When Crosstraining...

SFC JeffJ

Grandmaster
MTS Alumni
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Messages
9,141
Reaction score
44
How do you keep techniques to what you are training in the moment?

For example, last night in my Arnis class we were working on empty handed blocking drills. I kinda zoned out and took my partner down with a wrist bend that certainly wasn't the point of the drill.

So how do you fight these instincts?
 
Great question.

I am not sure of a good answer, but I would say that you don't fight it. If itis what flows from your instincts, then let it happen. OTOH, look at it as a different aspect of your training: if you are working hips throws, you don't break into trips orshoulder throws. Correct?

Just my take on it.
 
I agree with searcher about not fighting it. When the years of experience lead to you adapting or utilising techniques other than those you are being currently tought, that is a good thing IMO. Those are your instincts showing you what you are capable of, coupled with (I'm guessing) the surprise upon your training partner, hense, he/she are not able to comply as they would the technique you are working.
I guess the best way would be to slow down the technique you're learning and gradually pick up the pace after a few shots. Get your body used to this new movement slowly and allow it to flow like your previous moves. Eventually, you will obviously end up with another 'instinctive' flow in your arsenal.

Hope this helps

Kind regards
John
 
While it may be a good thing to internalize the techniques as others have said, I think you answered your own question when you said, "I kind of zoned out." in a simple drill, I would think that zoning out could be a little dangerous to you or your partner.
 
You know when practicing a technique under and instructor you should try to emulate it. However, a good instructor will not care if after awhile you make changes based on your training experiences or your attributes. Creativity is or should be the key. I personally enjoy seeing a practitioner make a change in the moment even if it is not what we are covering.
icon6.gif
 
How do you keep techniques to what you are training in the moment?

For example, last night in my Arnis class we were working on empty handed blocking drills. I kinda zoned out and took my partner down with a wrist bend that certainly wasn't the point of the drill.

So how do you fight these instincts?

I've found myself doing the same. I usually find the Arnis pops up alot when I'm doing Kenpo. IMO, we should be able to flow from one thing to the next, without giving it much thought. Its just happens, like you said.

If I'm working something specific, ie: taking an Arnis class or private lesson, I do try to focus just on the task at hand. If anything, I'll try to find something more Arnis like to add onto the drill that I'm working.
 
I find that my Cha San Ryu instructors appreciate it when I blend elements of Kenpo into areas like sparring, or even just in making my katas flow more than some of my classmates are...that said, I haven't tested them on self defense or grab techniques--I try to be very careful to do each technique every time the way they taught me until it is just as instinctual as Kenpo has been. Maybe they wouldn't mind if I added an American twist to the Japanese art, but I'm not willing to bet their good graces on it *impish grin* It is difficult to mentally separate what I'm doing, particularly when it's been a long day and all I want to do is let my body go into autopilot, but I try to make myself give everything I have to give in every area and see what becomes of it :) Maybe one day I'll make a hybrid of the two ;) (I kid...mostly...)

~Ani
 
You know when practicing a technique under and instructor you should try to emulate it. However, a good instructor will not care if after awhile you make changes based on your training experiences or your attributes. Creativity is or should be the key. I personally enjoy seeing a practitioner make a change in the moment even if it is not what we are covering.
icon6.gif
There's nothing like that moment when a student puts things together, and does something that you didn't teach them... but it's the right thing to do, and fits with the right principles.
 
Well it is great that you are able to blend your training but I would sugget to stick with the curriculum at the school. The reason I say that because it is like if you are training at a BJJ school for example and then in pairing with a fellow BJJ student u start using Muay Thai techniques on the student ( which he isn't trained in) it can lead to injury if the other student isn't prepared etc......... Not to mention it isn't what your instructor is teaching and other students will notice that you are doing your own thing regardless of what the instructor is teaching. That can be considered disrespectful to your teacher. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that what you are doing is bad, it just may not be appropriate in class.

However if your teacher has no issues with it then by all means, practice and test theory and application between the styles you crosstrain in.

Just remember you are at that school to learn that style. There is nothing wrong with blending those styles on your own time ? just my $.02
 
Well it is great that you are able to blend your training but I would sugget to stick with the curriculum at the school. The reason I say that because it is like if you are training at a BJJ school for example and then in pairing with a fellow BJJ student u start using Muay Thai techniques on the student ( which he isn't trained in) it can lead to injury if the other student isn't prepared etc......... Not to mention it isn't what your instructor is teaching and other students will notice that you are doing your own thing regardless of what the instructor is teaching. That can be considered disrespectful to your teacher. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that what you are doing is bad, it just may not be appropriate in class.

However if your teacher has no issues with it then by all means, practice and test theory and application between the styles you crosstrain in.

Just remember you are at that school to learn that style. There is nothing wrong with blending those styles on your own time ? just my $.02
This is exactly why I feel a little bad about it. I'm there to learn, not show off. On the other hand I felt pretty decent about it as the technique I went into wasn't what I consider one of my "go to" ones. So there was good and bad about it. Oh and I was very apologetic to my partner afterwords.
 
Last edited:
Well it is great that you are able to blend your training but I would sugget to stick with the curriculum at the school. The reason I say that because it is like if you are training at a BJJ school for example and then in pairing with a fellow BJJ student u start using Muay Thai techniques on the student ( which he isn't trained in) it can lead to injury if the other student isn't prepared etc......... Not to mention it isn't what your instructor is teaching and other students will notice that you are doing your own thing regardless of what the instructor is teaching. That can be considered disrespectful to your teacher. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that what you are doing is bad, it just may not be appropriate in class.

Ah, now I agree with this completely. I was under the impression the question was regarding using previous techniques learned in said style, rather than practicing the newer ones your instructor was teaching. If you are using techniques from a completely different school/style, then yes, that is an issue that needs addressing. I would recommend fiocus exercises to get your mind prepped for whatever class it is you're attending, and get yourself into the mindset of an Arnisador if it's the Arnis class, and remove any urges/thoughts about utilising ground attacks unless they are part of that system.
I do stand by my original statemnet though, in that if you are using techniques from that system, then I really do not see any harm in what happens.
 
Ah, now I agree with this completely. I was under the impression the question was regarding using previous techniques learned in said style, rather than practicing the newer ones your instructor was teaching. If you are using techniques from a completely different school/style, then yes, that is an issue that needs addressing. I would recommend fiocus exercises to get your mind prepped for whatever class it is you're attending, and get yourself into the mindset of an Arnisador if it's the Arnis class, and remove any urges/thoughts about utilising ground attacks unless they are part of that system.
I do stand by my original statemnet though, in that if you are using techniques from that system, then I really do not see any harm in what happens.

I do try to do that, honestly! But sometimes, like this one, I get that "no mind" thing going and it just comes out wrong. I need to stay focused on the "Now" instead of letting the past get in the way of things. Luckily, I do have a class where I can blend it all together and it is appreciated. I just need to be more carefull while I'm getting the reps in during the Arnis and the BBT.
 
Jeff-I have run into this recently with going back to a soft style from so many years of hard style training. The instructor keeps insisting that I need to loosen up my stances and my technique. It is very difficult to be loose and not muscle the techniques. What i so funny about it is, that the techniques I am working on are very much like the techniques that I have learned in Chito-ryu, Isshin-ryu, and TKD. But they want me to be loose and it is very difficult to maintain looseness as it is a habit for me to be rigid. I am trying to rely on what I learned years ago in EPAK, but it has been 20 years ago.

I feel for you. But I am still a firm believer in not fighting instinct.
 
Back
Top