When you learn real Kung Fu fighting, there are certain truths about how to survive. One of the truths is that the human mental apparatus shuts down during combat, and survival mode kicks in. Fighters who survive by the amount of adrenaline kicked in would have you believe this is good, but it is not, it is the worst thing that could happen.

As a species we don't have claws, or smells, or quills, or jaws, or any particular physical attribute that would help us survive, except that beasty we call a mind. It is the mind that solves problems, it is the mind that helps us adapt to any situation. It is this thing called a mind that we must learn how to control if we are to reach our full potential as humans in the fighting mode.

First, one must control the distance in a fight, by controlling distance we have choice whether we wish to kick, punch, knee, elbow, or whatever. The way to do this is to tie a string from your belt to his, and have that string the length of the distance you wish to maintain. Now, move so that the string always stays taut, and never breaks…within a short time your body will move with the other persons body because it likes the harmonious aspect of this.

We must control how the legs move. The best leg positioning is when the legs are in a matching stance, which is to say his left leg is forward and so is yours, the second best position is when you are in an opposing stance, which is to say his left leg is forward, and your right leg is forward. The way to train yourself to always have a matching stance is to work with the string while walking, and to strive to always stay in a matching stance.

We must control how the arms move, again, in a matching or opposing sense. No string needed for this particular exercise, but you do have to be aware of distance, you have to match the movement of your partners arms as he closes distance. The way to do this is merely to control the set up of the stances and to practice matching arm motions.

We must analyze movement and positioning for the techniques that work best for matching, and for opposing. Yes, you want a matching stance, but whatever happens, you should be able to train yourself to handle it. The trick is in a basic matrixing principle, to realize that whether matching or opposing, your arm will be either inside of his, or outside of his, and then find that technique that this position can grow into.

We must make everything work as if it was designed to work in unison. This would appear difficult, except that if you have worked on the individual exercises I have described here, then the whole thing comes together easy squeezy. The body, you see, even while it is being put upon, likes to work as a well oiled and harmonious unit.

Control the distances of a fight, control the arrangement of stance through positioning, control arms by understanding whether they are inside or outside, this is simple stuff, but entirely overlooked by todays MMA fighters. But if you do understand what I have said in this article, however then you will rise to the front of the pack, for you are putting awareness and the ability to think into reality. Whether you study Uechi or Krav Maga, kenpo or tae kwon do, Aikido or Arnis, the truths in this article, the hint of matrix martial arts that I have shared, will make you a better fighter…an immensely and fantastically better fighter!