What Comes First?

What Comes First?
Recently I was asked what I felt was the correct sequence of training to produce effective results. In order to answer this question we need to first ask what most practitioners do and why they are not satisfied with those results. Typical training follows a regimen of observing technique and attempting to replicate it and then repeating it numerous times until it is ingrained into a muscle memory. The result is often that the technique will not perform as it is designed, but the problem is actually that the technique has been committed to memory incorrectly and each time reinforced that way, otherwise it would perform as intended. The core is not the technique, since there is such similarity among martial arts techniques if you doubt this go from style to style and observe just how similar blocking and striking movements are.

In my studies of history and martial arts history in particular, I compared modern training to training methods used in ancient times. Fundamentally we see similarity in drilling and repetitive movement, but there is a large difference in detail. Martial arts have roots in military training but achieved their highest levels in monasteries where the training was overseen  by highly educated monks so the detail impressed upon students was much more precise, and only then did they commit the technique to muscle memory. We routinely test this principle in class by applying force to a given technique, observing how it feels, making adjustments until it clearly feels correct, go over what factors make it correct and then drill it repetitively.

Once the core is firm we add a partner to the mix which completely changes the dynamic again. The initial contact is often so distracting, we neglect the precision we worked so diligently at and must grow accustom to this added component. At this point we start to understand working with energy and how to adjust accordingly and we begin using tools like sensitivity games to teach us about the diversity of energy and the similarity of it. At this point the key is to recognize that the “games” used to teach us to feel the opponent and the energy are actually combat, and we are trying to use the contact our opponent gives us to utilize that same feeling. Then “sparring” can take place. So to summarize, understand the body, understand the dynamics of energy, learn to move and maintain those principles, partner training, then sparring.
This way of training can seem slow and monotonous but in the end it takes less time and is more thorough.