Quality over Quantity

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You hear it time and again that quality trumps quantity yet why does quantity still hold sway over martial arts? Everything within the modern martial communities is about how much you know, earned and have such as a plethora of trophies or black belts or different styles, etc. 

Once a Sensei mentioned that in the very early days of Okinawan karate a true master is one who knew, understood in depth and had the ability to apply one, two or maybe three kata. Karate at the time was kata and kata are the tools to use to reach understanding. Or, so it seems and in those days there were no trophies, no belts let alone the coveted black belt and there were no styles per-se, it was all about Ti or Te. 

Another Sensei said that once he taught you something it became yours so it was about what you do with that something that matters to the individual in receipt of it rather than what others thought you should do with it. I kind of like that way of thinking myself. 

We have come to be martial collectors, i.e., we are so busy collecting together as many assets in the martial arts community that we have lost site of its truth. We have competitive conversations about who has what black belts what different styles or systems one has ‘mastered’ and how many certificates, titles and awards we have received in lieu of what really and truly matters, taking what sensei teaches you and make that into something of value to you, the individual, and only you. 

When you break down all the assets collected and peel back the covers you will see very little like having a piece of cake with four times the frosting necessary to make it a delicious fun desert. We are over sugaring our martial arts rather than keeping it basic no frills productive, efficient and applicable martial arts. 

If you have twelve black belts, a hundred trophies and accolades from everyone and everywhere you have to come to realize that of all that only one thing, one thing only, can you apply at a time in any given situation. Try speaking four different words at the very same time. Try jumping up in the air and at the same exact moment run around the room and at the exact same moment doing squat thrusts. 

You can’t apply all your techniques at the same time. You can’t apply all the styles you know at one time. You can’t talk and listen at the same time either, think about it. 

One of the reasons I believed and hold true the word of certain professionals in conflict and violence about all of it being the foundation with all the frosting on top is when I was exposed to principles, methodologies and force levels. It is a hand full of things being obscured and obfuscated by all the frostings rather than the bare bones necessities to get-r-done qualities.  

When you remove all the techniques and look at the principled based methodologies that make them work you reduce what you need to fill your mind and brain with by at least 95%. Now, once you understand what makes the engine run you remove all the extra energy consuming irrelevant equipment and add-ons, the stuff that can consume energy and power and attention and intention, etc., making things simpler and easier to understand and master. 

Now, there is a secret to the art of quality, you really have to dedicate the time and effort to know that subject until it becomes second nature - like breathing. My brother once quoted a acronym, i.e., ACE, Attitude, Character and Effort but that too has to be focused into the proper paths to quality expertise. 

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