Motion Science

Level III * Lead Fighting

Lead fighting is one of the Level III advanced concepts of Motion Science. When sparring you can be either a lead fighter or a counter fighter. Of course, these roles can change instantaneously or even merge. This section reviews lead fighting.

When you are a lead fighter, do not attack a strong position. First, weaken your opponent's position with a fake or deceptive action to make him pause. An opening will be created with the pause, allowing you to score. Remember, when you attack you must make your opponent hesitate.

The components of lead fighting studied in Motion Science are as follows.

Indirect Angular Attack--Against a Blocker
Broken Rhythm Attack--Against a Counter Fighter
Immobilization Attack--Against a Runner

Indirect Angular Attack--Against a Blocker

This strategy is used against a person who stands his ground and is a blocker. Example of Indirect Angular Attack: move into range of your opponent with a low fake (on the half count) and follow with a high strike. This can be reversed with a high fake and a low strike. These are two of the most common indirect angular attacks and indirect angular attacking is the easiest and most common of lead fighting strategies. Indirect angular attacking is a fake of angle.

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Broken Rhythm Attack--Against a Counter Fighter

This strategy is used against a person who is a counter fighter. That is, whenever you attack, the person tries to counter strike. In this case, we need to draw the opponent's counter and hit him when his weapon is returning from the missed counter. Example of Broken Rhythm Attack: we have determined that the opponent will try to counter punch our attack; therefore, we move into his range to draw his punch and move out of range when he delivers. This causes him to miss and allows us to score when he is out of position. Broken Rhythm attacking is a fake of distance.

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Immobilization Attack--Against a Runner

This strategy is used against a runner, a person who doesn't stand still. This is the most sophisticated of the three lead fighter strategies. There are many subtle ways to stop a person from moving away from you. One is to reverse your direction and move away from the opponent. This sometimes draws the opponent towards you. Or, you can immobilize him by grabbing him or obstructing his leg with a check or sweep. Cutting angle and moving him toward the corner of a boxing ring is still another tactic. All of these tactics require advanced skill. Simple example of Immobilization Attack: lunge toward you opponent and grab his sleeve or arm as you pull him off balance; then counter punch the body. Immobilization attacking includes distance, angle, and attitude to be successful.

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