Sharon Friedman – Vigilance and Tranquility

Working levers is a simple thing. You take a limb or a point in the body you can work with and still remain free in your motion and either twist pull and turn. There are a few nice drills to try so here goes: try taking both hands and twisting them one against the other. Try to check what works better in limiting the freedom of the other: Moving both at the same time or using one as a pivot and the other as a lever. There are different answers to this in different situations. Now do the same with the legs from different positions. Fighting from the ground, keeping a leg strike and using it to defend yourself or control another and so on. Feel free to explore but remember to bring things to their logical conclution. If you stop in the middle of your work than you do not work on the finish and that is vital to your survival as a pro and as a citizan. Check how you can use your body as a lever against the limbs and body of one and more. Relax and tense up and see where the openings come to you and work towards your freedom from being held. Remember that escaping is harder than remaining free as you work so move with the force you are given so there is no contrast and no tension which will lead to lesser freedom.