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Sticky Hands exercise


What is this exercise? This set, though it shares the name, is not the same as the common "Sticky Hands" exercise in martial arts such as Tai Chi and Kung Fu. The "real" Sticky Hands exercise is a reflex training exercise where opponents try to score a hit on each other while maintain contact with each others' wrists.
     The "Sticky Hands" set we practice is only very remotely related to the "real" exercise, in that arm-to-arm contact is maintained throughout each step. This exercise is a series of attacks, blocks and counters between an agressor and a defender. This set can be practiced as a "one step", where the agressor takes one step and punches, or as a three-step, on-going series, where the agressor advances 3 times and then the agressor and defender switch roles and repeat the series. Also, there is a variation on the series in which the last step by the agressor ends in a throw. This is described after the description of the normal set below.

How to read this description: In the descriptions below, there are two people, called "Person A" and "Person B". One will be defined as the agressor and the other as the defender. In the three-step variation, most of the moves are repeated three times or more. Instead of re-describing these moves, I simply refer back to the original description. If the referral mentions to "switch sides", this means that all the rights turn into lefts, and vice versa.


Variation 1: One Step
Agressor = Person A
Defender = Person B
Move 1AgressorStep forward with the right foot into right front stance, high punch with the right fist.
Move 2DefenderStep back with the left foot into left back stance or right front stance, outward knife-hand block with the right hand to Agressor's wrist (picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Agressor's elbow (picture). Palm heel strike with the right hand to Agressor's face (picture).
Move 3AgressorOutward knife-hand block with the right hand to Defender's wrist (picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Defender's elbow (picture). Palm heel strike with the right hand to Defender's face (picture).
Both return to Ready Position


Variation 2: Three Step Set
Agressor = Person A
Defender = Person B
Move 1AgressorStep forward with the right foot into right front stance, high punch with the right fist.
Move 2DefenderStep back with the left foot into left back stance or right front stance, outward knife-hand block with the right hand to Agressors's wrist (picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Agressor's elbow (picture). Palm heel strike with the right hand to Agressor's face (picture).
Move 3AgressorOutward knife-hand block with the right hand to Defenders's wrist (picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Defender's elbow (picture). Palm heel strike with the right hand to Defender's face (picture).
Move 4AgressorRepeat Move 1 with switched sides.
Move 5DefenderRepeat Move 2 with switched sides. (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3)
Move 6AgressorRepeat Move 3 with switched sides. (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3)
Move 7AgressorRepeat Move 1.
Move 8DefenderRepeat Move 2 (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3).
Move 9AgressorRepeat Move 3 (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3).
Move 10DefenderRepeat Move 3, acting as Agressor (block twice and counter strike). (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3)
Agressor = Person B
Defender = Person A
Repeat Moves 1-10 with switched sides.


Variation 3: Throw on the last step
This can either be done as a one-step, as with Variation 1, or replacing the last step (Moves 7-10) of Variation 2.
Agressor = Person A
Defender = Person B
Move 1AgressorStep forward with the right foot into right front stance, high punch with the right fist.
Move 2DefenderStep back with the left foot into left back stance or right front stance, outward knife-hand block with the right hand to Agressors's wrist (picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Agressor's elbow(picture). Palm heel strike with the right hand to Agressor's face(picture).
Move 3AgressorOutward knife-hand block with the right hand to Defenders's wrist(picture). Reverse palm strike with the left hand to Defender's elbow(picture).
Step through with the right foot into side stance on your left of the Defender while putting the left arm around the Defender(picture). Twist to the left to throw the Defender over the hip and right leg onto the ground(picture).


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