Safe Practise With Partners
Safe Practise With Partners in GoshinJutsu
Once the basics are learnt it is extremely effective and very easy to do, build on and keep refreshed.
Learning youshiki goshinjutsu as a means of effective self-protection does require a reasonable level of practise continuity to maintain the level of effectiveness.
You won’t forget your training – the timing and skills just become a little ‘rusty’.
These techniques become useful when they are ‘internalised’, they become automatic reactions. It is difficult to learn the techniques, timing and dynamic interaction of bodies in conflict without the help of partners.
You need to work with other human bodies of different shapes and sizes to get the true feel of the ‘potential’ effectiveness of techniques.
I say potential, because if we use the methods at 100% – nobody will want/be able to play!
We go at a speed that is comfortable for both consenting partners and strikes are either surface touched as a beginner, and then by consent, applied at a % level where the reactive response is just seen to be happening.
At the senior levels of training this, by consent and a little bit of padding, is pushed up the scale. This allows us to gauge our reactions to street type attacks, and quite frankly, come to terms with the fear and shock that is always present when confronted by hands on violence and intrusion into personal space.
Care must be taken when practising strikes to the body’s vulnerable and ‘pressure points’ as we will explain later.
“It is never wise to excessively resist the techniques being applied as it can easily result in serious injury.”
The study requires two people who are willing to work together and trust one another. Basic to this willingness and trust is the requirement of caution and courtesy.
If you are representing the attacker you must realise that your partner is learning the body movement and techniques so initially your attacks need not be so aggressive – keep the pace of your partner.
As each one of you becomes more proficient, then you can gently speed up the techniques. In this way each of you can increase your skill and self-confidence.
As the person executing the techniques you must be considerate of your partner acting as the attacker.
Amongst the techniques that you will learn includes those that are designed to cause injury by breaking or dislocating a limb at a joint boundaries. You MUST execute these techniques very slowly at first, gaining proficiency with each practised move and avoiding the chance of injury.
Also, be aware that linear fractures can go up and down a length of bone when excessive (rotational) torque is applied to the extremity.
It is never wise to resist the techniques being applied, as it can be result in serious injury quite easily. Equally, the person performing a technique must learn to respond to the physical feedback he or she is getting, and if a situation looks like it is getting out of control where a partner is over resisting and not acknowledging the technique is effectively being applied, then STOP!
Some techniques involve joint manipulation or locks into takedowns. Much of youshiki goshinjutsu is directed towards gaining a good understanding of body mechanics, structure, and responses – not pure application of your brute strength, which will fade with time and age and health.
If you or your partner exerts just that extra bit of pressure without appreciation of control and feedback, then someone will end up with a sprain or fracture!
We only want this result to happen in a real self-protection situation!
Your partner and yourself must assume a learning attitude during training times. You must be willing to help each other learn the techniques correctly and this will require good verbal and physical communication.
As beginners you should co-operate with each other completely, learning how to do the techniques correctly. As progression is achieved then the techniques can be increased in speed of attack and response.
You should always go with the technique when correctly applied (you’ll get to know when it is 
but do not fall down for your partner just to make him or her happy.
If you wish to help each other as friends, do it right to confirm your desire to learn and help each other.
To protect yourself in the dojo when held in pain or being successfully strangled, you should indicate submission by shouting a simple ‘YES!’ while tapping your partner, or stamping on the floor if your arms are trapped.
Your partner must IMMEDIATELY release the condition.
Also, while you are still a beginner and learning throws and takedowns – go with the movement and take care to hit the floor as shown in the notes for ‘breakfalling’.
Don’t try and see how much pain you can take or for how long you can take it.
Subtle injury may take place and accumulate over a period of time so be cautious and courteous.
Malcolm Keith
Chief Instructor
Youshiki Goshinjutsu
Link to this page