As with any good meal sometimes it takes a little while to digest. For me, the same has always been true of any good training session. The adage,”slow to learn, slow to forget” was written for me. Particularly, the first part, “slow to learn” or as I like to say I follow the Texas chicken wire method of learning. Just keep throwing crap at me, eventually somethings gonna stick. I may be a little more proficient than that, but you get the idea.
The same could be said of how I initially work new and often my old material, “slow to practice, slow to forget”, but with this method there's always the potential to learn something new. On this last trip for Thanksgiving I visited my family, went to the NCRM (National Civil Rights Museum) and also had an opportunity to spend a few hours training with my Silat instructor and four of his students. As the guest, his first question was, “what would you like to do?”. In standard fashion I asked if we could review the 1st Juru he taught me when he was in Houston back in October. As he began to go over the juru I could immediately see that 1) he was moving much slow and more methodically that the first time he taught it 2) he filled in some of the gaps I missed 3) he again corrected my posture and made me aware of some common errors to look out for when executing the foot maneuvers and finally, as he began to share the hidden understand within this short juru and the applications were actually different or expanded understands from my initial exposure.
From that simple request we moved into meridians and vital points, locks, 14 count applications against the low hook. I’m just now sitting back and digesting what was shared over a week ago.
Is Your Butt Getting in the way of Your Instructing?
In a not so recent cell phone commercial a wife lets her husband know that his butt just called her. The commercial itself is great testimony to unwelcome forms of communication, even when the communication is coming from the one you love and/or respect. As martial arts instructors we should be careful not to let our “buts” create negative communication experiences with new or seasoned students. I have seen so many well meaning instructors ask a class question that they know full well no one probably knows the answer. Or even worse yet, no matter what the answer it will always be wrong because the instructor will want to show everyone who's the smartest in the room. Of course this begs the question, just how smart is he or she? If as an instructor they consistently assert their ego and tear down their students confidence.
As (well meaning) instructors we can be so zero focused on creating the perfect student that does the perfect block, the perfect punch or the perfect form that we lose site of the end goal, which is the journey. The wobbling before we roll over, the scooting before we crawl, the crawling before we soldier crawl, the pulling up on things before we attempt to walk. The instillation of guided, principled instruction over time that allows students to explore and discover their current limits and potential to bring out the greatness that is already inside. By default every person that walks in the door (particularly adults) are aware that they don’t know the subject matter and are willing to humble themselves to receive instruction from another human being to add to their existence and in doing so they add to their instructor’s existence. Let’s continue to appreciate and marvel at this exchange because it is what the arts are truly about. Not kicking and punching…
As (well meaning) instructors we can be so zero focused on creating the perfect student that does the perfect block, the perfect punch or the perfect form that we lose site of the end goal, which is the journey. The wobbling before we roll over, the scooting before we crawl, the crawling before we soldier crawl, the pulling up on things before we attempt to walk. The instillation of guided, principled instruction over time that allows students to explore and discover their current limits and potential to bring out the greatness that is already inside. By default every person that walks in the door (particularly adults) are aware that they don’t know the subject matter and are willing to humble themselves to receive instruction from another human being to add to their existence and in doing so they add to their instructor’s existence. Let’s continue to appreciate and marvel at this exchange because it is what the arts are truly about. Not kicking and punching…
The pen is mightier than the sword….but not really
The pen deals with public opinion, perception and what people can be lead to believe. The reality of this is no more relevant than today when the internet can give the perception of expertise in any subject and particularly in the martial arts. It is what self promotion is all about. It is very easy to talk the talk and to even walk the walk with the uneducated and uninformed because they come with open hearts and minds in the spirit of learning.
