insist that my students learn to punch while balancing on a bowling ball, many might think that I'd recommend ball balancing to learn to stabilize.

Not in this case.

Standing on a bowling ball is great practice for balancing. It teaches you to stay in one spot. And while some of you may choose to stay rooted in one spot while fighting on a slick surface, most realize that some mobility may be necessary.

The Best Place to Practice Your Balance

You don't need to practice sparring -- at first.

Right now, it's enough just to learn how to move without going to the ground by mistake.

So, find a slick spot. (Apologies to Rick, Mika, and anyone else who lives in a warm climate, like Hawaii. For you guys, find a wet piece of pavement, near the beach, or practice fighting in a shallow stream with some current.)

Don't practice with sharp (or fragile) objects in your hand. Stay away from sharp edges or protuberances that could injure you, if you fall. In other words, make the area as safe as possible for practice. Even with safety precautions, you could still injure yourself or strain some part of your body, if you sudden take a fall.

Be careful.

Have you found the ideal location? For us, it's right in front of our house -- on cold days in the winter.

Once you find your place ... practice moving around. You'll quickly learn that a wider stance -- not good -- requires more muscle to keep leg control.

So, you keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.

You also discover that "baby steps" work better than long strides.

What else will you learn as you gain facility at moving around on a slick surface?

What kind of fighting style will you adopt, for this scenario?

Have you thought about limited "upper-body mobility?"

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