Recollections on an Encounter
After nearly a week and a half of musing and general pondering and analyzing of the events that occurred Saturday evening on October 23rd, I have determined that my memory of my encounter, and subsequently my analysis of my performance, is only degrading with further time. I hope to outline here the events (to the best of my remembrance) and hopefully have Scott and Mike add their comments, be they critical or otherwise in the hopes of performing better the next time an event such as this occurs.
I don't feel its necessary to outline the events leading up to the action that is relevant to this piece and therefore I will skip directly to the important description.
I recall seeing a person in what resembled a Starter jacket pass near me on my left. He was facing me as he squeezed by someone else (Scott?). At this point I recall being more than observant about the person as his behavior just seemed...odd. Somehow this fellow made his way around to my back at which point he (attempted) to place me in a generic one arm choke hold.
Strangely, my mind emptied itself at this point. Everything was a calm and reasoned choice. I remember thinking "I wonder if my wing chun will work." and later thinking "Well, it better, because I don't really know what else to do." I can't stress enough how strange it is not to feel anything but calm in a situation like this.
Regardless, after realizing that this was not the type of situation that one sits around and thinks about, I jumped to the conclusion that I'd have to get myself out of said situation. My first inclination was to base myself out and drop my head. Strictly speaking, this was a poor decision on my part. On the other hand, it worked out alright. I recall coming up from underneath his arm on his left side. At this point he was struggling (with strength) to subdue me somehow. I don't remember using too much muscle, but I'm sure I used some. There was a feeling of extreme root and balance while freeing my arms somehow and him grabbing again, and freeing again.
I believe by this point I had several traps that I had executed, but honestly the only one I remember is a bong-sao (wing arm) or maybe bridge arms trap on his side. The trap only lasted a moment, but I recall having the opportunity to punch him and decided better of it for whatever reason.
Somehow after this, we separated briefly. During the interval of separation I asked him what he was doing...not in such polite terms, mind you, but a tad more polite than punching him in the face I suppose, and certainly more politely than the situation merited. I remember that he didn't have a response at all except to come at me again. To the best of my recollection, I threw up a man-sao (seeking arm) with my left arm as he came in and deflected most of the force. At this point I had adopted a stance that might have resembled the wing chun sidling stance, but I don't recall being too concerned about form at the time. I charged in (not fast, I don't believe) without even looking at him. In fact I remember specifically making the decision not to look at him. I felt several harmless blows whiff past my ears, my man-sao would have been in his face or close to it and he was moving backward and I presume off balance so there was a definitive lack of power in his strikes. I believe it is at this point that the encounter was broken up.
Anything that either Scott or Mike remember, or would like to observe would be very helpful. For those of you at home wondering who this person was. He was a bouncer at Valhalla (a local bar). I would say 6'2" or maybe 6'3". At least 185 lbs, probably closer to 190 or 195 lbs.
I don't feel its necessary to outline the events leading up to the action that is relevant to this piece and therefore I will skip directly to the important description.
I recall seeing a person in what resembled a Starter jacket pass near me on my left. He was facing me as he squeezed by someone else (Scott?). At this point I recall being more than observant about the person as his behavior just seemed...odd. Somehow this fellow made his way around to my back at which point he (attempted) to place me in a generic one arm choke hold.
Strangely, my mind emptied itself at this point. Everything was a calm and reasoned choice. I remember thinking "I wonder if my wing chun will work." and later thinking "Well, it better, because I don't really know what else to do." I can't stress enough how strange it is not to feel anything but calm in a situation like this.
Regardless, after realizing that this was not the type of situation that one sits around and thinks about, I jumped to the conclusion that I'd have to get myself out of said situation. My first inclination was to base myself out and drop my head. Strictly speaking, this was a poor decision on my part. On the other hand, it worked out alright. I recall coming up from underneath his arm on his left side. At this point he was struggling (with strength) to subdue me somehow. I don't remember using too much muscle, but I'm sure I used some. There was a feeling of extreme root and balance while freeing my arms somehow and him grabbing again, and freeing again.
I believe by this point I had several traps that I had executed, but honestly the only one I remember is a bong-sao (wing arm) or maybe bridge arms trap on his side. The trap only lasted a moment, but I recall having the opportunity to punch him and decided better of it for whatever reason.
Somehow after this, we separated briefly. During the interval of separation I asked him what he was doing...not in such polite terms, mind you, but a tad more polite than punching him in the face I suppose, and certainly more politely than the situation merited. I remember that he didn't have a response at all except to come at me again. To the best of my recollection, I threw up a man-sao (seeking arm) with my left arm as he came in and deflected most of the force. At this point I had adopted a stance that might have resembled the wing chun sidling stance, but I don't recall being too concerned about form at the time. I charged in (not fast, I don't believe) without even looking at him. In fact I remember specifically making the decision not to look at him. I felt several harmless blows whiff past my ears, my man-sao would have been in his face or close to it and he was moving backward and I presume off balance so there was a definitive lack of power in his strikes. I believe it is at this point that the encounter was broken up.
Anything that either Scott or Mike remember, or would like to observe would be very helpful. For those of you at home wondering who this person was. He was a bouncer at Valhalla (a local bar). I would say 6'2" or maybe 6'3". At least 185 lbs, probably closer to 190 or 195 lbs.