Beginner's Mistake

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

I remember my fist couple of years practice and what about that that made me smile this morning was how hard I tried to make basics and especially kata work in kumite and self-defense.

You see, it took me considerable time, study and effort to realize that you cannot make the, "Techniques" work, it is not the purpose or intent of their study, practice, training and especially application be it self-defense, fighting (sport or fighting illegally) or in combatives.

Nothing looks like the presentations we practice daily, consistently and often without modification and that will not get the job done in fighting, combatives or self-defense. This is why I came to understand two main things, first is the fundamental principles involved and second is the practice of multiple methodologies in defense. 

Note that all the basics and kata and kumite and drills have a purpose. They get you to learn, understand and apply principles such as physiokinetics. They get you to make contact with another human being and they help you get past that first stage where adrenal stress-conditions start. Once you fully understand principles and have a solid applicable understanding of multiple defense methodologies you have to expand on the basics, kata and kumite to make them more - applicable - and that means deviating from the very form in which you learn these most excellent teaching tools. 

A dogmatic adherence to the basics, kata and kumite drills, etc., will only take you so far, you will have reached an impasse. To stretch beyond the impasse you must reach beyond these dogmatic trappings and let your mind, body and spirit expand, reach and achieve - more. 

Bibliography (Click the link)