The Library: Empty-Hand Fighting: Water Techniques

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You don’t need to live near a lot of water to understand the value of water techniques, but realistic training is not as obvious as it seems.

Water Everywhere

Deep, dynamic water provides the most realism.

Chongdo is not unique in recognizing that some fundamental rules change when the fight takes place in water. Water that is even hip-deep changes the way you can position your feet, turn, react, and distribute your weight. The effect of wet clothing is a simultaneous weight and motion restrictor. Linear techniques dominate, and responding to some attacks can throw both people backward.

Unfortunately, most systems that recognize this only use water as a training aid: developing stamina, fitness, balance, and demonstration. Few show their students how to fight in the water, and those that do generally chuck the students into a swimming pool. Unless you spend all your time in pools, and some people do, this training does not adequately cover what can happen.

Instead of using the local pool, place students in real water.

The effect of waves is dramatic. In water that is chest-deep, a three-foot wave can physically lift you and place you closer to an opponent. If you expect it, this can help. If you do not expect it, you can wind up with a mouthful of sea water and stinging eyes well within striking reach. One benefit is that wave action will try to separate you from the attacker, which can prove a great tool to escape.
A critical factor is the cold that can change the fight. Whether you experiment in the waters off San Francisco or our own Lake Michigan in Spring or Fall, the water’s chill can play havoc with your ability to fight. Fine motor skills erode quickly to brutal shivering, and this can be as physically exhausting as anything. A few seconds of fighting someone in cold, chest-deep water can seem like many minutes. Shivering can become violent enough to weaken holds on determined opponents.
A significant difference in open water versus the comfort of a swimming pool is the traction. While pools have smooth surfaces, open water usually provides significant traction for your feet to dig in and push. Of course, if you have ever placed your bare feet in the Atlantic waters off the Carolina coast, you know that the rocks and broken shells feel like glass: it is common and likely to slice your feet open even in training without footwear of some sort. Imagine how long you can hold out under those situations.

Water is a plentiful resource, and fights can and do break out near it or in it. It does not require enormous sophistication to train yourself or students in water techniques. Effectively, you merely modify existing techniques. However, be cautious about the use of swimming pools unless (a) you are merely starting out and want to see the most obvious differences, or (b) these constitute the largest water geographically you would be in. Instead, look for anything with a natural bottom and waves. And if you can experience real open water, with high waves and a coastal bottom, definitely go for it.