Techniques

K-man

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The technique is only the 50%. The ability is the other 50%.
I would suggest the ability to perform the technique is 100%. The best technique in your repertoire is useless if you can't make it work. :)
 

Kung Fu Wang

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I would suggest the ability to perform the technique is 100%. The best technique in your repertoire is useless if you can't make it work. :)
To me, the technique is the deliver system (like the missile system). The ability is the explosion system (like the nuclear warhead).

To make your technique work, you will need timing, opportunity, angle, force, and balance.

To

- have good timing,
- recognize opportunity,
- enter through the correct angle,

are technique.

To have

- power behind technique,
- good balance to execute it. This is not just your own balance, but your balance when you deal with your opponent's body weight.

are ability.

A good example is no matter how good technique a 10 years old boy may have, his technique will never work on a 20 years old because the lacking of ability.

In CMA, the ability (Gong) training are separated from the technique training. In boxing, the sparring is the technique training. The heavy bag work out is the ability training.

The following clip is an "ability" training. It's needed if you want to execute any clockwise or counter-clockwise twisting type of "technique". The "ability" training is hard work.

 
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alexis101

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A technique is defined by

- timing,
- opportunity,
- angle,
- force,
- balance.

A good technique is a technique that you can have high successful rate that you only have to take the least amount of risk to execute it.

Nicely defined :sp150:
 

TKDTony2179

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Food for thought:

What constitutes/defines a technique?

How important is it to have good technique?



What aspects of a technique makes you consider it to be good and/or effective?


Does the setting of where a technique is performed (sport, self defence, demonstration etc) change what makes it good and/or effective?

What constitutes/defines a technique?

Balance, power, foot work, stance, hip control and overall twisting.

How important is it to have good technique?
Very important. Maybe life or death situation.

What aspects of a technique makes you consider it to be good and/or effective?

If all of the components of as stated above are included.

Does the setting of where a technique is performed (sport, self defence, demonstration etc) change what makes it good and/or effective?[/QUOTE]


I think they all should all be the same but sometimes because of certain demos the artist don't do the full techinque for risk of injury to their partner or leaves out some of the full technique do to lack of real knowledge of what they are doing. Full contact or light contact striking arts can still demonstrate how effective they can be and show good control with good technique.
 

Daniel Sullivan

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What constitutes/defines a technique?
A technique is a physical map that takes you from one place to an end goal. Any method that guides the performing of a physical action or set of physical actions that is/are performed to achieve a particular goal or end is a technique. Footwork, for example, is a collection of stepping techniques. Parries are deflecting techniques. A single cut with a sword is a striking technique. Often techniques are used in concert. For example, a cut in kendo is made of of several techniques, including ashi sabaki (footwork), furikiburi (raising the sword), and finally men/kote/do uchi (strike to the mask/glove/plastron) which should be followed by proper zanshin.

How important is it to have good technique?
Having good technique describes one's execution of the technique rather than the technique itself. How important is it to have good execution of a technique? Very.

Aside from the issues of your technique having the potential to save your life, bad technique can cause physical injury, either immediately or over a period of time. So one should have at least proficiency in the techniques that they practice.

What aspects of a technique makes you consider it to be good and/or effective?
I am assuming that you are now talking about the goodness and/or effectiveness of the technique itself rather than simply the execution of it.
A good and/or effective technique is good and/or effective based upon how well the method functions as a map to its intended destination. For example:

A sword technique in a theatrical setting may need to communicate some story element that is unrelated to its combat worthiness. This may involve the swordsman doing things that translate well on screen to the audience, but which might not be particularly effective in combat. If it achieves its intended end in that setting, then it is a good and effective technique. In that setting.

Which brings us to your next question,

Does the setting of where a technique is performed (sport, self defence, demonstration etc) change what makes it good and/or effective?
Yes, it does. Techniques are developed in order to achieve specific ends. So what that end is makes up half of what makes a technique 'good.' The other half is how well the technique meets that goal. As I said earlier, a technique is a physical map. A road map to Sanfrancisco from DC is not effective if you need to get there from Anchorage. Nor is it effective if I'm leaving DC to go to New York City. Thus, an XMA technique designed to get me to a flashy display of kicking is effective in an XMA setting but may not be effective in an SD setting.

You can also look at fight sports. Techniques become very specialized in order to achieve the goal of scoring points in the setting of that sport. Look at the differences between John L. Sullivan's posture as compared to any modern boxer. Gloves and Queensbury rules alter how one fights (no value judgement). Or look at the difference between ITF and a WTF competitors; one must deal with a more handsy style of fighting while the other is focused mainly on kicks. And look at the differences between koryo kenjutsu and kendo.

Setting matters. So to does end goal. Some people want to be ready for the predator on the street. Some just want good cardio. Cardio kickboxing, Forza, and numerous other MA derived fitness methods are great for the second but not so much for the first.
 

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