Technique vs Skill

Technique vs 

Skill Based Learning

Over the years I have studied many traditional and non-traditional systems and styles of martial arts.   Some were based on old school thinking that had not changed in decades and others were more contemporary and kept up with current understandings and methodologies.

Some of the old school methods were based in replicating the instructor and repeating set sequences of movement based on artificially established parameters.   These included how the attacker would attack and that he had to do it exactly the same way every time.  As a result the defense also had to be a set pattern of movement, the same way every time.

A good example of this type of program is at a local school where you can see several lists of techniques posted up on the wall.  There are over 100 of these from white belt to black belt and then more above that as well.  Each student wishing to progress in this system has to remember the techniques in sequence with the name, attack and specified defense.  There are about 10 per rank.  The names are difficult to remember on there own let alone the attack and defense that must be performed exactly the same way each time.  Students get very good at replicating these as they practice them hour after hour in order to progress.

Other styles teach a curriculum based on techniques as well that have little to do with actual fighting, self defense or even sparring.

In the local school I am discussing it was my observation that even senior ranks who had been memorizing these lists of techniques for months and years, did not use them when fighting or sparring.  They reverted to basic skills such as hand strikes, kicking and in some cases take downs to finish on the ground.  They did not use the techniques that had been laid out because in a dynamic ever changing environment in a fight or sparring match you can't use rote memory techniques because you will not find yourself in a static perfect position to follow through with it.

On the other side of this discussion is skill based training methodology.  In this there are no set pre-established responses to a static, unrealistic situation.  Skills are taught as separate yet combinable movements that can be used in a variety of situations, from different positions and in dynamic, changing environments.

Skills may be presented as striking, kicking, take downs, throws, ground neutralization movements weapons attacks and responses and so on.

Skills are taught in dynamic situations so that the student can explore variations and different responses to similar threats and attacks.

For instance, instead of a set response to a straight punch to the face and repeating the same response over and over again like described above,  in a skill based program the student would be given several options, including movement drills, hand redirects or blokes, counter strikes and more.  The student would then explore these variations and devise his own natural responses based on his mental and physical make up, existing skill level and other factors that make him unique.

So an example of a drill would be that one partner throw 10 straight punches to the face and the defender respond with 10 different counters.  This type of training provides the participant with a creative component and an opportunity to develop his own natural awareness and abilities.  It also develops a fluidity and flexibility that is vital in a violent encounter.  Making the training as close as possible to what may be encountered in the real world gives the student the skill sets to respond to real threats in a dynamic, fluid and effective manner.

Innovation and creativity are vital to the learning process.   If a student learns to mimic the instructor and simply repeat a set of pre-established movements there is no individual expression or development in that. The student simply becomes a clone of his instructor.

Martial Arts are not meant to be written in stone and replicated generation after generation in some homage to a person who used skill based learning methodology to create his own way of doing things.  I find it ironic that most martial artists who people choose to follow did not mimic someone else but created their own way through experimentation and exploration.  Why then do people want to mimic that person instead of taking the core, or essence of what they did and then expand on it, adding their own flavor and variations?

I believe technique based learning has some advantages for new students.  Learning new ways of moving and understanding how to perform basic skills.  I also believe that technique based learning should only be used at the very beginning of someone's journey and that skill based training should be implemented as soon as possible to stimulate internal learning processes and individual expression.

After all, it is called Martial "Art"

Tactical Awareness

Tactical Awareness

Self Defense Article #3

Wow, you won the violent confrontation at the park.  You have talked it through with your partner and a couple of close friends.  You feel good about the results.  You took time to learn the physical skills you need to protect yourself.  You went out and purchased the tools that gave you tactical advantage.  You share your interest with your partner and she has joined you in your exploration of self defense. 

The next aspect you can work on is creating what is often called a tactical mindset.  Part of that is the winning attitude you have already created.  Another part is being able to look at situations and assess the tactical position you are in and how to gain advantage. 

To start with let’s talk about what is called the Color Code of Awareness.  This is a five color code to indicate your level of awareness and state of alertness. 

1)      White – This is the level of alertness often associated with being in a safe place, like your home.  You are relaxed.  There are no threats, no unknowns.  You are safe with your family watching TV or doing something fun and interesting with the ones you love.  This is the ONLY time you should find yourself at this level of awareness, it has no other place. 

