How often have you heard the phrase, “timing is everything?” I’ve heard it most of my martial arts career, whether it was in wrestling, Karate, BJJ, or Judo. Maybe the phrase is a bit overplayed, but I’d like to offer a perspective on why timing is so important.

In my studies of rhetoric and philosophy, I stumbled upon a concept that I think embodies martial arts timing. The term in Greek is kairos, meaning the opportune moment or the perfect time for a given action. This contrasts chronological time, which is linear and often thought to be forward progressing. Think of kairos as more spatial or context-appropriate.

How does kairos apply in martial arts? I’ve seen it pop up in various arts that I’ve trained in. Here are a few examples:

Judo: To me, one of the best illustrations from Judo is the foot sweep. While most of the throws in the art involve timing and finesse, a well-timed foot sweep is effortless and beautiful. My personal favorite is the kouchi gari. There is not much better to me than the feeling of my opponent’s foot sliding out from under him after I sweep it forward.  

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: My friend Scott often talks about “timing and sensitivity” in Jiu-Jitsu. This might mean feeling the right moment to throw on an armbar or to slip a hook in and take your opponent’s back. Another scenario is when someone is passing your guard, and you feel that tipping point. Just when he tries to close the distance and get top pressure, you slip in an underhook and use it to battle back to your feet.

Striking: From my limited experience in the striking arts such as Karate, Boxing, and Muay Thai, a common technique that fits the kairos concept is the counter punch or kick. To counter a strike means you recognize your opponent’s movement and act either a split second before he makes contact or flow alongside his movement but contrary to it.

In each of these examples, kairos adds an element of spontaneity and unpredictability, allowing us to capitalize on critical moments during a match or sparring session. Part of mastering any art is mastering the timing between techniques, which also involves feeling or seeing what your opponent is doing.

Be present and in the moment. I think that is the start to understanding both kairos and human interaction in general. Let me know your thoughts and how kairos might apply in your martial arts or life.

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