Tim

Here's an interesting clip of Rampage vs. Liddell in Pride:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMzRLGukxA

Jackson demonstrate a very polished "cage" in this fight. The "cage" being the raised elbow(s) deflecting incoming head strikes a la MMA style boxing.

Combatives training analyzes the concept of the cage (and different permutations thereof) a good deal in terms of the "default response." In other words, training to deal with a sucker punch attack, ingraining an "instinctive" cover response which protects the head in the case of an encounter that is not a hands up fight, but rather a response to a sudden attack/ambush.

Do the internal arts have anything similar to this concept? I remember seeing a photo of Liang Kequan doing something like it from Xing Yi (Tiger Embraces the Head or something like that...) and I know you have taught the elbow cover in one of your seminars up here, but wondering if that is an IMA concept or something you have integrated from modern MMA?

The "Tiger Hugs its Head" from Xingyiquan is basically the same method of covering.

The covering method I show is from the IMA, although it's fundamentally the same as boxing/MMA covering

Cool - is there a "double cover" with both arms up covering the head?

Or using the elbow as a spearing/driving in technique from the cover? That sounds very xing yi...

You can bring both hands up to cover, or one covers as the other hand strikes.

The original idea is to move into the opponent with the covering elbow in an effort to "impale" him as he moves in to strike.

Ah, combatives 101...

Tim
Is that different than "Cat washes face" type technique?
Jake

Different. The "Cat Washes its Face" is a cross parry, usually used when you slip outside straight punches.

The difference is one is inside-out the other is outside-in.

internal server error = double post

this ancient discussion board needs to be revised.

So where is "Tiger hugs its head" found?
Thanks
Jake

It's a separate practice.