| I once had a talk with a student who pointed out the | | | | or idea of what could be done in a situation like that. |
| almost insane notion that anyone could think that | | | | We'll convey the principles and concepts through |
| they could use a preset string of moves (known as a | | | | techniques that are not so-much "set-in-stone" as |
| kata, pronounced kah-tah) to handle something as | | | | they are representations of these principles in action." |
| chaotic as a fight. He said it made no sense to him | | | | One school recognized the need to practice the basic |
| how any master, who really knew what he was | | | | mechanics - the "brand" of punching, kicking, etc. (the |
| talking about, could pass down "the answer" to such | | | | "secrets") - of their art when there wasn't a war |
| an unknown as a fight. | | | | going on. In fact, most schools of training in Japan |
| He's right. And yet, day after day, in countless | | | | are still passed on this way. The school allows the |
| schools, training centers, police departments, and | | | | student's own intuitive and perceptual powers to |
| military units around the world, there are those who | | | | determine his or her own level of understanding. |
| believe that what they are learning will be exactly | | | | However, for many of these martial systems, the |
| what they need to win, should they ever be | | | | techniques ARE the art. That means that they |
| attacked. | | | | represent that which makes a particular lineage's |
| Can you imagine, for those of you who have yet to | | | | techniques and "style" unique among all others. It is |
| be accosted, what it feels like inside the heart of an | | | | not generally acceptable to change the techniques |
| attack? I mean, what do you know about the | | | | for any reason, as in the case of my friend that I |
| situation that you haven't been in yet? | | | | talked about earlier. |
| Unless you're clairvoyant and can see into the future | | | | The other school recognized that there is an infinite |
| - in which case you wouldn't need self-defense | | | | number of combinations if we were to just focus on |
| training because you would either... | | | | the mechanics alone. They also recognized that |
| 1) know what to avoid, or... | | | | "what" you do is not nearly as important as "when", |
| 2) know you weren't going to survive - | | | | "why," "how," and under what circumstances you |
| There is a plethora of things that you don't, and can't | | | | would do anything. Granted, this was more difficult to |
| possibly, know about this situation that hasn't | | | | understand than the basic step-by-step method |
| happened yet. Things like: | | | | (which this school DID employ by-the-way), but the |
| A) Where you will be attacked (parking lot, building, | | | | idea was that, the principles were much more |
| your car, at-home in-bed, etc.) | | | | important than the techniques if one were to win in a |
| B) Who your attacker will be | | | | conflict. |
| C) How many assailant's you will face | | | | While the step-by-step, preset model approach does |
| D) Whether or not there are any weapons involved | | | | teach students how to apply techniques, from my |
| (and what type, if any) | | | | perspective and experience with having to deal with |
| E) How you will be attacked | | | | violent attackers in real-world self-defense situations, |
| F) What you'll be wearing or carrying that could help | | | | it is the later approach - the focus on workable |
| or hinder you, and... | | | | principles and concepts for controlling the situation - |
| G) Much, much more! | | | | that provides the real keys to mastery. |
| So, how can anyone think that a preset string of | | | | But, it's not martial arts mastery - the mastery of |
| moves will be of any use to them in an actual, | | | | technique - that I'm talking about. But rather the |
| real-world, attack? Better still, why would they have | | | | ability to master and control... |
| been passed down for hundreds of years if they | | | | Your Environment |
| couldn't help? | | | | Your Attacker's Perceptions |
| Well, the short of it, based on my own research, is | | | | The Space and Distance within the fight |
| this. There are two schools of thought when it | | | | The Assailant's Options |
| comes to answering this question. The first is the | | | | And much Much MORE! |
| idea that says... | | | | ...that allows you to control the very flow of the |
| ..."we must make sure that warriors have a way to | | | | situation, from moment-to-moment, as it unfolds. |
| practice during periods of peace so that they'll be | | | | It is this grander-view of the reality of the situation |
| ready for the next war. So, what we'll do is string | | | | that allows the true martial arts master - the |
| some basics together in a way that they can rely on | | | | strategic warrior commander, to see beyond the |
| repetitive practice to stay ready." | | | | mere punching, kicking, or slashing of the attacker. It |
| The other so-called "school-of-thought" said, "Let's | | | | is the view that allows us to make sense out of the |
| look at the most common attacks that we, with our | | | | chaos that is a fight and... |
| current set of circumstances, will have to deal with. | | | | ...appear to be magicians and wizards to others with |
| Then, we'll design a set of example techniques - | | | | less understanding of the workings of nature and the |
| "fight-scenarios if-you-will - that contain the essence | | | | enlightened wisdom of the trained martial master. |