Cursive vs linear...

[NightOwl]

btw, what's Gatki?

OOPs      typo it should be Gatka the Sikh martial art. 

We had a great demo link of it on the previous board that really showed the foot work of multiple practitioners who were training.  Although it is weapons and particularly dual weapon oriented. the foot work looked to me, very much like what some stylists call "walking the circle," which also looked to me like the foot work in Akido especially when engaging multiple oponents.

Sincerely, NightOwl

[Bluecrab]

The question in my mind is  are there "circular" striking arts at all.  Akijutsu based arts and things like Gatki seem to be weapons or graple based even though they also have strikes.

NightOwl,

Our style of hapkido comes from a style of Aikijujutsu, in all probability Daito-ryu. We train lots of strikes, although one strike that's conspicuously absent from our style is the basic karate-style closed-fist punch.

btw, what's Gatki?

[Chihua-ku]

The question in my mind is  are there "circular" striking arts at all. 
Sincerely, NightOwl

Most internal arts, some snake stylists, some dragon stylist, combat tai chi, use circular strikes and cursive movement. But cursive techniques are usually hand techniques, not kicking techniques, since they idea is continuous movement, since traditional arts usually you do not kick more than twice before putting the foot down.

[NightOwl]

From what I see most striking arts have circular techniques such as the round house kick the hook kick and the back fist. Yet at the same time they that is the majority of techniques are linear and the circular techniques tend to leave a bigger opening for a faster oponent.

The question in my mind is  are there "circular" striking arts at all.  Akijutsu based arts and things like Gatki seem to be weapons or graple based even though they also have strikes. I don't know much about it but I suspect Wing Chun might be a circular striking art but I don't know enough to know.

What do you all think.

Sincerely, NightOwl

[bogirl]

I think some cursive movement MAY be more natural, but to learn to actually strike a chosen target and generate power with cursive movement takes more training.   The wild haymaker punch is usually very inaccurate, maybe striking the face, but not a specific target like the nose or temple.

Straight strikes are easier to learn to hit a specific target, so it can become a normal progression.  Learn to target with a straight strike, then start adding the curve.

[Chihua-ku]

True crusive style is harder to learn. The best metaphor would be, is easier to learn to write print style than to learn to write cursive. The reason is same as when you write cursive, you do not stop as you move. It is constant. In our style everyone learns linear first, then, the advance students learn all beginners forms in cursive style. And believe me, is not as easy as linear.

[Brandon]

Here's a question: Is cursive or linear more natural? I have found that linear strikes (such as a side kick or straight punch) are more difficult for people to learn than curving/swinging ones such as a roundhouse kick. Even people with practice often cock their arms out and don't throw punches as straight as they should. Plus, isn't the stereotypical no training "haymaker" punch sort of a circular, swinging motion?

[bladesaint]

 I think the cursive strikes have to a part of you for you employ them properly. It sound as if you are still the the mechanical stage of learning them but still are not natural to you. You can't force it on you either. No shortcuts with this. Its like learning to play a musical instrument r anything complex.

[Chihua-ku]

I had to admit, cursive style is slowly growing on me. It just takes a lot of practice before it begins to feel natural.

[bogirl]

Actually, if you are putting your whole body into the cursive movement, (coiling or uncoiling) cursive strikes can be just as powerful as linear strikes, or even more so.

Cursive strikes can also be more deceptive and harder to block.

Linear strikes can be quicker on the delivery, and with less set-up, may be easier to avoid telegraphing.

Both have their place and deserve practice.

[Gi]

I'd tend to agree with Brandon and practice and develop everything. Everything has it's place.

[Brandon]

Chihua

That seems like a good strategy. There's certainly a place for both in truely martial applications, I'd think.

[Chihua-ku]

Well Brandon, when you put it that way, I guess I stick to linear for sparring (more power) and cursive for tournaments (faster).

[Brandon]

Trouble with cursive is that they can be less powerful and take longer to arrive, despite technically moving faster (shortest distance between 2 points.) Not that there aren't good times to use one over the other.

[Chihua-ku]

Let's forget about the whole internal/external dichotomy of Chinese martial arts. This topic is not about that. What I want to know if which you prefer: Cursive or linear.

Linear is clear strikes and blocks. Easy to learn, movements are direct, clear and solid.

Cursive is faster, circular movements, allows for more than one strike, deceptive angles.

Seems that cursive is a no brainer for sparring... But is so hard to pull off... Even when I make my mind of using cursive movements, most of the time I default to linear strikes whenever I spar. 

What I am doing wrong? Or am I overthinking too much? Or, let's be honest, perhaps I am not yet at the next level..? And yes, feel free to tell me which one you prefer when sparring and why?