Once upon a time I was quoted that in order to succeed at karate, or any martial art for that matter, one had to conquer technique. At the time I accepted that as fact because it was easy to see in dojo training and practice the intensity of focus on technique was mind-boggling. In my early days I devoted a good many hours of study, training and practice to conquer basics, kata and kumite along with other aspects of karate.
I took on the mantra that I would study, train, practice, test and refine my techniques through so much practice that it would become second nature to me, a reflexive conditioned response, and I would someday be known as a master of karate. Alas, as my studies and research discovered such focus on technique was misplaced, at least as to the complete process of master, or expertise, because there were these things called principles, methodologies, force applications and levels, etc. We don’t even want to start in on the whole concept of conflict and violence that is the very nature of human existence.
Several things now come to mind for those of us who are pursuing martial arts and karate for more than a philosophical objective or even just the sport competition aspects, i.e., that of a more combative and self-fense path. This brings about another aspect not present in a lot of dojo and in self-defense models, the adrenal stress-conditioned reality based training and practice.
Before this article continues, I have not had the privilege of actually learning my craft and discipline of karate and martial arts under such a model of training and practice. I thought I had and adding in the modicum of hands-on experiences gained such knowledge and understanding only to find out in recent years it was not the full Monty of that model and very, very few outside of certain professions who can lay claim to having that kind of teaching ability. Lucky me, my life has reached a point that except under the most rare of conditions I will not have to face such a predatory conflict or violent encounter.
As I am currently understanding, a focus on technique based training is great for the novice but in order to have it functional in the chaos and reality of life there needs to be more such as a focus on principles over technique; a focus on methodologies over technique; and a focus on force levels appropriate to situations over technique based you do this and I do that type of defensive stuff.
• Training, it requires a lot more than merely repetitive practice of technique, kata and kumite.
• Testing, it requires a certain amount of reality more than merely repetitive practice of technique, kata and kumite.
• Refining, it requires the refinement of the mind while the body through conditioned reflexive responses, etc. than merely the repetitive practice of technique, kata and kumite.
• In short, technique gets the door unlocked but a more holistic wholehearted creative application of conditioned reflex oriented mutiple principled methodologies in applying appropriate levels of force as justified to keeping within the circle of self-defense law and legal systems seems more - productive, effective and efficient.
It may be beneficial to train, practice, test and refine technique but to what end, what is the intent of doing this? Perfection of self; perfection of the body; perfection of the mind; and perfection of the spirit? Yea, very solid good goals and when we say perfection what exactly do we mean for one can train and practice martial arts and karate to perfection for both good and for bad. Hmmm, I suspect most aim for the good but to assume so would be a bit lacking.
If you train, practice, test and REFINE technique for the use in self-defense, etc., isn’t that a bit lacking unless they are including everything else as well. I prefer to think that when one practices a technique they are working hard to refine not that technique but the underlying principles that make it effective because merely doing a block doesn’t cut it but having the principles locked means whatever method you apply in what ever way or means will be effective and get the job done regardless.
You can see even in that last paragraph the technique alone is not enough and that there must be something else but with many articles, video’s, and actual dojo floor stuff that level of explanation and understanding becomes critical. Yet, many still don’t have that included.
Techniques are the party, the fun part and the physical sweat and blood part that excites us all so in our effort to have fun and receive the gratifications that this part of practice provides we give lip service to all the more boring stuff and move rapidly to the fun stuff - kind of dangerous if you think you are getting self-defense out of it don’t you think.
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