Training must be a path striving for perfection. If it is not, training becomes about "keeping up" or "staying afloat." This is not the mastery that one aims for, of both execution and mental focus.
In some sense, this is an indictment against training broadly instead of deeply. Broad knowledge cannot lead to perfection or mastery, only deep training can.
Of course, perfection may not be something attainable in a real sense, but the journey towards that goal is what makes the difference. The mission for such perfection empowers more than the attainment of it.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Action and Non-Action
In recent years, I have experienced a debate between two methods of thinking regarding actions in martial arts/life.
On the one side, my personal experience has supported that overly "passive" behavior does not pay off, but aggressive behavior does in many regards. This should be clarified. I do not mean "aggressive" in a violent sort of way. Rather, a better definition would be "proactive behavior with volition." It means to move decisively and confidently towards a desired outcome.
On the other hand, Tai Chi type thinking would say to not be proactive, and only to be reactive — responding to the world in a way that guides one through life via "non-action." It is adaptive to what is offered — something that I have also experienced in life, though usually only on a gross scale.
What I'm really finding though, at least in terms of life, is that neither of these alone is sufficient — like the two halves of the yin/yang, both of these have to work in concert with each other. In some places, you have to be aggressive, decisive, and active. In others, you must be passive, reactionary, and adaptive.
And, like the yin/yang, there is part of each in the other. Within aggressive behavior, there can be passivity; within non-action, there can be proactivity. The key I think, is distributing the methods appropriately (and not that they are separate in execution).
An example from sparring: previously I encouraged for people to not care about one's opponent and move with one's own plan of action. This would be the aggressive behavior. However, such action can also be reactive — as in the case of counter-attacking. My proactive plan might be to never throw an offensive technique and be adaptive to an opponent's movements to counter-attack. It doesn't have to be a blitzkrieg of attacks. Here, the reactive is found within the aggressive.
As in all things, finding the proper balance between these forces is key.
On the one side, my personal experience has supported that overly "passive" behavior does not pay off, but aggressive behavior does in many regards. This should be clarified. I do not mean "aggressive" in a violent sort of way. Rather, a better definition would be "proactive behavior with volition." It means to move decisively and confidently towards a desired outcome.
On the other hand, Tai Chi type thinking would say to not be proactive, and only to be reactive — responding to the world in a way that guides one through life via "non-action." It is adaptive to what is offered — something that I have also experienced in life, though usually only on a gross scale.
What I'm really finding though, at least in terms of life, is that neither of these alone is sufficient — like the two halves of the yin/yang, both of these have to work in concert with each other. In some places, you have to be aggressive, decisive, and active. In others, you must be passive, reactionary, and adaptive.
And, like the yin/yang, there is part of each in the other. Within aggressive behavior, there can be passivity; within non-action, there can be proactivity. The key I think, is distributing the methods appropriately (and not that they are separate in execution).
An example from sparring: previously I encouraged for people to not care about one's opponent and move with one's own plan of action. This would be the aggressive behavior. However, such action can also be reactive — as in the case of counter-attacking. My proactive plan might be to never throw an offensive technique and be adaptive to an opponent's movements to counter-attack. It doesn't have to be a blitzkrieg of attacks. Here, the reactive is found within the aggressive.
As in all things, finding the proper balance between these forces is key.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Push hands
My Tai Chi teacher Jarl has alerted me to a new post on her own blog about Push Hands. It's worth reading as a complement from the Tai Chi view to the types of things in my "three mantras" post. I plan my next post to discuss the relationship of these two views.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Training vs. Learning
In training, beware the overvaluing of "learning" and the undervaluing of "training." Deep knowledge benefits more than broad knowledge in terms of application, sustainability, and retainability. Deep knowledge can only be attained through intense repetition of things one already knows.
Cognitive sciences now put the benchmark for mastery of any skill at 10,000 hours.
A good quote about this is echoed by Ginchin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan. As he wrote in 'Ryukyu Kempo Karate' (1922): "The old masters used to keep a narrow field but plough a deep furrow. Present day students have a broad field but only plough a shallow furrow."
Cognitive sciences now put the benchmark for mastery of any skill at 10,000 hours.
A good quote about this is echoed by Ginchin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan. As he wrote in 'Ryukyu Kempo Karate' (1922): "The old masters used to keep a narrow field but plough a deep furrow. Present day students have a broad field but only plough a shallow furrow."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Three Mantras for Training and Life
Three mantras for training and life:
1. "Get in the game" - Don't be a spectator for your matches or just passively enter into them. Be aggressive and try to control the rhythm, movement, and pacing of the match. Don't just be a "participant" - Be IN COMMAND.
2. "Keep moving" - Don't always maintain the same sparring stance and hand positions. Change the position of your body and hands, and stay fluid. By remaining still, your opponent can read your openings easier. You become predictable and give an aura of less confidence because of your rigidity. KEEP MOVING.
3. "Play your own game" - Don't care what your opponent is going to do or how skilled they are. Go with your own game plan and force them respond to it. Sparring (life) at its core is about willpower. If you cede your willpower to your opponent, you've already lost. EXERT YOUR WILL onto them - even when counterattacking!
Also, remember that no matter how good you are, sometimes you'll win and sometimes you won't. Losing teaches you more than winning. What matters most is how well you live up to your potential, not what the end "result" is.
1. "Get in the game" - Don't be a spectator for your matches or just passively enter into them. Be aggressive and try to control the rhythm, movement, and pacing of the match. Don't just be a "participant" - Be IN COMMAND.
2. "Keep moving" - Don't always maintain the same sparring stance and hand positions. Change the position of your body and hands, and stay fluid. By remaining still, your opponent can read your openings easier. You become predictable and give an aura of less confidence because of your rigidity. KEEP MOVING.
3. "Play your own game" - Don't care what your opponent is going to do or how skilled they are. Go with your own game plan and force them respond to it. Sparring (life) at its core is about willpower. If you cede your willpower to your opponent, you've already lost. EXERT YOUR WILL onto them - even when counterattacking!
Also, remember that no matter how good you are, sometimes you'll win and sometimes you won't. Losing teaches you more than winning. What matters most is how well you live up to your potential, not what the end "result" is.
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