Negative selection: avoiding bad traits
In selecting roosters to fight, we look for good traits such as Cutting ability; courage, endurance and power; and smarts, agility and speed. Therefore, we avoid choosing roosters without these sets of positive traits.
Cutting ability. Cutting ability is the ability to deliver killing blows quickly. A good cutting cock delivers with fully extended feet. This is to take advantage of reach and to inflict a more penetrating wound. It hits the target deliberately and with impact to cause the most damage. Contrary to common belief that cutting is solely in the bloodline, cutting ability is in fact dictated by three factors: genetic, psychological and physical. Yes, good cutting is bred into the chicken. There are bloodlines that are real good cutters. It is in their genes. However, mental state and physical condition also affect cutting ability. When a cock is not in good mental state, when not properly focused or when its mind is not fully concentrated on the fight, it may lose its ability to cut, as it may be thinking of other things rather than killing its opponent. Physical conditioning is also very important. A muscle-bound cock or one with poor muscle coordination, could not cut as well. This is also true with cocks not in their right weight or with less ideal body moisture.
Bottom or gameness. By gameness I mean courage, power and endurance put together. Courage, power and endurance are seemingly correlated. Usually, a cock that is very game also has power and endurance. These are the three characteristics that give a cock a lot of bottom and gameness or the ability of the cock to fight up to the last drop of blood with determination and capability to kill up to the very end. Courage is the never-dying intent to kill, regardless of the situation. Not just the desire to prolong the fight by continuously pecking during careos. There is a distinction between a game cock and one that only pecks back. Power is the capability to deliver a blow forcefully and the strength to drive the knife deep into the flesh even when mortally wounded. Endurance is the capability to ignore pain and endure wounds, including mortal ones, over a long period of time. These three make bottom. The ability of the cock to remain in the contest up to the end. The capability to come from behind. The possibility to kill with its last ounce of strength and last drop of blood.
Smartness, Agility and Quickness. Smartness, agility and quickness complete the definition of a good cock. Smartness means the ability to know what to do in a situation. Agility enables the chicken to execute what should be done in such situation and quickness to beat the opponent to the draw. And intelligent cock may know what to do but without agility it could not do what it ought to do. And, without quickness, the opponent might hit it before it could do what it ought to do., Smartness is the ability to maneuver cleverly in order to put the opponent at a disadvantageous position such as topping the other cock in flight. Agility is the attribute that enables the smart cock do what has to be done. Quickness is beating the opponent to the draw, and, to hit cleanly and in perfect timing
Negative selection
However, we in RBS also watch out against negative traits. If you succeed in avoiding weaknesses, you will be left with nothing but strengths. Here are the negatives that we ought to watch out against.
Too evasive. Don’t go for too evasive a cock. It has no intention of killing the opponent; it merely intends to avoid getting killed. Defense, alone, would not win fights. A good cock is aggressive even in defense: cutting after side stepping, counter punching while back pedaling, and always trying to beat the opponent to the draw. Smartness does not mean the ability to avoid the opponent’s blow. It means the ability to deliver the right blows at the right time that it could not be avoided by the opponent.
Flyer. We don’t want fliers, we want leapers. Good fighting roosters can leap high with minimum flapping of wings. Every flap of the wing presents opportunity for the opponent to hit vital parts otherwise covered by the wings. More importantly, too many flaps results in ―bicycle effect in which the chicken will resort to pedaling to balance the effects of wing flaps. The chicken will pedal or cycle instead of concentrating on hitting. This will result in ―double pumping instead of outreach strokes. Flying over the opponent casually or without a target is also sloppy and careless.
Avoid at all costs, cocks that habitually go for a bill hold. In these days of cut throat competition, it will literally get its throat cut. Also avoid cocks that takes a step even if already within striking distance. This invites trouble. If within striking distance, why not strike?
Watch out for duckers. By ducking the rooster allows itself to be sandwiched between the immovable ground and the line of fire. There would be no way out.
There could be more. Try to figure them out.
.
.
.
.
.
.
