User:Checkhands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guan Jee Do (GJD) is an American self-defense system with heavy emphasis on personal development. [1]. The term Guan Jee Do is Cantonese and translates to The Way of the Light.
Contents |
[edit] The System
Guan Jee Do is a constantly evolving system, enhanced by its practitioners' skills and past experiences. Efficiency, mobility, adaptability, and application are emphasized over forms seen in most traditional martial arts.
As a self-defense system, GJD's approach is diverse and techniques can vary widely from practitioner to practitioner due to the fact that it is taught extensively through principles. Like a painter's class, each student is given the 'colors' to paint with rather than taught how to paint. For example: A 6' 1" student with a background in Taijutsu would have a different way of doing things than a Kenjutsu practitioner who is 5' 5" and their methods in turn, would differ from those of a previously untrained woman who stands 5' 2". Still, the foundations for each student remains the same. The ultimate goal of all practitioners is to be able to attack and defend from any position efficiently and effectively.
GJD is also heavily influenced by an individual's philosophy and understanding of the human psyche. Though its founder uses many Taoist ideas, they are presented in a manner in which each student can apply them to his or her particular system of belief.
[edit] Instruction and Drills
Guan Jee Do emphasizes the use of principles to enhance techniques, as opposed to the student spending years mimicking techniques without understanding their underlying principles. In this way, a student with a relatively short time of training can become proficient in self-defense.
Like Boxing students are taught only a handful of techniques at a time to minimize confusion and promote adaptability. They drill the same moves, in different combinations, over and over. In the process, learning to apply their limited (and now perfected) tools to an unlimited number of situations and scenarios. Students are to be effective at all distances, but are encouraged to master in-fighting through Sensitivity Drills, like those found in Wing Chun, Aikido, and Jujitsu.
Unlike most martial arts styles, each student is taught different 'tools', after a thorough understanding of the basics, so as to be able to capitalize on their natural strengths and minimize their weaknesses. In this way, each student is able to flow smoothly from one technique to the other and adapt to changing situations in their own way. For example: A person with a decade worth of grappling experience will not be asked to ignore their previous training, but will instead, be given tools to enhance it. Likewise, a student with no background in martial arts will not be taught the same things as a professional fighter, but will be taught the most effective and efficient strikes for their sex, attributes, body type, coordination, etc.
[edit] Scenario Drills
These drills simulate real self-defense encounters and are used to teach students applications of techniques. One or more 'attackers' will ambush the intended 'victim', forcing the them to be aware, fluid, adaptable, and decisive in their response(s).
The attacker(s) wear sparring pads consisting of helmet (with face cage), chest piece, gloves, arm guards, thigh guards, shin pads and cup. The scenario often starts with the victim walking or enjoying a social situation. They are then approached by the attacker(s), whereupon they make a demand ("Give me your money!") or a distraction ("Buddy, you got the time?") so that the 'victim' can be ambushed. Of course, situations vary widely and students regularly face situations where they are attacked without any warning or provocation.
During these drills, the class will often be taken to parking lots, narrow hallways, elevators, etc. to experience how different environments affect a self-defense situation.
[edit] Sensitivity Drills
This set of drills are used to hone an individual's tactile sense so they respond instantly and accurately when grabbed or in trapping range. While some are taken and altered from other arts like Wing Chun (Chi Sao), Eskrima (Hubud), or Silat (Defanging the Snake), others are unique to the system.
[edit] Acuity Drills
These are designed to sharpen a student's focus , accuracy, timing, etc.
Most are similar to those found in boxing. Like the Speed Card Drill, where a trainer randomly lifts a focus mitt and the other must respond as quickly as possible. Or the Number Drill, where a preset strike is designated a number and the trainer calls the number while the student responds with the appropriate attack.
[edit] Other Drills
Guan Jee Do students are generally resourceful (whether it's a product of the system or simply the type of people that choose the system is still a matter of debate) and so, several drills have been altered from childhood games or have been created using what's available.
For instance, there is a drill that is a cross between Dodge Ball and Monkey in the Middle with two people standing on the outside of an imaginary square with another on the inside. The objective is for the two on the outside to throw an object (plastic bottle, ball, etc.) and hit the one on the inside while he (person on the inside) tries to dodge. Though the drill may sound contrary to the serious nature of self-defense, this drill is excellent for teaching mobility, balance, timing, distance, focus, etc.
Another excellent drill is the 'Two-for-Two' Drill. This is done where partners take turns attacking the other in slow-motion to help both students learn proper body mechanics, targeting, and relaxation in techniques.
[edit] The Foundation
Though the 'meat' of Guan Jee Do may be different for each, bit the 'heart' of the system remains the same for every student.
Practitioners rely heavily on efficiency, mobility, adaptability, application, and proper mindset. As such, each student participates in Scenario Drills, typically from the first day, and is guided through them to find their own way of doing things. Because of the heavy emphasis placed on each student to determine what works best for them, the system creates a wide variety of approaches and styles within itself.
This allows them to safely and effectively defeat multiple attackers who may be larger, armed, on drugs, etc. as a self-defense situation is rarely a 'fair fight'. The system also teaches its students to be relaxed and uses a simplified version of Trapping found in other martial arts.
[edit] Efficiency
Efficiency dictates that the student be able to stop, disable, or discourage an attacker with the least amount of energy possible. To do this, Centerline Theory is almost always observed. The only exceptions arise in cases where it would be more efficient to do otherwise.
[edit] Mobility
Because students often face multiple attackers, mobility is a key attribute. Mobility does not refer to bouncing aimlessly, but the ability to move decisively and explosively. When outnumbered and unarmed, it is extremely important to use the environment and the attackers themselves to keep from being overwhelmed. Alternatively, mobility allows practitioners to add stopping power to every attack - following the principle of efficiency.
[edit] Adaptability
Within the span of a few short months, students innately begin to realize the adaptability of the basic techniques to different situations. They are forced to use a small number of techniques in many different ways as the Scenario Drills are never exactly the same. This allows students to find the feeling for the natural flow of their own bodies and techniques.
[edit] Application
From day one, students are drilled with the importance of the applicability of every technique. In the same way that driving in a parking lot and driving on the highway are different, being able to throw the "perfect" air punch and apply it against an opponent are different things. Practitioners spend most of their training perfecting the application of their technique (distance, cadence, power, etc.), but not to the exclusion of form.
[edit] The Philosophy
The philosophy of GJD is one that is deceptively simple, like the act of walking.
In combat, one does not have the luxury of thinking out the next step leisurely while the opponent waits. In reality, the opponent is trying to impose their will (they want to rob, hurt, or otherwise control) on you and at the same time, you are trying to accomplish the same goal. In the middle of this chaos that is combat, there is in fact very little time to think unless you detach yourself from the situation. Therein lies the ultimate goal of Guan Jee Do. Every practitioner strives to achieve a state of Mushin or No-Mind, so that they may act freely and without constraint.