2)      Yellow – You are out for a walk with the dog, or taking your kids to school.  You are shopping at the local supermarket.  You feel relatively safe in environments that you are familiar with.  You are relaxed but alert to everything and everyone around you.  When you are driving you know where the vehicles are on all sides.  You are paying attention. 

3)      Orange – A potential threat has appeared.  It could be the guy driving really fast and coming up on your rear bumper.  It could be the 4 punks on the corner wearing gang colors.  Anything that could be a potential threat needs extra attention and evaluation.  You are watching and listening, you are aware of the smallest changes.  You have tuned in and are ready for action if it becomes necessary. 

4)      Red – A threat is present.  The punks on the corner have spotted you and are moving your way.  The vehicle that was coming up fast behind you does not appear to be slowing down.  Action is required.  The action depends entirely on the circumstances you are in.  That is why you continue to study and practice.  You have run through scenarios in your mind so you can react quickly, you already have several options available to you so you don’t freeze up in a situation.  You do whatever you need to do to protect yourself. 

5)      Black – This is where you never want to be.  Too late.  You freeze up.  You were in white when a threat presented itself, you couldn’t respond fast enough and you do nothing.  You just became a victim.  NEVER allow yourself to go to black. 

How do you get to black?  Well one way is to be in white, unaware, too relaxed.  A threat appears and you need to be in red to deal with it affectively.  You can’t get there fast enough.  It is very difficult to jump from white to red.  Too much space in between.  You can jump two levels, but not three.  So you can be walking around in yellow and move to red to deal with an immediate threat.  You can jump one level at a time very easily, two is workable but not three.  What can happen is you don’t respond at all or you jump to black and just loose it. 

Being tactically aware is a vital survival skill.  As I have already indicated if you are not in the right mindset you cannot respond fast enough to a threat. 

Always be aware of your surroundings.  Where you are, who else is there.  Where your avenues of escape are, what safe areas are nearby, what areas you want to avoid.  What weapons are available to you.   These are all things to consider. 

Here are some of the things I do to stay safe.

·         I always stop for a moment before I enter a building.  I stop at the front door of the bank and take a look to make sure I’m not walking into a robbery or something.  I stop near the front of a restaurant to see who is there and what the atmosphere is. 

·         When driving I am aware of who and what is around me at all times.  I look as far ahead as I can to see what is happening with traffic.  I try not to drive in the middle lane so I don’t get blocked in at a red light.  I always have enough distance in front of my vehicle when stopped to pull out and go around the guy in front of me.   Make sure you can see his tires in contact with the pavement.  That will give you enough room to move. 

·         A safe following distance is 3 seconds between you and the car in front of you while moving.  Just pick and spot on the road and when the vehicle in front of you passes it start counting.  You should get to three before you reach the same spot.  This is the best way to judge distance as it doesn’t matter how fast you are going, just count to three. 

That should be enough to think about for now.  Until next time, be alert, be safe.

Raven, Spirit Warriors

Response, what to do during an attack

Mitigation, Preparation, Response and Recovery.   Whether it is emergency planning or self defense, these four phases of planning can be used to assist you in making sure you are covered and ready to survive a critical incident.  In our last article we covered these phases.  In this one I would like to look at the Response aspect in more detail. 

It’s a beautiful night.  You and your significant other are out for a walk under the stars.  You talk and hold hands, everything is so wonderful.  Wait!  What is that uneasy feeling you just got in your stomach? 

Was that someone moving in the dark over to your right?  Are there two of them? 

Being aware of your surroundings you spot your escape route.  You analyze your physical readiness, assess your environment for weapons of opportunity, barriers, concealment, cover, anything that you can use to give you tactical advantage. 

You reach into your pocket and feel the high intensity 2000 lumen flashlight that you carry.  With the other hand you remove your tactical folding knife from your belt.  Your adrenaline starts to kick in so you change your breathing to the tactical breathing you learned in self defense class last week. 

You start moving toward the parking lot where there are lights and other people around.  You tell your partner to get her pepper spray out of her purse and to take her kubotan out.  You tell her what you have observed and she replies she has already made them.  She is just as prepared as you are because she attended the class as well and knows she can kick butt if she needs to. 

The perps move in closer.  They think they are being stealthy and are going to surprise you.  Boy, are they in for a lesson.  You step away from your partner, moving about 6 feet to the rear and side.  You keep moving towards the lights when a third perp you didn’t see steps out from behind a tree and blocks your way.  Startled,  you blind him with your light, kick his shin and knee him in the groin, you break his nose with your flashlight and smash his collar bone with the butt end of your knife then sweep his leg so he falls groaning on the ground.

