I often hear discussion about one technique being better
than another, or this style being better than that. Discussions of this type are generally a
waste of time. Often they are initiated by people who do not have a basis of
understanding because they either have not trained or they have not trained
long enough to come to the realization that there are more similarities between
the various martial arts than there are differences AND that it is the
dedication, understanding and application of the technique by the practitioner
that makes it superior or inferior to another.
I have students of all shapes and sizes, as well as all ages
and ranks. If you were to compare a technique executed by a white belt and then
try to compare it to a different technique performed by a Black Belt on the
surface you would say the technique of the Black Belt was a superior technique
and could try to conclude that you should always do the technique he/she was
performing. The flaw in this analysis is
obvious in its extreme – we are not looking at apples to apples. While an
extreme example it serves the purpose of helping one realize that the skill of
the practitioner is an important component when evaluating techniques/styles
and if you are going to make the comparison you should at the least try to
match the skills of the practitioners who are demonstrating the techniques
before you begin to try and make a determination of which is better.
However, even this is insufficient because it does not bring
in the context of the situation in which the technique is being utilized. In my
town there was a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) school – I had a person come in off
the street inquiring about our school and style and then trashed it saying MMA
was better because we were not prepared to go to the ground. As a fair disclaimer this gentlemen was not
from the MMA school in town he was completely uneducated about any form of
martial art and was basing his opinion strictly on what he had seen on TV. With this bold statement his bravado inflated
only to be popped when I simply stated that the problem with going to the
ground MMA style was that it did not generally take into consideration weapons
that are commonly seen on the street. I informed him that getting stabbed
repeatedly in the kidney with a pocket knife while he had someone in the mount
position was not a good way to spend the last days of his existence. He shook
his head and walked out. He did not have enough experience with the martial
arts in general and the real world of street survival to offer an educated
opinion.
So which style is better or which technique is better. All
skills and all styles can be valuable when utilized in the proper situation.
What the martial arts student should work on is making the techniques they have
been taught the best they can possibly be.
In my style we have the “14 Attitude Requirements for Mastering Tang Soo
Do”. One of these is “When learning a new technique learn thoroughly the theory
and philosophy as well”. A student should strive to maximize their
understanding of the techniques/style they are learning. This includes: proper execution
of the technique, timing, position, alignment, power& speed generation and
traditional application. Once the basics are understood then the student should
investigate alternative applications.
Can a low block for example be used as a strike instead, can it be used
as a joint lock or throw. Can a single low block be used against multiple
attackers. Every technique follows a
path or trajectory of motion. How many
different points along that path is there a useful application. This analysis
should include the movements after the traditional application is executed. A
punch travels from the chamber position – out to the target – strikes – then
returns to the chamber position usually while the other hand is executing
another punch in a basic punching exercise. Are there applications (striking,
grabbing, locking, throwing) that can be done with the motion after the full
extension (strike) when the hand returns to chamber.
When all the possible permutations of application, timing,
targets, etc… have been investigated then the student may say they understand
the technique. Most students however would look at the technique as a punch –
spend some time hitting the heavy bag with it and then want to learn a new
technique. Or worse yet be unsatisfied with the technique and demand to be
shown a better (i.e. more advanced) technique.
The issue is not that the technique they were shown was inadequate,
their attitude and therefore understanding of the technique is inadequate.
Before one judges a technique as inferior or superior to
another they must first do a thorough investigation of technique. When they understand all its facets then they
will understand that all techniques can be superior techniques when one
understands how and when to properly apply them.
Tang Soo!
Master Homschek
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