Linear vs. Angular

Most fighting martial arts rely solely on linear type movements.

Before everyone gets up in arms regarding how they use circular type movements, or that they aren't confined to straight lines, I would like to explain that linear fighting relies on maintaining a frontal position and keeping your opponent in front of you.

Linear may be effective when fighting an opponent who is the same size, smaller or not as skilled. The disadvantage lies when you are the smaller, less skilled fighter.

Personally, even with my skill I would not maintain a frontal position when being attacked. If an opponent rushes or attacks straight on and you react by backing straight up, then eventually you will run out of real estate. This technique is used in MMA, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, as well as other martial arts styles.

The easiest way to identify linear style is that it’s based on a + type movement. If your opponent moves left, you mirror and move right. If they attack straight on, you block and attempt a counter attack. This keeps your opponent toe-to-toe with you.

Some martial artists will claim that they use a box type system. To this I say, if you move straight forward or backward during any movement then it is still linear. Keeping your opponent in front of you can keep them at arm’s reach, and it’s easier for them to defend.

Hitting at full extension, as this distancing tends to facilitate, can reduce hitting power significantly.

Angular movement is based on X type movement. When moving towards or away, it is important to always move using diagonal lines. This forces your opponent to adjust to your constantly moving position, especially if they’re linear movers. Rather than move sideways then back or back then to the side to create distance, a diagonal move will be used. Your opponent can either step forward then to the side or to the side then forward.

It comes down to efficiency - one move instead of two.

This also puts your opponent two moves behind and can frustrate them by constantly making them readjust their attack. This changes their timing and can force them to make mistakes like utilizing an angular movement they are not accustomed to using. Now, they are playing into your hand.

Angular movement can make attacking more efficient and add power to your strikes. As your opponent attacks, rather than blocking then moving or moving then blocking, you would redirect their strike while moving towards them on an angle. This allows their weight and momentum to continue forward uninterrupted.

When you combine this with your weight and momentum, and your strike, you get a compounding force effect. This allows you to hit with much more force than if you left your opponent just within reach and made contact with all the force you could muster. This efficiency allows you to stay reasonably out of harm’s way, do significant damage and end the confrontation faster.

This is what Siu Lum Kung Fu (Shaolin) is based on. It allows for a smaller practitioner to hit with more force and stay out of the linear.

Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.

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