Empty hand training is really no different in many ways than weapons training. In fact we integrate all of our training together as much as possible since the base is similar in all situations. Many systems train thier striking different than they would train with sticks or say with knives. This causes a problem when it is time to perform with weapons against empty hand or visa versa in a real invironment. There are however some characteristics that will change how you can react and how you must counter these attacks depending on what type of weapon is present. Such as Striking Patterns as determined by the weapon being used decides your striking method. The greatest danger would obviously be when a Knife or edged weapon is present. Since these types of weapons are very common and conceal easy we tend to train this area more than others. When there is no weapon present we still apply many of the same principles to our training. As a weapons fight is much more dangerous than an empty hand one it is better then if you train too the more dangerous of the two. This makes it much easier to deal with empty hand combat when you are used to dealing with a much higher level.
In the picture below you can see a technique being done using a stick as a defense as well as an attack. This technique would be very similar if the stick was not present as well. This is only possible if we integrate our training together so that our structure is the same for both.
There are three main phases that we use throughout the course of our Defense Of Attack.
The Straight Blast - In this phase of our DOA (Defense Of Attack) we are creating forward pressure. It is both physical and phsycoligical. Once pain has been inflicted we use our straight blast to close the gap into CCC (Close Courter Combat) range. The straight blast can be divided into two parts. The high line and the low line. On the high line you will simply be punching into centerline, hand over hand, so that you, not your opponent, occupy centerline. You are also still trying to hit your opponent in the face with those straight punches. You are chain punching your way down your opponents throat. On the low line you are simply running as fast as you can off the mark. From the waist down you are blasting forward with your legs and from the waist up your are doing modified Wing Chun. Another consideration of the Blast is that no one else does it. Many arts punch and kick. Other arts use these tactics. Some utilize both. But the blast is the catalyst that methodically brings it all together in a very brutal manner. You are trying to put your opponent in a reactive posture, behind the power curve so you can move into the next wave of your counter assault - Close Quarter Combat. This is High Combat Methodoligy.
In the picture below you can see a punch being intercepted with an elbow. This would be our entry into this fight. You will notice that we are attacking at the same time as defending as well as staying within our structure. We would then follow this with a Straight Blast until the opponant collapses under the forward pressure.
