GRAPPLER BAKI- PART VII

Baki vs. Hanayama (continued)

We begin the 7th episode of Grappler Baki by learning a little about the history of the Hanayama family.  Hanayama's huge tattoo on his back is the image of a man holding a bell.  The story of the tattoo is of a man, who saved the last member of the Hanayama family by hiding the small boy underneath the bell hoisted upon his shoulders, while being cut down by several sword-wielding warriors.  This is the image of a real man to the Hanayama group: a man with the strength to endure even unto death in order to protect that which he loves.  Ok, they don't come out and say that, but that's what I got out of it.  If necessary, we should be ready to fight to the death to defend our loved ones.

Shortly after, we see another demonstration of Hanayama's enormous grip strength, as he manages to pop the flesh on Baki's arm just as he did on Yuri.  However, unlike Yuri, Baki is lucky enough to have the nerves and muscles still intact so that he may continue to use his arm. It is important to know how to deal with injuries that you may sustain in training and in battle.  If you sustain an injury in training, continue to train, but work around it as best you can.  If your arm is injured, try to work on leg techniques and strength and vice versa.  Don't ever let an injury keep you from advancing in some form or fashion.  In a fight, if you sustain an immediate injury and are incapable of withdrawing (or wish to continue fighting), it is important that you adhere to a few rules.  First, do not let on to your opponent that you are injured.  Don't let him see you wince or favor a limb.  Next, evaluate the degree to which you are injured.  Is something strained, fractured, or broken?  Finally, attempt to work around the injury as best you can.  For instance, if your hand is broken, try throwing an elbows with the arm instead.  

Baki quickly wraps the wound (although I'm not sure why Hanayama waited for him to do that) and continues his attack.  Baki is caught a couple more times by Hanayama's monstrous grip, but counters the grabs with what appears to be Japanese Jujitsu.  In a real fight, it is not very often that a person will grab onto your wrist or forearm with all of his might.  However, if that does happen, Japanese Jujitsu has a myriad of counters for you to utilize.  I'll post a couple videos displaying some basic wrist and arm grab counters in a couple of days.  The theory behind it is, in turning your arm certain ways you can force your opponent off balance and throw him or make him fall over just because he's off balance.  These techniques are difficult to execute in the real world if not drilled repeatedly.  Do not think that just because you have seen someone use the technique or practiced it with a compliant opponent, that you will be able to actually use it in a fight.

Hanayama then decides that he wants to finish Baki and switches to a hitting style, where he has practically no defense but swings all of his weight into each and every punch.  Baki, though, throws his own punch at Hanayama's fist.  Initially, this may seem like a bad idea, but with Baki's accuracy and speed he's able to pin point strike, and break, Hanayama's pinky knuckle, ring finger, and thumb.  Using your strongest weapons and largest weapons against your opponent's smallest and weakest weapons (like fingers and toes) is a great way to disable him.  If one or two fingers are broken he will be unable to throw a punch with any degree of power and broken toes will stop him from being able to kick well, put proper weight on his feet, and will limit his ability to punch with his whole weight.  Fight hard, but always fight smart.  Unlike Hamayama's main lackey, I do not believe that fighting is about who has the ability to give and take the most damage, but who has the ability to give the most damage without taking damage.  It is important to be physically tough, but it is plain stupidity to take an attack just to prove your toughness.

Finally, through a couple of feints, Hanayama is able to knock Baki down with a big right hook.  However, he collapses from exhaustion, believing he has won.  However, because of Baki's foresight, he was able to prepare for this situation by biting down on some glass to reduce the damage received by Hanayama's punches.  Always possess the will to win, even if you are not entirely sure how you are going to do it.  In good sportsmanship, Hanayama declares Baki the winner and both the fighters revel in the glory of an awesome fight.  Remember, fighting just for the sake of fighting is not personal.  Judo matches, boxing matches, mma bouts... none of these are personal.  Always be a good sport in whatever realm of combat you pursue.  

I'll try to get you guys a couple Japanese Jujitsu videos up and maybe some other within the next week.  

Good luck and happy training.