Balance? Why balance?

Balance, probably the universal element that is the most consistently attacked and defended and the reason for many wrestling traditions in all cultures. The metaphor for the skill in being able to unbalance an opponent, and for some to continue one step further to pin the opponent for a set time duration signifies a win, or in the case of a medieval battlefield, use the opportunity to spear or kill your downed enemy with your sword.

What makes it so challenging? What is the point of being in balance and unbalancing your training partner? Many cultures that once wielded a sword during their military history as the main weapon of choice needed these martial skills. However, times have changed, military weapons have since evolved but in hand-to-hand combat distance, the importance of being able to unbalance your opponent is still the key to victory, whether it is to execute a take down, throw or strike. 

If you are on an medieval battlefield, armed with a sword, facing an adversary similarly armed, either your sword handling skills were superior or your entry and wrestling skills had to be dominant in order for you to survive.

If you were able to unbalance your opponent and throw him, his sword was pretty ineffective at that time, giving you a significant advantage and time to injure or kill your adversary as you had the superior fighting position leaving your adversary with no mobility and little defensive capabilities.

I suppose this is such a significant skill and posed such a tactical advantage that the skills of unbalancing (involving wrestling, throwing, grip fighting, positional movement) is seen in many cultures and throughout the history of time.

It can be considered primal but a skill that is very potent and alive today. Fortunately these skills did not go extinct with the sword and shield, spear and net, or matchlock rifle. Many cultures recognized the health and cultural benefits of wrestling and the fact that you could "symbolize" a win by throwing your opponent without having to shed blood, and you could do this repeatedly. Like many martial arts it also served as an outlet for men to express themselves in this uniquely masculine activity (not to say that women are excluded but honestly, the gentler sex makes up a small percentage in the functional martial arts in general) without actually causing any permanent harm.

Much of the same tactical dynamics are required in what we do in CMD, boxing, Monkey Jits, personal safety and so on. It is one of the 4 drivers in the CMD program so spend some time working on your balance through strengthening, being mindful and blindfolded drills as practice.