Your partner has engaged perp number 2.  You look over just in time to see him put his hands up in the air and scrunch his face up as he gets hit with a full blast of pepper spray, right in the eyes.  She knows that may not be enough so she smashes her kubotan down onto his nose, shattering it, then drives her shin up between his legs.  You hear a forced exhale of breath as he bends forward just in time to meet her knee, straight to the solar plexus.  Vision gone.  Breath gone.  Mobility hindered. 

Perp number 3 isn’t that stupid, he looks at his friends and takes off the other way. 

Wow, you are shaking, breathing is fast and you are in shock.  Did that just happen?  You can’t remember exactly what you did, but it appears to have worked.  Your partner is on her knees, she is crying, adrenaline is pumping.  You need to move, breathe deep, in through the nose, out through the mouth, nice and slow, there you go.  Control you responses, breathe, breathe. 

You won.  You didn’t just survive, you dominated them.  Surviving is not enough.  Surviving often means you made it through something where at one point you were a victim.  You are never a victim when it comes to self defense.  You either win or you lose.  Some people say there are no winners in a fight.  That can be true when you are talking about fighting another person for ego gratification or some other insignificant reason.  In a life and death situation you are absolutely a winner.  

In self defense there is no second place, no consolation prize or metal.  There is only one acceptable outcome.  Your attitude has to be one of perseverance, dominance and control.  If for one second you give up or doubt yourself you could lose.  Losing on the street may mean losing your life.

Mental preparation, creating a tactical mindset, never accepting defeat; these are all necessary attributes that will help you to prevail in a violent confrontation.  

A battle is won before it begins.  If you utilize the four phases of emergency planning as described previously, if you train right and practice what you train, you will have a much better chance of winning. 

Besides, in any aspect of life, who wants to be a loser?  Not me.

In our next article we will look at how you can create a winning attitude and what a tactical mindset is.  The physical skills are only a small aspect of learning how to protect yourself.  They are the easiest.  The rest is where you really have to work at it. 

Until next time, be safe, be smart. 

Tradition or Evolution?

Tradition or Evolution?  

I do not believe it necessarily has to be one or the other.  I believe there is a prominence of one or the other in most martial arts so the question is which are you most interested in?

The answer for me is evolution.

I started my martial studies in 1981.  I have studied traditional martial arts from China, Japan, Korea and The Philippines.   I have studied modern combat systems in the military and law enforcement.  I delved into Russian Martial Arts which is vast in it's richness and can be traditional and cultural or very modern and scientifically based.

I have never been a traditional person, meaning that the old ways are of interest to me but they do not define my studies or me in any way.  I am open minded in my spirituality, not religious.  I have no particular political affiliations but recognize what works as being of value.

This outlook on life as a whole is also my perspective in martial arts.  I recognize traditional ways as having value in learning how skills were developed and what their application can be.  History is moderately interesting but I am more interested in learning from history so we can move forward and not repeat mistakes or keep going around in circles.  When something no longer works or no longer serves a purpose it is time to let it go.

Lets use a martial example here.  I think Okinawan weapons are kind of cool.  The Tonfa, Sai and Nunchucks.  It is interesting how farm implements became weapons when the government put controls on martial studies and confiscated weapons and punished those who used them.  It has some historical significance in understanding the bigger picture.  Do I have any interest in learning to be proficient with these weapons and spending hours practicing?  No, not at all.

What weapons do I train with?  Short stick or baton, short bladed edged weapons,read knife, and firearms.  Why, you may ask?  Because they are the modern weapons that I have access to and can have available to me if I ever need to use weapons in protecting myself.  Some of you may argue that a firearm is not a martial arts weapon, I disagree, there is another article here on this blog discussing that topic so that is all I will say here.

In martial arts class do you wear funny outfits and speak a foreign language?  Why?

Do you train in bare feet?  Why?  This one is an interesting one in modern North American society.  Why do people train in bare feet?  Where are you ever going to fight someone in bare feet?  Unless you are in your bathroom or at the beach that is very unlikely.  Some people think it is to toughen your feet, I guess it does that but the more probable reason is simply that in Japan and Korea you do not wear shoes inside. Interesting huh?  It has little or nothing to do with practicing martial arts, it is simply a cultural thing of no shoes in the house.

