I have said that the Eight Catchers are the highest expression of Martial Arts training. And, I have said that you should study extensive fighting disciplines, Karate, Taekwondo, Kenpo, whatever, before you begin your minimum of two years of practice on solely the Catchers. That said, here is a thumbnail sketch of the Sword Catcher, it is basically an Aikido technique, and images can be found in Monster Martial Arts newsletter X-5.
There are two halves to the sword catcher, though, to be sure, you must do them with perfect Coordinated Body Motion and make them into one. The first half is a simple two step into the attacker. The second half is an easy wrist twist technique.
When an attacker moves towards you with a sword they have the advantage of distance over you, and you must offset that advantage. The best way to do this it is to take two steps in the direction of him but at a slight angle. The first step is straight and just a few degrees to the side, and the second step you pivot and let the rear leg move behind you, so that you face in the same direction as the fellow moving towards you.
This movement was first taught to me as a 'mirroring' technique. Simply, as you stepped in and turned around you duplicated your attacker's body, and so that, sometime during the technique, his foot was next to yours, and it was as if looking into a mirror. Of course, his side of the mirror he was holding a sword, and all you had was an picture of him in your mind.
Now, as you conducted this two step inwards, closing the distance and eventually mirroring him, you executed the second part of the technique, a wrist twist. Specifically, your forearm looped over his arm, you hooked his arm with your hand, and you matched his motion. The intent was to match his motion, and then take over it, and thus swing him around.
Timing is, we all know, the whole thing. As he comes towards you, you step towards him, as he swings his arm, you go with the swing, as his body follows through, you help it along. And you take over the whole technique and loop him into an Aikido style wrist lock.
This technique can be done against a punch, a knife, all manners of weapons. However, it is choice for a sword because of the precise way it handles distance. And, it is the Catcher of choice because it requires so much out of the student if he is too make it work. Simply, while there may be other techniques that will work better, this one forces the student to evolve in the best manner.
Can you read his mind and see his motion before it happens? Can you merge with that motion so that he is not offset by your manipulations? Believe me, working on the Sword Catcher Martial Arts technique for a couple of years will enable you to.
There are two halves to the sword catcher, though, to be sure, you must do them with perfect Coordinated Body Motion and make them into one. The first half is a simple two step into the attacker. The second half is an easy wrist twist technique.
When an attacker moves towards you with a sword they have the advantage of distance over you, and you must offset that advantage. The best way to do this it is to take two steps in the direction of him but at a slight angle. The first step is straight and just a few degrees to the side, and the second step you pivot and let the rear leg move behind you, so that you face in the same direction as the fellow moving towards you.
This movement was first taught to me as a 'mirroring' technique. Simply, as you stepped in and turned around you duplicated your attacker's body, and so that, sometime during the technique, his foot was next to yours, and it was as if looking into a mirror. Of course, his side of the mirror he was holding a sword, and all you had was an picture of him in your mind.
Now, as you conducted this two step inwards, closing the distance and eventually mirroring him, you executed the second part of the technique, a wrist twist. Specifically, your forearm looped over his arm, you hooked his arm with your hand, and you matched his motion. The intent was to match his motion, and then take over it, and thus swing him around.
Timing is, we all know, the whole thing. As he comes towards you, you step towards him, as he swings his arm, you go with the swing, as his body follows through, you help it along. And you take over the whole technique and loop him into an Aikido style wrist lock.
This technique can be done against a punch, a knife, all manners of weapons. However, it is choice for a sword because of the precise way it handles distance. And, it is the Catcher of choice because it requires so much out of the student if he is too make it work. Simply, while there may be other techniques that will work better, this one forces the student to evolve in the best manner.
Can you read his mind and see his motion before it happens? Can you merge with that motion so that he is not offset by your manipulations? Believe me, working on the Sword Catcher Martial Arts technique for a couple of years will enable you to.