Unless you are quoting Mr. Parker exactly, I would suspect his quote would have been something more like "the application of techniques is created at the moment you need them".
Hi John,
I didn't quote Ed Parker [didn't use quotes in my post] because I wasn't sure of the exacts words he said. But rather I tried to speak of to the meaning of what he said. I'm assuming, since you used quotes, that what you typed is exactly what he said. Thank you for clarifying that.
You need to explain this a little more clearly. You almost sould like your saying that there is no need to practice and improve physical techniques, since your spirit will guide you.
That is not at all what I am saying. More clearly, what I am saying, is that martial artists should not be practicing the same techniques over and over again. While they are practicing they need to allow non-set-in-stone ideas to flow out of themselves at the moment they need to. It is impossible to cover every "what if" senario with techniques, so we shouldn't waist time doing that.
Again, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't practice techniques at all. [I teach them to my students.] But we must not allow ourselves to be so conditioned that when at the moment we begin to defend ourselves we can only do movements in a certain order. [I believe Joe Shuras once told of a story of a person who was into pistol shooting competition. His technique taught him to fire twice and flip open his weapon - dumping the empty cartridges onto the ground. But one day when he had to fire at someone for real his technique took over and after two shots he dumped the rest of his bullets onto the ground.]
Let's pretend I attacked you. I would bet my home that you wouldn't do any set techniques exactly the way you were taught it. The main reason is that I would not attack you in any dojo-style method. I would be completely unpredictable.
I think almost everyone agrees that the spirit works best in unison with a strong mind and strong body.
I agree with this to a point.
There is a book I am currently reading about a Tai Chi master. He died about 20 years ago now. When he was in his seventies he said that he had to give up bowling. This was because the bowling ball was to heavy for him to hold. However, he apparently could still throw 250 pound men around like rag dolls.
I believe with proper understanding one need not use much of their own strength to defend themselves.
He was asked by one of his students why he did Tai Chi. He said he did it so that when he got old enough to appreciate the meaning of life, he would have the energy to do so. (He too believed in conditioning the body - to a certain extent)
I don't think techniques are all bad. But I do believe that many people never see beyond the set movements. That is bad. I am sure that you, without doubt, can see beyond the set movements. I believe your profession, as a police officer, forces that on you.
-John