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