Trumps what?

In the ancient Bubishi there are two hand to hand combative methods prominently discussed and depicted, they are the Tiger method of Body Change and the Crane method of Body Change.

These two methods (purposefully not referred to as styles), have within them the "Body Change" dynamics that yield certain physical skills and mental acuity as they develop a specialized spirit or tactical approach.  This occurs with actual changes in the Neuro Functionality of the body as well as the mental accesses / cross neural programming    These are deeper physiological changes, not the more rudimentary Iron Shirt or body strengthening changes (yes these are a part of the overall Body Change concept within, but again the base levels and not the full change potential).

Another more advanced but typical and rudimentary Body Change that occurs in training either of these methods, is in the automatic functional responses of the practitioner on a structural basis.  This is where the muscles get stronger and faster, as well as developing new neural pathways to increase a more automatic or reflexive response without conscious thought, but again this is done in all Martial Arts and not the deeper physiological changes that these special methods create.

These are referred to as "methods" (not a style) as they were ways and approaches to training, not merely a physical form of compiled techniques, but rather a way to completely rewire and change the entire body.  They are also methods of utilizing the vital points of the opponent with far greater results based on neuro-functionality and physiology.  As such, each uses a separate approach; the Crane enacts the practitioners own Body Change capability and the Tiger Enacts the Body Change upon the opposition.  So it would appear at first glance that they are equal, just different in their approach... but there is an important distinction...  the Tiger actually enacts both!

Now that in itself would not make one necessarily better than the other... that is totally in the hands of the practitioner and how they develop within each method or in their ability to correctly deploy it.  However the greater possibility, probability and capability all lay within the domain (or claws if you will), of the Tiger.  To Be Able To enhance your own functionality and potential as you weaken the opponent, is a distinct advantage...  we are not just talking about hitting a weaker target on the opponent, but fundamentally weakening his physiological structure to make that and all targets substantially weaker.

In the past expositions on Kyusho we have discussed how the balance of the individual can create weakness or strength in the body or it's ability to withstand strikes.  This is valid still and utilized in both methods of Tiger and Crane, but these physiological changes are even deeper.  This is why these two methods have been revered above all others for centuries, it is our modern addiction and dependence upon machines, chemicals and measurements that has obscured this knowledge from us for so long.

So which would win in a fight?

Again that would depend on the practitioners skills acquired in each method, but think of this:

In our modern time we have seen the advent of MMA, where originally many fighters of various disciplines came together to compete using those methods.  What we bore witness to was a great wake up call to most Martial Artists, and that was if the Tiger (Grappler) got past the Crane (Striker), there was little chance of victory for the Crane.  What was also evident was that until people started cross training,  the striker was virtually lost when the grappler got past the strikes, but the grappler could easily enact both methodologies from either range.

Now the above observation is not the basis of the Kyusho information on Body Change being related to you within this posting... but it does help to delineate and explain the ideology behind it.  These are both high skills to be sure, but completely forgotten to time.  We have found this information however deeply buried in several old texts and scrolls requiring over 10 years of deciphering, research, cross research with medical and scientific apparatus and knowledge and yes more field testing.  This has and will have profound implications in the Martial Arts (especially Karate Kata) as well as all professional and amatuer sports, their coaches and trainers and the holistic health practitioners around the world.

So when we look at the Bubishi, we must understand that man had a more intense and natural understanding of the human condition based on experience and observation.  In modern times we developed such sophisticated mechanical devices to look inside, but we lost our human connection via conjecture based on made made machines and chemicals.  When you get back to the natural law of experience and observation the information of that day and age begin to reveal themselves.  They did nt try to re-think the human, test it with man made devices, they listened, recorded and refined via the natural route... so too must we if we are to really understand the deeper ramifications in these type documents and the Martial Arts themselves.

Other Applications?

To understand this concept a bit more, let's look at professional sports (any of them), from Football (US) to Soccer, to track, Boxing, Hockey, Race Car driving, Swimming, Gymnastics.... and all the rest, there are great athletes and then there are the elite athletes.  The Elite possess this incredible attribute naturally and why they are faster, stronger, more agile, etc... but beyond that they have unlocked the full human potential!  Their sport oozes out of every pore and they move as no other in that sport... this is natural talent... but again it can be learned and taught as it is all neural reprogramming and we have uncovered it's essence and how to manipulate certain aspects.

For the Martial Artist this can be incorporated into their forms, techniques, warmups, even fighting where it should always lead to, and join that with enhanced targeting abilities (yes to Kyusho Targets... those weaker anatomical structures that keep the body functioning and even standing or conscious) from increased speed and dexterity and it is the ultimate package.

This information is something that affects the performance of the human body, as well as ways to correct the malfunctions that occur during our lives.  If we can help you enhance your physical actions and physiological functionality, this will increase the health and longevity of the practitioner as well.

If you can effectively Body Change (as with the Crane Skills) for greater Neurological Potency and Ability, you will command greater affect on an opponent, this is a valuable and fantastic skill above and beyond the typical Martial Art.  However if you can do that along with enacting a Body Change (as with Tiger Skills) for greater Neurological weakness in the opponent as you gain a greater Neurological ability in yourself... well that Trumps all.

-ep