Jose Campos - Inner Attitude
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In the picture leading yesterday's article, as well as in the picture here, Campos' lead palm is facing the baseball. The picture posted yesterday conveys a much better impression of Campos' relaxed attitude.
The palms-connected-by-a-string motion creates --- > a "dynamic spiral" within the plane of Campos' shoulder turn. His shoulders, arms and hands are in harmony with the single intent of his mind.
Other examples ... the two-handed SpockPunch, or any golf swing, or watch a tennis player "gather" his groundstroke with his lead arm.
The alternative would be to have the glove facing the plate, "greedily" reaching out to grab it. The idea is that Campos is getting himself under control first, before worrying about a rush to grab his object.
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The palms are a critical "tell" of inner attitude in any interpretation of body language, the more so in aiki waza.
For example, one time we mediated an argument between two business opponents. One of the men had open arms, often reaching out to recline on the back of the sofa, and his palms were consistently facing the other man. This man had complete, inner, confidence that he was in the right. (He wasn't, which is another chapter...)
Quickest way to tell whether a fellow human's attitude towards you is "enthusiastic" or "guarded" is to check the % of the time you can see their open palms...
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That's about 10 degrees of subject. In martial technique -- sports competition is budo -- the palms can give a clear signal as to where the soldier's ideas are.
One time, Jeff Sullivan and I chatted pitching motions and he argued for the "tucked glove" lead arm, though he cheerfully admitted he was going strictly off intuition and preference. I didn't quite get what he meant by that, but Campos' overall body language in this photo really gets the idea across. It took that specific picture for me to "get it" as far as the inward-facing palm in the pitching motion.
You're not going to see a tennis player "gather" a forehand stroke with his lead arm... and ever see his left hand facing the opponent. :- ) Jeffy's intuition on the tucked glove turned out to be right, in my opinion.
No question about it - an aiki sensei would counsel the tucked glove. Problem is, consciously tucking the glove wouldn't accomplish the natural dynamic that a pitcher like Campos has before he even thinks about it.
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We don't say that a tucked glove means a 2.99 ERA. :- ) But some 18-year-olds are gifted. What others have to work years for, they do with no effort at all.