Spreading Branches

As the description says, this is just an example of the technique. It is done at a moderate speed, but with emphasis where needed. Not too fast so that you can't see what's happening. Not too slow as to get the feel of how it should work.

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Illustration

Here is our illustration of the Ideal Phase of the technique. You will notice that this illustration is unlike any of the written versions of the techniques to date. It contains a number of unique features, such as: not only what you are doing to the opponent, but also what the reaction to what you are doing should be; and both a horizontal and vertical clock of directions.

We feel that this illustration method is far superior to any other and leads to a more precise understanding of what is being done. So, if you start seeing this illustration methodology anywhere else, you know where it came from...

Clock Legend:
H = Horizontal (think flat on the floor)
V = Vertical (think standing up - straight thru your center-line)

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SPREADING BRANCHES

Situation: You are in a normal stance (facing 12:00H) with both of your arms at your side (toward 6:00V) with the opponent (at 6:00H) (facing 12:00H) applying a rear bear hug, with your arms pinned above the elbows, to your chest area.

1) Raise your left hand (toward 1:30V) and pin (toward 6:00H) both the opponent's hands to your body with your left palm (pinning check) with a step back (toward 7:30H), with your right foot, between the opponent's legs into a left reverse bow (stabilize base) (buckle) while simultaneously delivering a right thrusting back hammering hammer-fist (toward 7:30H) to the opponent's groin (major).
Result: The opponent's lower body should be thrust backward (toward 7:30H), while the upper body should begin to bend forward (toward 1:30H).  The opponent should also attempt to release the bear hug to cover the groin, but your left hand should prevent this from happening.

2) Raise your left arm (toward 1:30V) on the inside of the opponent's left arm, clearing it from your body (positioned check).  Continue the motion of your left arm over your right shoulder hooking the left, back side of the opponent's neck, palm down (toward 6:00V), while simultaneously raising your right hand upward (toward 12:00V), palm toward you (toward 10:30H) on the inside of the opponent's right arm, clearing it from your body (positioned check).  Continue the motion of your right arm over your right shoulder hooking the back, right side of the opponent's neck, palm down (toward 6:00V).

Note: This series of movements should end with the right hand on top of the left hand, both palms down (toward 6:00V), preventing the opponent from straightening their back (pinning checks).

3) Pull the opponent forward (toward 1:30H) and down (toward 7:30V) over your right shoulder, while executing a right upward (toward 1:30V) thrusting knee kick to the opponent's nose area (major).
Result: The opponent should attempt to grab the face, but the left arm should be stopped by your back and left shoulder.

4) Without losing any momentum from the previous moves, replant your right foot forward (toward 1:30H) into a right neutral bow (stabilize base), while simultaneously circling your right arm (counter clockwise V) from under the opponent's body into a right hammering inward overhead elbow strike (major) to the opponent's upper spine area (toward 6:00V) (gravitational marriage) and releasing and shifting (toward 7:30H) the left grab to the opponent's neck to your right solar plexus (positioned check), palm forward (toward 1:30H).
Result: The opponent should collapse to the ground (toward 6:00V) at your right flank, face down (toward 6:00V) (body on 1:30 - 7:30 line). Retract your right arm to a right vertical blocking position, while maintaining your other defenses.