I think a common principle in many martial arts matters is a 'return to the beginning'. I'll use examples to illustrate this.
1) Circle of Fear
This is sometime common to many systems, though it may have a different name. It refers to the radius about oneself where you would feel threatened. The initial stage is a wide radius, where things that may be threatening cause fear or nervousness without having to be nearby. You can illustrate this with some beginning students by talking to the class as a whole and suddenly lunging at a beginner standing, say, 12 to 15 feet away. Many may jump reflexively.
The middle stage is achieved after some training. The student grows confident in his/her abilities and the radius of the circle of fear tightens. Only direct threats, like an opponent right in front of him/her, is perceived as a threat. The lunges made to the beginner no longer get a response from the more experienced student. In fact, the student may no longer even notice them.
The final stage is a return to the beginning. The radius of the circle is wide once again. However, now it is more like a circle of awareness. Threats are recognized from a distance, but no longer cause a reflexive action unless the danger is imminent. This student notices the lunge made by the instructor to the beginner, but registers it as a harmless act.
2) Reflexes
This has been touched on in another thread. In the beginning, the student responds to attacks reflexively. However, these motions are most likely very inefficient, full of wasted motion with no real combat potential, save the slight hope that they may deflect the threat.
After some training, the student has learned more effective moves. However, the student still has to think about the motions when attacked. The reflexes have been replaced by concious thought, as the brain struggles to remember the appropriate action for the oncoming threat. Time is lost, and many times the action, while appropriate, comes too late.
Eventually, the student will reach a level where he/she responds reflexively once again. However, their neuro-muscular system has been programmed with much more efficient, combat-effective motions. Another 'return to the beginning'.
3) Ye Olde White Belt Story
This last is a somewhat allegorical-type thing, but most -if not all- of us have heard something similar.
It has been said that the original karateka simply wore white belts. There were no other colors. With some training, the belt began to take on colors, from sweat, grass, dirt, etc. Eventually, after years of practice, the belt has become black (with grime...ewwwww). After many more years, the belt is frayed. The color (and nasty ol' muck) has faded. The belt is white again.
Bruce Lee made similar statements in the same vein when he said that at first, a person fights with no form. They begin to learn a system, and fight within the confines of that form. Eventually, after self-analysis and experience, the student will hopefully break the bounds of the form, becoming formless once again. The actions of their opponent, rather than the preconceptions and doctrine of their style, will determine what action they take.
Once again, I think I've rambled to the point where my original idea has been lost in a sea of babbling. If you've managed to pry my point out of this mish-mash, great! If not, I velly solly.
Cthulhu
1) Circle of Fear
This is sometime common to many systems, though it may have a different name. It refers to the radius about oneself where you would feel threatened. The initial stage is a wide radius, where things that may be threatening cause fear or nervousness without having to be nearby. You can illustrate this with some beginning students by talking to the class as a whole and suddenly lunging at a beginner standing, say, 12 to 15 feet away. Many may jump reflexively.
The middle stage is achieved after some training. The student grows confident in his/her abilities and the radius of the circle of fear tightens. Only direct threats, like an opponent right in front of him/her, is perceived as a threat. The lunges made to the beginner no longer get a response from the more experienced student. In fact, the student may no longer even notice them.
The final stage is a return to the beginning. The radius of the circle is wide once again. However, now it is more like a circle of awareness. Threats are recognized from a distance, but no longer cause a reflexive action unless the danger is imminent. This student notices the lunge made by the instructor to the beginner, but registers it as a harmless act.
2) Reflexes
This has been touched on in another thread. In the beginning, the student responds to attacks reflexively. However, these motions are most likely very inefficient, full of wasted motion with no real combat potential, save the slight hope that they may deflect the threat.
After some training, the student has learned more effective moves. However, the student still has to think about the motions when attacked. The reflexes have been replaced by concious thought, as the brain struggles to remember the appropriate action for the oncoming threat. Time is lost, and many times the action, while appropriate, comes too late.
Eventually, the student will reach a level where he/she responds reflexively once again. However, their neuro-muscular system has been programmed with much more efficient, combat-effective motions. Another 'return to the beginning'.
3) Ye Olde White Belt Story
This last is a somewhat allegorical-type thing, but most -if not all- of us have heard something similar.
It has been said that the original karateka simply wore white belts. There were no other colors. With some training, the belt began to take on colors, from sweat, grass, dirt, etc. Eventually, after years of practice, the belt has become black (with grime...ewwwww). After many more years, the belt is frayed. The color (and nasty ol' muck) has faded. The belt is white again.
Bruce Lee made similar statements in the same vein when he said that at first, a person fights with no form. They begin to learn a system, and fight within the confines of that form. Eventually, after self-analysis and experience, the student will hopefully break the bounds of the form, becoming formless once again. The actions of their opponent, rather than the preconceptions and doctrine of their style, will determine what action they take.
Once again, I think I've rambled to the point where my original idea has been lost in a sea of babbling. If you've managed to pry my point out of this mish-mash, great! If not, I velly solly.
Cthulhu
