You Need to Fix That .....

Read "Training Artifact" first ..... The missing link on most dojo is the mental training that MUST be in parallel to the physical. If it is not present then the physical effort is more "physical," you know, like an exercise routine. I once attended a dojo that had not contact what so ever and never hit anything be it a bag, a makiwara or another person. In this case if the mind-set were fitness, exercise and camaraderie with out the fighting, self-defense or combat mind-set that would have been good. This was not the case.

As the time passed I tried to get a feel for what they thought they were practicing and to the person they felt they were practicing a Do and a Goshin system. Sigh, I felt they needed to fix that or get the mind-set right because if any one of them were to encounter violence other than a school yard scuffle (this one is in question as well) they were going to get hurt. Lucky thing is they will in all likelihood never encounter the fight - regardless of form.

Mr. Rory Miller brings out the need to fix things in the above blog, ergo the actual post topic here. If you don't have the complete thing, the yin and the yang, and if you don't train accordingly you are lessening the effectiveness of your system. When you do basic waza, you have to be visualizing what it is you want out of them. This has to move into the physical, i.e. tori-uke, system as well and later the free style "reality (we hope)" scenario's - if your practicing to defend, fight or combat.

If you do kata - same, same! If you are not doing this or something similar then "you need to fix that" if you want it to be available in a clinch, a fight or violence. It seems simple but if that were so everyone would be doing it but it does not exist as much as one would think.

One hears martial art, karate or MMA, i.e. combative forms, they assume it is combative, fighting or self-defense stuff but is it really? You really need to do the work to find out then actually get into doing all the really dull stuff (I say dull because it is not exactly all the thrills you might think although you can make if fun).

Do we generally go for the cool, interesting and glamourous stuff because of instant gratifications and a feeling of "false" security often hidden or mostly just not acknowledged consciously?

The line in the sand is "effectiveness in combat, fighting and violence?" You have to know which side of the line your on and your system works in. The closer you are to the line from either side the muddier it can get. If your a professional or feel you will work in the field or may encounter violence you need to have clarity - the further you are on the right side of the line the clearer it will be, choose but choose wisely.