In another post warder wrote:
Is it better to have a big system with lots of techniques or a small system with relatively few? A big system gives many options but with a small system I see two possible advantages: More practice of those fewer techniques, and less hesitation when it comes time to use them because there isn'ta s much choice. My JKD instructor speaks of having the jab "loaded" in the right hand and the cross "loaded" in the left (at a certain range), ready to go.
At some level of experience I believe that most martial artists transcend technique and it doesn't matter as much, but I am curious what others think of a small system with relatively few techniques vs. a large system with many techniques. I mean this within a range--I'm not asking whether, if you have the right hook, you still need some ground grappling, but rather: Is it better to have just the lead jab and lead hook in your system, or to also have in your system a lead shuto, spearhand, leopard's fist, ridgehand, tiger claw, backfist, and so on, and more generally if in a given range it's best to have say one or two strikes, one or two kicks, and maybe a lock rather than many more options.
The context was adding grappling skills to stand-up skills but it brings to mind something I've been thinking about a lot recently.you can never have enough in your "tool box".
Is it better to have a big system with lots of techniques or a small system with relatively few? A big system gives many options but with a small system I see two possible advantages: More practice of those fewer techniques, and less hesitation when it comes time to use them because there isn'ta s much choice. My JKD instructor speaks of having the jab "loaded" in the right hand and the cross "loaded" in the left (at a certain range), ready to go.
At some level of experience I believe that most martial artists transcend technique and it doesn't matter as much, but I am curious what others think of a small system with relatively few techniques vs. a large system with many techniques. I mean this within a range--I'm not asking whether, if you have the right hook, you still need some ground grappling, but rather: Is it better to have just the lead jab and lead hook in your system, or to also have in your system a lead shuto, spearhand, leopard's fist, ridgehand, tiger claw, backfist, and so on, and more generally if in a given range it's best to have say one or two strikes, one or two kicks, and maybe a lock rather than many more options.