We've been playing with an idea here in Bangkok. It's something we worked briefly on when I trained in Tim's class. Maybe I'm a bit slow but I'm finally seeing the beauty of the concept. Control positions. Back Control, Side Control, Inside Whizzer, etc. The Idea is to use body covering, wrestling, striking or whatever to arrive at a position where you have more control of your opponent (and his center) than he has of you. I'm not talking about an entry - you use an entry to get to this position. And it's not a technique - you can do many techniques from this position. It's momentary however and you have to submit, take-down or throw quickly. Here's how it works. Each position has a limited number of follow up actions (strikes, throws, or takedowns) as options. We look at the options stemming from a single control position and rep them out based on internal principles. So when you are sparring around and all of a sudden you fall into inside whizzer for example you then instinctively may go over the shoulder with your free arm for a unicorn throw, under the arm for a hip throw, etc. We're still working on the idea but it's really speeded up the learning curve of my students. It's similar to the way, in BJJ, you always know if your in a better position based on where you are in relation to your opponent - only standing up. In BJJ you know that you can do X techniques from the guard. If I get side control (hugging your waist or over your shoulder with my lead arm and head behind your lead shoulder) I know I can do any multitude of techniques from there. Just look at how many Taijiquan techniques can be initiated from holding the opponents wrist and elbow. We free spar with the National Collegiate Judo, Boxing and Muay Thai competitors at the Thammasat University where I teach and the idea has worked really well for us. So well that it feels like we really have an unfair advantage almost like cheating. Didn't someone once say "If your not cheating you're not trying hard enough". Any thoughts?

P.S. Thanks for the info and advice Tim. Really appreciate it.

"So well that it feels like we really have an unfair advantage almost like cheating. Didn't someone once say "If your not cheating you're not trying hard enough"."

That was Judo Gene Lebell, kook. Don't be talking about Gene in a negative way, I'll fly to Bankok and put you in a f&*#&in' Arabian Belly stretcher. Put that in your muay thai and smoke it, sheila.

And bankok banana, aren't you describing what is a big part of what internal training is supposed to do? Chr&st, you studied with Cartmell and you have to go to Thailand to get it? When you said you're a little slow, that was an understatement. I'm a little confused, I thought Cartmell knew what he was doing? I'm glad you don't live in the States and control nuclear missles. Kook.

"There's only ONE Friggin' Betty, Big Balled Betty!"

So that's who said it. Lebell is pretty damn cool. Never seen the Arabian Belly stretcher but it sounds wild! Love to see it sometime. Hey I know this concept is a big part of internal. Tim often stressed it. I've trained with internal teachers in China and Malaysia also and Tim is the only one who ever made it clear and BJJ (another internal style in my opinion) has made a science of it. I didn't get in Thailand Betty. I just started using the idea as a main focus in training and sparring and it worked well and I wanted to share it on the board. I hear a lot of talk about internal energies, history, etc. If this is such a fundamental concept why don't I hear more about it in discussions on internal martial arts? And Betty, fly on over. You can e-mail me for the adress.

Hey Kook,
Most internal teachers suck at fighting that's why. You got screwed studying all your tai chi with those lineage guys. Hey, but at least when you teach tai chi (like when you were doing in LA) you can tell your students that you had some old man rub your anal region and give you the secrets. That usually impresses idiots. It sells students, right? Cartmell was the only guy that told you the truth.

And don't ever threaten me sissy boy. I know who you are...

You know me, too. You don't want to f*&K with the Betty! Send me a ticket and line up as much poon as you can find. The Betty's been rubbing his chakra's and is reading to go.

"There's only ONE Betty! Big Friggin' Balled Betty!!!"

Bring your Viagra Betty!!! You're gonna need it Chakras or not.