What about a Gi?  Why do you wear a Gi?  It has nothing to do with martial arts it is simply the style of clothing worn in the past in some societies.

I look at many martial arts and ask "Why" when I see people doing a particular move or technique.  It is disheartening when the answer is " I don't know, that's just the way we do it."  Really?  Is that a satisfactory answer?  I do not think so.

In many Japanese and Korean styles the front punch is taught with a chamber position by the hip as the starting place.  Why?  Have you ever wondered?  Most people do not and many teachers do not have an explanation. No, That's just the way I learned it, is not a satisfactory answer.

As I said, tradition does have it's place, but when does it start to hinder forward movement?  I believe everything we learn in martial arts should be challenged and verified.  I believe a scientific approach can validate what is useful and eliminate what is not.   Using current understanding of anatomy and physiology, psychology, physics and math will help us to deepen our understanding and expand our knowledge and skills. Most of this knowledge was not available 100 or 200 years ago when many arts were being created.  What worked then in that country, in that time, may no longer be the most appropriate or useful way to train and practice.

I still see people doing ballistic stretching.  If you have any understanding of exercise science you will understand how detrimental that can be.   Over stretching in martial arts is common.  The effects are loose joints that get injured, overextended elbows and knees, hip problems and rotator cuff tears are all common in martial arts schools where the teachers are not properly educated and rely on the old ways as a valid method.

Tradition has it's place.  I think one of the big issues however is that people get stuck in tradition and do not ask why, or how and then get stuck themselves.  It is interesting to know the origins of a martial art, where and how it all got started but we also need to adapt and advance the art to meet the needs of people today in the modern world, in our own society and culture.

I encourage you to be brave.  To stop and ask why, how can we use this, how can we improve this?  Isn't that what the originator of the art did?  They saw what was available, maybe studied the old ways and then modified it and modernized it to meet their own needs and the needs of the people around them.  Why then would we not continue to do the same thing?

There is so much more that could be discussed here.  My purpose however is to simply initiate thought and to encourage you as a martial artist to question what you are being taught.  To encourage you to educate yourself in modern methods of training and base your choices on the highest level of knowledge you can attain.

There are some wonderful teachers and programs available to an open minded seeker, do not limit yourself to a tradition or one way of thought out of misunderstanding or some distorted sense of loyalty.  It is up to you to learn the best that you can from the best teachers you can find.

As you expand your awareness, knowledge and skills you will naturally evolve, which to me is the primary purpose of existence ,the evolution of self and my martial studies.
...the evolution continues...
Enjoy the journey.

What's your style?

What's your style?  I love that question when asked to Bruce Lee on a junket somewhere near Hong Kong.  His response was, "You can call it the art of fighting without fighting".

I always had a hard time answering that question for myself until I decided I have no style.  To me style implies structure, form, limitations all imposed upon you by another person.  Styles require replication of forms, basic techniques, repetitive movement all for the purpose of looking like the instructor.  Styles work for the person that created it because it was he/she that put their personal likes, dislikes, qualities, abilities and preferences into that style.

So my question is if he/she could do that why I am trying to imitate them?  Why am I not creating my own methods?

That is why REAL Martial Arts is not a style.  It is not really even a system, it is a method of discovery, testing, challenging and creating what works for you.  There is a systematic approach to it.  It uses science, anatomy, biomechanics, physics and biology to come up with skill sets that work against the human body in combat.  It also develops exercises, drills and practices that, strengthen the body, help release false beliefs and misunderstandings and create a person who is resilient, efficient, accurate and vital.

REAL Martial Arts does not require students to replicate the instructor.  It asks students to find their own natural responses to situations, their own intrinsic qualities that can be nurtured to build a platform of movement, structure and relaxation that allows them to respond in their own way.

Students are encouraged to experiment with different movements and techniques to see what feels right and what can be developed for them.  It is a very intuitive approach.  Techniques are used as a basic place to start from and then the student goes from there.  There is no particular response to a given attack.  No basics to repeat, no katas or forms to take up grey matter trying to remember.

We train with partners almost all of the time.  We get attacked and have to learn how to move, how to respond to defend ourselves in a way that is natural and makes sense to us.  It is more about self discovery and uncovering our natural abilities than trying to mimic someone else's.

So, what's your style? 

