| How do you understand martial arts techniques? | | | | blast to become a finisher? Is it simply a matter |
| Before you look at any techniques/methods from | | | | of more practice? In some cases, yes. But in |
| a martial arts system, it is important to first | | | | most cases, it requires research into how to put |
| know yourself. It is important to have a clear goal | | | | the whole body mass into the blast. Something |
| about what you are trying to achieve with your | | | | that is rarely seen. This idea of modifying |
| research. Often, when people research without a | | | | techniques to make it work instead of collecting |
| clear objective, they become a "technique | | | | more of them is true for a lot of things in martial |
| collector". They become a jack of all trades and a | | | | arts. By modifying, it will allow more practice time |
| master of none. This is not a functional approach. | | | | and repetitions in each move and therefore a |
| The reason is because knowing a lot of moves | | | | higher development of physical attributes - things |
| does not win fights. It's about how good you are | | | | that win fights. |
| when you move. | | | | For me the objective of research is to be as |
| Can you move with speed, power, accuracy, | | | | direct as possible. Therefore when I look at any |
| timing, co-ordination, sensitivity, non-telegraphic | | | | technique I simply ask if what I see would help |
| ability? Training time is limited; therefore it is | | | | me become more direct. If not, how can I modify |
| unrealistic to try to master too many techniques | | | | it to make it more direct? If I can't do that, then |
| at once. | | | | I ask, what is the most direct way that I can |
| If you look at top fighters in any system, you will | | | | defeat what I see? |
| see that they only use a few well developed | | | | Looking at things in slow motion allows you to see |
| moves. The key is not to learn many things for | | | | the finer detail. From a martial arts point of view, |
| many situations but rather to learn how to adapt | | | | it means the ability to see the motions in beats |
| a few things to various circumstances. The ability | | | | and eventually quarter beats and finally, the intent |
| to do that is very difficult for some people | | | | of movement. Looking at things fast means that |
| because due to the martial arts media, a lot of | | | | you have to take into consideration force and |
| beginners like to put things in black and white | | | | speed. |
| categories. The truth is, fighting by its very nature | | | | Many things demonstrated in MA demos work |
| is chaotic and therefore things are not so black | | | | well in mild speed but you have to take into |
| and white. | | | | account human reaction time limitations. You must |
| One example is the popular concept of non | | | | take each and every technique that you practice |
| powerful "set up" moves such as the straight | | | | and test it under real speed and power to see if |
| blast follow by powerful "finishing" moves such as | | | | it is actually workable. |
| elbows and knees. This separate category of | | | | Sometimes, what is direct physically may actually |
| setup vs. finishing techniques is a concept that has | | | | be slow mentally and therefore not direct at all |
| sold many DVDS and magazines. However, I | | | | for a fight. For example, no matter how fast a |
| question if a straight blast is actually just a "set | | | | technique is physically in a drill, it may be too |
| up" technique that requires a "finisher". What | | | | complicated for the mind to pull off in a fight |
| would happen if a fast straight blast also has | | | | causing you to freeze under stress. |
| functional finishing power? I guess if that was | | | | You have to take into account the natural |
| possible, things would get a lot simpler and you | | | | variables such as limited perception, reaction time |
| would not have to collect more stuff to do the | | | | and the motor-set commitment of motions in |
| job. | | | | combat.This is a very basic look at how to |
| But how do you get the example of the straight | | | | understand techniques, I hope it helps. |