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Concentrate on your breathing. The breath should slightly proceed your movement and is what links every move you make.
There are other ways where you do not move your feet a great deal. In this kind of work it is vital that the movements you make have real substance so that they ensure your safety. It is no good to wave your hands around without any idea of what you are doing. To work in this manner you have to be very sure of your actions and that they are going to make you safe. They cannot be a random set of gestures that you hope your opponent will react to. If the attacker does not react to your movements they must still make you safe. Often this is achieved because the attacker runs into a strike or part of the body that is unpleasant for them.
Please understand that fast work does and must exist within the system. The key is that the speed is very much dictated by the attacker. Because there is a very real chance of injury if they get it wrong the attacker will often not attack with full speed unless they are either very experienced, a complete beginner or it is a real fight.
Also there is the area of work where we pre-empt the opponents attack and strike or seize the initiative before they get a chance to strike. Unless the attacker is a professional or completely insane there will be some kind of build up before a physical attack commences. With experience you can finish a fight before the opponent has finished making up his mind to start it. The only disadvantage with this work can be the perception of bystanders and that the opponent will often believe they have been attacked in an unprovoked manner. However the truth is that you have recognised the signs and have just prevented him from throwing the first blow.
It is important that we practice the system in a manner that teaches in the most efficient way. If our movements are stiff and clumsy at slow speed it would not be appropriate to go faster. With time you can increase the pace of your sessions, but always return to the slow work because that is where we learn the most.
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