In the martial arts one is taught that repetitive practice is a way of encoding physical movement that would be employed in certain stimuli. The stimuli and its association to a physical action is a form of mnemonics, i.e. a memory retention system and set of techniques.
The idea is to encode physical action as associated by certain stimuli. This is called proprioception or the sense of your relative position of associated parts of the body along with the strength and speed used to employ a specific movement.
Waza, kata, drills, etc. are all similar physical forms of mnemonic methods such as association of acronyms to certain information to make it easier to store and find in memory.
For instance, when practicing do you notice how some waza, drills, kata and kata technique seem more easily associated with visualization and reality based actions in training and practice? Even when I visualize or actually implement techniques in sparring some are easy and some just won't work. It may be that happens because there is no relational natural movement of the body that associates with it in the mind. The ones that seem to be easier to associate and implement may have this mnemonic connectivity or is more easily associated when practicing, training and thus encoding for later use.
My theory is that we practice the physical and through the process of all the waza, basics, and the waza derived through kata and drills along with certain combination training is easily associated and retained and applied because some movement, associated stimuli and the training connect and are close in likeness that promotes retention.
This is the results, i.e. proprioception, the sense of the relative position of parts of the body with the natural instinctual survival lizard brain abilities that promote morphing into more applicable actions through training and practice, reality based of course.
Call this the kinesthetic form of mnemonics, i.e. learning those techniques that are aids to retention. Look at the actual techniques employed in martial arts as a type of physical acronym that allows a memory connection to some previous physical action used by nature for survival allowing the lizard brain to access normal reactions to danger and easily and quickly transfer the short quick distance to the necessary techniques, etc.
This is also demonstrated through the human condition to travel through the OODA loop in a conflict and the mnemonics of physical training and practice allow a quicker transition or total skipping of the first three levels right to the action level.
This is my theory and needs vetting so anyone who decides to analyze this and provide feedback that feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Background Information:
"Mnemonics aim to translate information into a form that the human brain can retain better and even the process of applying this conversion might already aid the transfer of information to long-term memory. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often for lists and in auditory form, such as short poems, acronyms, or memorable phrases, but mnemonics can also be for other types of information and in visual or kinesthetic forms." ... learning technique that aids information retention ... A common mnemonic for remembering lists is to create an easily remembered acronym, or, taking each of the initial letters of the list members, create a memorable phrase in which the words with the same acronym as the material. Anyone can create their own mnemonics to aid the memorization of novel material.
"Proprioception, the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement."
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
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