I've noticed that there are two sides to FMA training, as with most martial arts... the fancy, "fun" stuff and the basic, sometimes brutal, "real" stuff. If you train with some contact sparring, the difference between the two shows up in a hurry. Against someone who is your equal or better, the "fun" stuff not only doesn't work, it will likely get you into trouble in a hurry. You know the stuff I'm talking about, fancy moves, spins, twirls, elaborate sequences, complicated disarms, and the like. Some fantastic instructors teach both. No problem there... as long as you keep the two separate in your own head.
Anyway, have any of you noticed the same thing in your experiences? Do you feel that the "fun" stuff is still worthwhile and teaches valuable lessons? Or do you side with those who prefer to focus on practical, "high percentage" stuff that you'd be more likely to actually use in a fight?
I like the Basics.
The problem is that my basics today for me are so much more than when I started.
To answer you question, Yes, I find the Fun Stuff to have valuable lessons.
Lesson 1) Attribute learning as mentioned by Dan Anderson and also quoted below.
Lesson 2) What not to do as when you get out of your skill and confort zone you get into trouble.
Hi Geezer,
Yes, I've noticed the difference. It's hard not to. Does the fun stuff help? Certainly. Once you are in close range all the fun stuff comes into play plus you get great 'attributes training' as well.
Yours,
Dan Anderson
I agree as stated above.
Dan, can you please explain what you mean by "attributes training"?
I am not Dan, but I will give you my take on it.
If I am trying to teach you a particular technique that then gets built upon to teach you more complex "fun/fluff" as it is called and you cannot get this then I cannot get you to the techniques that require the skill set. I will try other ways to get that skill set developed for the student but if they are not caring or do not try or just cannot get it then one cannot force it.
So, why would anyone ever want to learn how to hit the hand twice, or three times let alone four times. Hit it once and hard and move on right? Maybe.
If you hit once and move on the opponent can reset and recover. But if you are used to playing or fighting and or have built the skill set to follow up you can manage and delay the opponents weapon and get you next strike which puts them further behind and harder to shake it off and recover.
But you say four times from multiple angles? Why?
Well other than to show off and not know out the opponent it is skill sets and in particular timing. Not just timing of the strike but of your off hand and where it should be in the fight.
If you only move your primary hand and then move your off hand and then move your primary hand the opponent could be moving both primary and off hand at the same time and you might feel like you are not in the fight anymore but just being used as a demo tool.
Practice the fun stuff. Develope the techniques and skills. Also practive them and get hit. Sometimes it shows you where you need to work. Other times it shows you just what does not work.
Let me try with an example.
A stick used to block and the person puts two hands on it to reinforce the block or because it the the first basic block. Why would you ever have to learn to just block with your cane/stick with just one hand. I am not talking about where both of you strike out and your weapons block each other and there is space between you. I mean if you did not pt your block up right in front of you you would have been hit. Why would anyone want to learn the Fluff of blocking with one hand when two hands works just fine?
Two hands work just fine against an opponent using two hands to strike or not using their offhand to manage, monitor or delay your weapon or primary hand. Also if my timing is good enough I could abort and trap your weapon down while both of your hands are on it and I have lots of room with no traffic to swing my primary hand and weapon.
But you see to me, that last move is a very basic move. But to the total beginner they do not have the skill nor the technique nor the understanding to execute the move. So they do their beginning block and they learn from there.
Now that being said, There are always cases of over complexity. One can get so deep into a move sequence, that even Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are wondering which turn at what city got them to where they are at. Anything in an extreme is bad.
I have heard some say that what I was doing was sports car and playing and not real. One would need to know who to deal with the serious opponent trying to hurt you. Ok, that is their opinion. Yet I was able to handle what they brought and what others brought, and then I heard it was well that is just Rich. Ok, I am a big guy, but I am not really that fast. I just know when to move and where to go. I am not going to be in any calendar nor on TV and have anyone swoon or go BOY is he HOT!. I know this and understand it. But it does show that an average person, can learn to move well. If I can learn it then so can others.