The sword deals with what’s done on the mat. Face to face and man to man if you will. When all is said and done the sword is what stories are made of. It is about what you bring to the floor and what you leave on the floor. Did the world see you gut it out and wimp out? Did you break a rib or was it a nail? At the end of the day where we choose to place the bar for ourselves will tell those that were actually there if we gave our all with sword in hand or pen.Keys and Doors
Over the last year I’ve had the good fortune to train about 3 to 4 days a week in a few different arts. Within the same time frame I had be able to train with, visit or attend camps and seminars with some excellent high level operators of their respective systems. That exposure to these talented individuals has solidified my philosophy on keys and doors. Whenever I attend a seminar, take a private lesson, watch a training dvd, read a book or talk to someone about training I look for keys. Keys that will open the doors to a great understanding about the arts as it relates to self defense, self preservation and self development in motion, anatomical alignment, structural integrity, power, targeting, balance, stopping power and in general my ability to hurt another human being as efficiently and effectively as possible. Over the last year, I’ve reevaluated this philosophy and refined it to not only looking for keys, but looking for those instructors that can give me the highest quality keys. The bottom line is that the key from a Gremlin won’t start a Porsche. And in as much as practice make permanent and perfect practice make perfect. High quality instruction makes for high quality learning and high quality execution if you spend more of your time practicing, more time listening that talking and work to stand on your own accomplishments more so than your lineage or rank. Just a thought from the woodpile..
One Skill Away...
One Skill Away…
Over the years with my growing lack of leisure time I’ve found that I read a lot less for enjoyment and what I normally find myself doing is turning on an audio book or lecture on my mp3 player in the car. You would never imagine how much time you spend in a car listening to the mindless drone of crappy music and idiotic talk radio, when you could be expanding your thinking. During one of these many listening sessions a topic was mentioned about being one skill away. This really made me reflect on where I am in my life and where I want to be. Where I want my professional career to evolve to, where I want my family to be, what social skills I want to develop and finally, where I want my understanding and physical application of the martial sciences to evolve too.
The question is then are we all just “one skill away”? Is there an area of development (broadly speaking) that if changed or developed could facilitate the elevation of your skill within your life or the martial arts? Have you ever been at the cusp of a breakthrough only to give up not realizing you were just "one skill away" from attaining your goal? If that was actually the case you’d probably never know...Such is the curse of life and quitting. You don’t get to see that answers to the test to see if you got it right.
In my brief 25 years of experience in the arts I have had the pleasure of meeting many martial artists of various styles and systems. Their levels of experience have run the gamut. From my own students, to peers, to acquaintances and up to master level operators. I have watched, listened, asked questions and learned. I've discussed and felt applications in meridian manipulation, pressure points, physical and mental execution, timing signatures, breathing signatures, timing drills, structural integrity, animal mannerisms, methods of execution, power principles, footwork, maneuvers, various martial concepts (empty hand and with weapons) and the list goes on and on...
Steadily, I have searched and searched, and searched some more. But what is it that I've been searching? I believe that what I had been looking for is my pot of gold at the end of the proverbial martial arts rainbow, you know "it", that "thing", that "thing" that make you see a person move and say, "what was that…" and then stand these speechless with a sheepish grin on your face as you wonder if it is even humanly possible for lowly YOU to get there, what one of my good friends calls the "x factor". It's what I saw when I first saw Mr. Parker on video, and have since seen from half a dozen or so other amazing individuals whom have surpassed that “one more skill” level in my opinion, but are still on their own journey searching for their potentially unattainable level of mastery…whatever theirs may be.
So the next question is how can you develop "it"? How do you get on the path to get “there”? That is a very difficult question to answer because people differ in their needs, desires and over all goals. What’s important to you isn’t necessarily important to me. From my experience that basic formulas for true success in the arts seem to be….
1- Get great instruction – Note I didn’t say get “good” instruction. You get out what you put in. Every chance to get to work with a master level operator is one more chance for a little of that shine to rub off on you. If that means making road trips, taking flights, getting out of your comfort zone and asking for personal instruction outside of your “lineage” do it.
