Triangular Guard

As an example of what I mean when I said, in my post, "Learning is Never Ending," and in "Something New Every Day," as to Perlman Sensei's book I discovered a good example of the issue of knowledge.

In 79 Henry Sensei taught us a fundamental/basic kamae, i.e. seisan stance and both arms up, extended with fist/hands meeting in the middle out at chest height. I remember asking why because it looked a bit unusual and did not fit the idea I had as to a good fighting stance where previously I was led to believe we assume a naihanchi side stance to reduce body area or targeting opportunities.

He didn't really explain it all that well yet because it was referenced as the ideal posture to assume as taught by Tatsuo Sensei, the founder of the system I practice, we just accepted it and moved on. Thirty plus years later I read the chapter, "The Triangle Guard," twenty-one and realized that statement, "Oh crap, that is what he meant by assuming that stance/posture/kamae!" You know, one of those "oh shit, that is it" moments.

If I had a bit more detailed explanation as is provided by Pearlman Sensei it would have become more alive for me and as I passed along what I learned from Henry Sensei it would have better satisfied the learning and practice of my students.

It just goes to show two things, always ask questions and don't take "because I said so or because that is the way the master taught it" as an answer. Sensei owe it to their students to either give a satisfactory answer or say, "I need to research it and I will answer your question at the next session." You can put in  the quotes any response you would be comfortable with, yes.

Another idea just occurred, just because it doesn't look cool or it isn't what you see Bruce Lee doing does not mean it has no value or application.

Point: Due to the new view and knowledge of how to explain a front snap kick I now "see" things I either didn't perceive although they worked or it was never explained adequately to me and I accepted it merely because it worked for me. I can now "see" more in my practice than before simply because someone finally explained it fully and completely to me. If I had been in receipt of those explanations in the stages I propose to instruction then it might have built to a fullness as I progressed but then again it is never too late. It feels good to now see the complete picture and that opened the door to other theories and perceptions that can and will explain even more. I just can't express it more how important it is to seek out and gain the knowledge to "make it work."

It also made me think that not gaining the correct and full explanations may have been one of the many reasons why "patching" was implemented. Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller introduced patching as a lack of knowledge where someone tries to adjust something so it works but it does not work as it could or should, i.e. muscling it vs. using fundamentals and principles, etc.

Bibliography:
Perlman, Steven J. "The Book of Martial Power: The Universal Guide to the Combative Arts." New York. The Overlook Press. 2006.