Rhythm

Admin Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 232

Hi Dave,

I read an interview with Tommy Smith recently. They were asking him (probably the hardest defender to ever lace up boots!) how he would handle Cristiano Ronaldo.

The question being, with the balance, skill and deceptive body positioning of Ronaldo how does a defender "stop" him. Or more correctly, make contact with him in the correct way.

Smith's reply was interesting. He said that what Ronaldo did meant nothing because he never took any notice of what the "man" was doing. He took notice of where the man was going. He didn't buy into the idea that the broken rhythm of Ronaldo was anything that should concern him because he wasn't dancing to the same music. He had a rhythm of his own based on what he knew his opponent "needed" to do in order to be dangerous or to "beat" him, he concentrated on those definites rather than what he thought the opponent MAY do. As a result, he moved that step ahead of an opponent in in his thinking.

I thought that had some direct correlation to combat. Pattern interrupts, perception of action, understanding of the requirements of body movement and not being pulled into the opponents game-plan. Smith probably would be unaware of how advanced his thinking was but its no surprise that his awareness of the topic made him world class as a football player.

No real question as such, just some things I thought were interesting from another physical perspective. Shows that movement of the body and physical endeavour is universal no matter what the past-time. There's a lot to be learned from guys who have been at the top of the physical game. More so than from a lot of MA instructors I suspect!

cheers
Chris

p.s. The interview also mentioned the time Smith handed a slip of paper to Jimmy Greeves in the tunnel just before walking onto the pitch at Anfield. It was the menu for the Liverpool Royal Infirmary! Very Happy

It seems like Smith had the mental as well as the physical measure of his opponents! Laughing

p.p.s. we have two new NE SDF dan grades. We "tested" them last night and both Jason and Sayid did very well. Top lads both of them and some of the new guys turned into animals when asked to put the pressure on!! scared the bejeezuz out of me! Very Happy

Subject: Re: Rhythm Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:49 am

First well done to the 2 new dan grades.. if they got they both earned and deserved it knowing you lot inthe NE..

Tom Smith eh? . hard man indeed..

He certainly had soem very valid points there.. also very similar to an old Wigan Rugby player of me youth BILLY BOSTON . he always said "The moment you enter your oppnents game an d try anything to counter it .. you are going to struggle.. no, get him to enter your game, by changing things around.

Its true and why blocks etc are not valid in street defence..because they mean you havent done anything to UPSET his rhythm, just stop his strike..

Your game plan should be superior to his game plan and should be all you worry about..

At a fairly arrogant hgh level, you almost 'ignore'what your opponent and just worry about what YOU are doing.

thanks for that Chris... just a little dig extra.. I'm pretty sure Tommy Smith didnt have a WAG and a pampered footballers lifestyle.. I bet he concentrate don training and playing not posing and drinking..

The 'mental' approach reminded me of the late great Fred Trueman'.. he was known for his 'put downs' to opposing players..

at Headingley he would hold the gate open when the two opposing batsmen came out to start proceedings and say

"Remember this gate Owd Luv, Tha'll be coming back through it in a moment"
and when he bowled a particularly evil unplayable delivery .. he would often say.. "That one wasted on a novice like Thee"

Subject: Re: Rhythm Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:41 pm

Chris, that reminds me of that old forward drive mentality article/presentation that I did years ago.