2- Chop Wood – Be willing to put in the work. There are a lot of high ranking under skilled advanced belts out there. One can stand around and pontificate on just how awesome Kenpo is and wait for your next promotion, but that ain’t doing it. That’s talking about it…get on the mat.
3- Practice what you’re not good at. I got that one from Mr. Bob White. Why stand around doing what you already know your good at. Work on your weak areas and let your ego sit on the side lines
4- Develop a support system – You need someone to bounce ideas off of, to push you when you won’t push yourself and to pick you up (physically and more so mentally) when you stumble and fall.
5 - Practice, practice, practice, practice…every chance you get. It doesn’t happen overnight, but over time development is attained.
Over the years with my growing lack of leisure time I’ve found that I read a lot less for enjoyment and what I normally find myself doing is turning on an audio book or lecture on my mp3 player in the car. You would never imagine how much time you spend in a car listening to the mindless drone of crappy music and idiotic talk radio, when you could be expanding your thinking. During one of these many listening sessions a topic was mentioned about being one skill away. This really made me reflect on where I am in my life and where I want to be. Where I want my professional career to evolve to, where I want my family to be, what social skills I want to develop and finally, where I want my understanding and physical application of the martial sciences to evolve too.
The question is then are we all just “one skill away”? Is there an area of development (broadly speaking) that if changed or developed could facilitate the elevation of your skill within your life or the martial arts? Have you ever been at the cusp of a breakthrough only to give up not realizing you were just "one skill away" from attaining your goal? If that was actually the case you’d probably never know...Such is the curse of life and quitting. You don’t get to see that answers to the test to see if you got it right.
In my brief 25 years of experience in the arts I have had the pleasure of meeting many martial artists of various styles and systems. Their levels of experience have run the gamut. From my own students, to peers, to acquaintances and up to master level operators. I have watched, listened, asked questions and learned. I've discussed and felt applications in meridian manipulation, pressure points, physical and mental execution, timing signatures, breathing signatures, timing drills, structural integrity, animal mannerisms, methods of execution, power principles, footwork, maneuvers, various martial concepts (empty hand and with weapons) and the list goes on and on...
Steadily, I have searched and searched, and searched some more. But what is it that I've been searching? I believe that what I had been looking for is my pot of gold at the end of the proverbial martial arts rainbow, you know "it", that "thing", that "thing" that make you see a person move and say, "what was that…" and then stand these speechless with a sheepish grin on your face as you wonder if it is even humanly possible for lowly YOU to get there, what one of my good friends calls the "x factor". It's what I saw when I first saw Mr. Parker on video, and have since seen from half a dozen or so other amazing individuals whom have surpassed that “one more skill” level in my opinion, but are still on their own journey searching for their potentially unattainable level of mastery…whatever theirs may be.
So the next question is how can you develop "it"? How do you get on the path to get “there”? That is a very difficult question to answer because people differ in their needs, desires and over all goals. What’s important to you isn’t necessarily important to me. From my experience that basic formulas for true success in the arts seem to be….
1- Get great instruction – Note I didn’t say get “good” instruction. You get out what you put in. Every chance to get to work with a master level operator is one more chance for a little of that shine to rub off on you. If that means making road trips, taking flights, getting out of your comfort zone and asking for personal instruction outside of your “lineage” do it.
2- Chop Wood – Be willing to put in the work. There are a lot of high ranking under skilled advanced belts out there. One can stand around and pontificate on just how awesome Kenpo is and wait for your next promotion, but that ain’t doing it. That’s talking about it…get on the mat.
3- Practice what you’re not good at. I got that one from Mr. Bob White. Why stand around doing what you already know your good at. Work on your weak areas and let your ego sit on the side lines
4- Develop a support system – You need someone to bounce ideas off of, to push you when you won’t push yourself and to pick you up (physically and more so mentally) when you stumble and fall.
5 - Practice, practice, practice, practice…every chance you get. It doesn’t happen overnight, but over time development is attained.
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