Short Work in Combat

Excellent Workshop on Short Work
REAL Martial Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico

We had an excellent workshop on what is called short work yesterday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Class was taught by Josh Fabia.  Short work comes from Russian Martial Arts, Systema, to be more precise.  It works on the premise that the most direct defense is the most effective.  There is no wasted movement, nothing fancy and you go directly to your preferred targets.  The preferred targets are the eyes, throat, groin and solar plexus.  The idea being if the attacker can not see, breath or continue his attack you have neutralized the threat and can get out of there as quickly as possible.

Short work is very effective.  The motions are small and direct which means the other person can not see the attack and has very little chance to protect himself until it is too late.  We worked with strikes from standing attacks as well as ground fighting with one and multiple opponents.  We looked at pressure points and how to control a person by manipulating their head and spine.  Short work is very effective and very real however few other martial arts include it in their training.

One thing I really like about the training we are doing at EastSide Combatives is that it is focused on real life situations and application.  We deal with single and multiple attackers, standing and on the ground.  We work empty handed and with weapons in real life scenarios.  We train in doors on mats and outdoors in more realistic environments on cement, stairs and uneven ground.  Skills are developed progressively and everything fits together and expands on everything else.  It really is a system and it all works as one.

This month we will be focusing on short work in our weekly classes.  Each month has a different focus so that students can develop a good level of proficiency in each area and then bring together what they learned from the previous months into a system of personal protection that is effective and reality based.  As each student grows in their knowledge and skill they begin to develop their own unique approach and preferences.
They bring their personalities and inherent abilities to the game and learn to express themselves in their movements and skill use.  EastSide Combatives is not about replicating the teacher or anyone else it is about discovering and unveiling your own abilities and gifts so that each student is different and discovers their own inherent strengths and unique approach.

Firearms Training in Martial Arts

Guns.
Is firearms training a martial art?
This discussion was created the other day on Black Belt magazine's facebook page.  The statement that started the discussion was that firearms training should be mandatory for all martial artists.

I do not necessarily agree that it should be mandatory but firearms should definitely be considered, in our modern world, as a viable form of martial art.

There were arguments both for and against, some heated, some filled with emotion and nonsensical responses.

So the only thing I can express here is my opinion.  I believe firearms are a very important aspect of modern martial arts.  I believe they should be understood and trained with to give the practitioner a real understanding of what they are capable of and how to use and defend against them.

One of the common arguments against was that any idiot can pull a trigger, that it does not take skill to use a firearm.  Well, after years of shooting and training I know that is simply not true.  The argument could easily be put forth that no martial arts are martial arts.  It does not take training or skill for someone to hack your head off with a sword, or to stab you with a knife, kick you in the groin or punch you in the face.  Any able bodied person can do all of those things.

The difference between being able to simply perform these tasks and do it with finesse, timing, accuracy and skill is what makes it a martial art.  To be able to perform when needed and to look good doing it, that is where the art comes into play.

To accurately draw, display and hit your target in a certain amount of time, with fluidity and smoothness.  To engage a moving target with accuracy so that your rounds neutralize an imminent threat to you or another person.  To be able to shoot while moving to cover.  To have the hand eye coordination to place a 147 grain projectile travelling at 1000 ft per second, into a target the size of a basketball while perceiving and responding to a threat to your life with your heart rate at 160, breathing restricted and loss of fine motor function because of the fight or flight response.  To be able to function with all of this going on at the same time within a few seconds, from perception to response takes training, focus, energy, concentration, discipline, commitment, coordination, balance, speed and a presence of mind only found after extensive training and experience.

To me that description is exactly what martial art is.  A focused intentional development of martial skills to be able to perform those skills under less than perfect circumstances.  To be able to protect yourself from a threat and do all of this with accuracy and control.

If firearms training and development of the necessary skills to protect yourself and others, under horrific life threatening conditions, is not martial arts.  Then what is it?

Even if you choose not to train how to shoot it is beneficial to understand firearms so you know how to defend against them.  How you move to minimize the likelihood of being hit. The difference between cover and concealment.  How to disarm a person, if they are going to kill you, and you are within arm's reach and can possibly save your life with proper technique and execution.

At least in the United States, you are far more likely to come up against a gun-wielding bad guy than you are someone with a sword, sai, tonfa or any other kind of "martial art" weapon.

I think firearms training is a viable and very important aspect of martial arts training.  Firearms are a current and very real threat in our world and should be taken seriously by any martial artist.