The Mechanical Model

Reaction hand movement has one job: help the body arrive aligned at the finish. It is not a separate “power trick.” It is part of total-body coordination.

• Efficient: direct pull, shoulders stay down, arrives with the finish.
• Inefficient: yank, shoulder lift, posture twist, arrives late.

Where it breaks

• Over-pull: big yank that lifts the shoulder and drags posture off line.
• Late pull: reaction arrives after the technique, creating a “two-part” finish.
• Stiff pull: tension spikes and movement gets jerky.
• Elbow flare: pulling wide for appearance rather than function.

Advanced principle: The reaction hand protects height

Over-pulling often causes shoulder lift, which raises the center and creates bounce. If your height control is inconsistent, reaction hand efficiency is a frequent root cause.

White Belt → Black Belt Expression

• Beginner: learn correct reaction positions and coordination.
• Intermediate: remove shoulder lift and exaggerated pulling.
• Advanced: reaction is strong but subtle; posture never changes.

Coaching Cues

• “Shoulders down.”
• “Pull direct, not wide.”
• “Arrive together.”
• “If it adds bounce, it’s too much.”

Refinement Drills