isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Punch, punch, punch. Kick, kick, kick. Block, block, block. Like a line of robots, students thrust out their arms and legs in the particular way the instructor directs. The same with kata.
Anybody can read a script. That doesn't make them actors. A good actor wants to know the purpose of their lines. They'll ask the director, "What's my motivation here?" They need to know this to "get into character." This is the actor's skill. Have you ever learned a song in a foreign language that you didn't know? It's easy to memorize the pronunciation but without knowing the meaning of the song you are little more than a parrot. The song will be stilted, lacking the emotion, the inflection that makes it powerful, giving it meaning and purpose. Not only will it be boring to the listener, after a while it'll be boring to the singer. A similar kind of thing happens in many TMA schools.
Concentrating on and practicing technique execution, as important as it is, will only get you so far. Over-emphasis on technique in teaching will become boring to the student and instructor. Practitioners need to know the motivation and purpose behind the technique. Only then can they execute it with the proper emotion and inflection that gives it meaning and makes it powerful. At that point, they are no longer robots, but on their way to being martial artists.
I've read more than one poster here saying their school doesn't get too much into the self-defense aspect of karate/TKD. Technique just for technique's sake? That can give some benefits. But without the things discussed above the moves will be in black and white, without color. Without excitement. I've done kata without understanding the applications and could do them technically correct. Once learning the application, my kata changed. I was able to add inflection and nuances that brought out the meaning of the moves. It was a lot more fun and exciting. And more effective MA.
This holds true even for a simple punch. Instead of seeing it as a "punch" (the physical extension of the arm using proper biomechanics) see it as "striking someone in the face." It's more than a semantic difference. It is an existential one. The first way is technique oriented. The second is application oriented that will make a difference in the way one executes the move. Arguably the most influential master in all karate history is Itosu Anko. In his "10 Articles" number 8 advises, "Visualize actual battle in practice." I believe this is the single most important and effective way to improve one's TMA. What's more exciting and motivating than battle?!
When doing a single punch or an entire form, visualizing yourself in a fight, seeing the opponent before you, is a sure way for you and your students to improve and stay motivated.
Anybody can read a script. That doesn't make them actors. A good actor wants to know the purpose of their lines. They'll ask the director, "What's my motivation here?" They need to know this to "get into character." This is the actor's skill. Have you ever learned a song in a foreign language that you didn't know? It's easy to memorize the pronunciation but without knowing the meaning of the song you are little more than a parrot. The song will be stilted, lacking the emotion, the inflection that makes it powerful, giving it meaning and purpose. Not only will it be boring to the listener, after a while it'll be boring to the singer. A similar kind of thing happens in many TMA schools.
Concentrating on and practicing technique execution, as important as it is, will only get you so far. Over-emphasis on technique in teaching will become boring to the student and instructor. Practitioners need to know the motivation and purpose behind the technique. Only then can they execute it with the proper emotion and inflection that gives it meaning and makes it powerful. At that point, they are no longer robots, but on their way to being martial artists.
I've read more than one poster here saying their school doesn't get too much into the self-defense aspect of karate/TKD. Technique just for technique's sake? That can give some benefits. But without the things discussed above the moves will be in black and white, without color. Without excitement. I've done kata without understanding the applications and could do them technically correct. Once learning the application, my kata changed. I was able to add inflection and nuances that brought out the meaning of the moves. It was a lot more fun and exciting. And more effective MA.
This holds true even for a simple punch. Instead of seeing it as a "punch" (the physical extension of the arm using proper biomechanics) see it as "striking someone in the face." It's more than a semantic difference. It is an existential one. The first way is technique oriented. The second is application oriented that will make a difference in the way one executes the move. Arguably the most influential master in all karate history is Itosu Anko. In his "10 Articles" number 8 advises, "Visualize actual battle in practice." I believe this is the single most important and effective way to improve one's TMA. What's more exciting and motivating than battle?!
When doing a single punch or an entire form, visualizing yourself in a fight, seeing the opponent before you, is a sure way for you and your students to improve and stay motivated.
