Friday, April 9, 2010

The Anti-SPLAT Method!

Want to learn how to make someone (uke, “bad guy”, etc.) go SPLAT!?

Well then listen up, kid…

Stop trying so damn hard to knock ‘em down! Yer givin’ it all away with yer herky-jerky entry... givin’ ‘em a chance to evade/push back/redirect/etc.

The ONLY way to actually learn techniques and body skill is to be slow. Take every stance, every movement step by step. Each self-identification of activation and relaxation in solo exercises (correctly) is the key to building the “frame” and the engine to drive it. In two person kata and in two person testing exercises, including randori, one can test the limits of these aspects of strength. Be patient and get ready to be humbled (isn’t that the best way to find teachers? Sure helped me!).

Now I’m gonna switch it up on ya:

Internal “frame” and “groundpath” etc. are foundational, but a good technician, w/ excellence in techniques, focus, and strength will do just fine—if the “internal MA expert” has no ability in regard to technique, timing, or real fighting/ at the very least randori experience. However, if you combine the two, “frame/IMA strengths” and technical/experiential/attitudinal skills, what you have is exceptional.

Ain’t that so?

So why are standards so low???

I guarantee, if you knock your dojo mates over ALL THE TIME and they knock you over ALL THE TIME, at least one of you is full of crap.

A few rules for not fooling yourself:

Don’t believe that “teaching techniques” are applicable to fighting any more than video game perfected techniques are. Instead, use them to better understand a condition in you or your partner’s body during said drill.

If there is a technique you consider a “fighting technique”—Why? Have you played with it enough to feel strong in a high stress environment? Randori? Really?

Learn to hit someone hard for real, and learn to take some hits. No one I have ever met, amazing badass SENSEI or not, hasn’t been clocked. Suck it up. No one is an invincible ninja.

Be patient and be energetic at the same time about your training. Expect slow results, but love it enough to get some dang results. Visualization, solo practice, 2 person practice, and testing are the keys.

At least that’s my best guess…

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