Shield Hook

Exercise 1

Figure 16a

Figure 16b

Figure 16c

Figure 16d

The first exercise is to move the fingers and hand of the shield arm in the slow movements of the "snatch" version.

• Start in a fighting stance without a weapon or shield. Have the fingers of the shield hand closed. Please see Figure 16a, above.
• Position yourself in front of an upright pole (one about the size of a rattan sword blade is best). The pole should be close enough so that when you extend your shield arm, your fingers extend completely past the pole.
• Leaving the shield elbow at your side for as long as possible, slowly extend the shield arm, and at the same time uncurl and extend the fingers. Please see Figure 16b, above. Aim at a point just slightly to the left of the pole. Time the extending of the fingers so that they become fully extended just as they pass the pole. Please see Figure 16c, above.
• At the same time, extend your sword arm back towards the position normally reached at the rearmost extension of an overhead return. it should reach that point just as the fingers of the shield hand are fully extended.
• Withdraw the shield hand, curling the fingers around the pole. If you have a training partner to hold the pole, you can pull it back towards you. Please see Figure 16d, above.
• At the same time, start moving the sword hand forward in a strike.

Exercise 2

The second exercise is to "snatch" small objects out of the air with the movements of the "snatch" version.

• Start in a fighting stance without a weapon or shield. Have the fingers of the shield hand closed.
• Have a friend throw small, rubber balls, or tight balls of paper gently at you, towards different targets. Have the friend use an underhand lob. Don't practice with rocks if you value your knuckles.
• As they come in range, reach out and grab them. Do not sweep through them, but rather reach out, opening your hand so that the fingertips just miss the ball, close your hand around it, and move quickly back.