Batdance

So with Batman opening this past weekend I feel it important that I address some of the martial arts aspects used in the filming of the movie. I've always been a fan of Batman and enjoyed the martial arts aspects of the first Michael Keaton film as well as those in the more recent 2005 Batman Begins movie. Batman's techniques have always come from a no nonsense type of style. In Batman Begins we saw elements of Ninjutsu in the League of Shadows, this was apparent in Batman's stealthy nature and theatrics, but when it came to actual combat, viewers were treated to an art that had never been seen on film. The style used in the latest two films is called the Keysi Fighting Method, KFM for short. I liken it to Krav Maga in that it tends to use a lot of close quarters combat with heavy emphasis on elbow strikes and attacks from multiple opponents. Of course the art also encompasses many other moves that are found in more traditional martial arts such as kicks, punches, throws and locks.

The martial arts practitioner uses both fine motor skills and gross motor skills. In traditional martial arts, many moves require fine motor skills to be executed with perfection, this is particularly true in systems that emphasize pressure point and joint locks. Training in techniques that require fine motor skills add additional pain and damage to each strike. The down side to techniques that require fine motor skills is that they are much harder to carry out in stressful situations and may not be effective if not carried out precisely. Note that I am NOT dismissing fine motor skills here but emphasizing that they take more practice to carry out properly in an adrenaline-charged situation.

KFM's emphasis is more towards gross motor skills and encompasses techniques that one would naturally do in a high adrenalin situation such as covering the head with the hands and protecting the face and body. The other advantage to gross motor skills in stressful situations is that techniques become faster and more powerful unlike fine motor skills. This added aggressiveness gives the art a more animalistic appearance. Perfect for Batman.

KFM redefines the relationship of the predator and prey. In most martial arts instead of following your instincts, you look for a more logical approach to the situation. There are many reasons for this. There is an old proverb that says "When you defend yourself, there are always two fights. The first fight is for your life, and the second fight is for your freedom." This is in reference to the justice system and the laws regarding self-defense. According to Justo Dieguez and Andy Norman, the founders of KFM, the predator is an innate part of all human beings that has been suppressed* and KFM looks to reclaim that predatory state during an attack. When an attacker views you as prey, you must immediately switch modes to become the predator and view your attacker as the prey. This gives you a significant psychological advantage and is perfect for the Batman character. So, in the new movie don't expect a lot of high wire work but rather a more down to earth fighting style that feels grubbier with punches you can feel through the screen.

* Lt. Col. David Grossman wrote in his book On Killing: There is within most men an intense resistance to killing their fellow man. A resistance so strong that, in many circumstances, soldiers on the battlefield will die before they can overcome it.