Gainen [概念]

The characters/ideograms mean, “concept; notion; general idea.” The first character means, “outline; condition; approximation; generally,” the second character means, “wish; sense; idea; thought; feeling; desire; attention.”

In self-defense martial arts one tends to focus heavily on the physical and even heavier on the particular techniques involved. This model if fine for the very basic teachings of the martial arts, i.e., more of a primer or prerequisite toward greater understanding of how to apply the discipline in a chaotic violent conflict toward self-defense. 

Gainen, or concepts, take us away from reliance on this particular technique used against this particular attack as appropriate for this self-defense situation where in reality no one situation in a violent conflict will ever match this particular. If the SDMA (self-defense martial artist) realized that violence and conflict are fluid, they change in thousands of ways never truly adhering to one particular form then concepts takes on new meaning in the study and practice of SDMA. 

Example: Concepts are not about specific techniques but rather conveyed experiences that promote better ability to apply any relevant action that will get you through violent conflicts. It has and always will be about learning second hand those concepts, principles, strategies and tactics that will get you through all three phases of self-defense, i.e., the before, the during and the after.

Look at specifics found in kata and bunkai as forms that actually refer us physically and mentally to underlying principles of martial systems, i.e., structure, centeredness, sequential locking and unlocking, etc. then let those basics and fundamentals apply toward the concepts of self-defense, i.e., like the before, during and after and so on. Look at specifics found in kata and bunkai as forms that actually refer us physically and mentally to underlying principles of martial systems, i.e., structure, centeredness, sequential locking and unlocking, etc. then let those basics and fundamentals apply toward the concepts of self-defense, i.e., like the before, during and after and so on. 

Truly, martial arts in self-defense are about concepts and principles as applied in specific and unique situations and circumstances that vary as much as fingerprints to each human person, that are as unique as fingerprints - often except in conceptual form never repeated.