| I'm not suggesting that you copy every move | | | | his body in close, for some quick, torture throws. |
| that your cat makes, and you shouldn't go out | | | | For me, I decided to throw three long punches, |
| and suddenly develop the calico style of martial | | | | and then suddenly scoot forward into a closer |
| arts. But believe it or not, your cat really can | | | | range for a shorter jab, followed by an elbow |
| offer one particularly valuable martial-arts lesson..... | | | | strike. |
| Animal Kung Fu Styles | | | | When he played with the spider by throwing it up |
| Imitating animals for martial purposes is nothing | | | | in the air and snapping at it, I decided to practice |
| new. They have been doing it in China for | | | | face-level backfists. |
| centuries. You have styles that imitate cobras, | | | | I decided not to go overboard with his final, |
| tigers, monkeys, white cranes, a praying mantis, | | | | technique, because he tired of the spider, he |
| and so on. | | | | grabbed the old tennis ball (belonging to our black |
| Again, this isn't about learning any new techniques | | | | Labrador dog), and tangled with it into a death |
| from your furry, feline frolicker. Your little buddy | | | | grip and roll. |
| is going to give you some training drills. | | | | [Hmm. Almost as though someone slipped him |
| Rhythm Training | | | | some catnip.] |
| The other day, I was watching one our family's | | | | Distance Variations For Your Punches |
| cats batting at a spider. Stanley was absolutely | | | | I also decided to practice Stanley's distance |
| fascinating to watch. I particularly liked the way | | | | variations. |
| that he jabbed at the brown spider. | | | | As he jabbed, he would increase the length of the |
| And I started copying him. I imitated the rhythm | | | | punch, little by little. I decided to increase the |
| of our black cat's punches. Short, short, short, | | | | distance of my punches in sets of five. After the |
| short, hook! | | | | fifth punch, I would reset back to a short, |
| That was to be my first pattern. | | | | tentative jab.... and repeat the lengthening process. |
| As the spider got further away, Stanley switched | | | | After twenty minutes of "copycat practice," I felt |
| to a series of longer reaches with his jabs. These | | | | that my punches had definitely gained some |
| became my long punches. | | | | precision. I also felt the muscle fatigue of a good |
| Then he had long "punches" combined with pulling | | | | workout. |