KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

Learning New Martial-Arts Techniques to Stay Fresh

One way to stay fresh in the martial arts is by learning new techniques -- even when you are pretty happy with your "compleat" style. If you always tackle a new move in the same manner, maybe it's time to spark your creative spirit with a different way to familiarize yourself with a new technique.

Most of the time, we practice a technique to perfection. Later, we try the new move out against someone else. Sometimes, we become frustrated that the move didn't work as planned and as practiced.

So, we have to to analyze why the technique isn't working in this more realistic scenario. Then, we modify, analyze, modify, analyze....

A Different Approach to Learning a New Move

Here's a different approach to learning a new move. Try to make the move perfect, first.

Huh?

Instead of "practice the move to perfection," try practicing to make the move a perfect move.

What?

I mean try plugging all of the holes in the technique "as" you perfect it, before you try it out 'against' someone.

Do your analysis and modification during the early perfection process.

As you play with the move, apply the principles of efficient and practical martial arts that you already know.

If you know that attacking on the center line leaves you in range of a particular secondary weapon, see what you can do to close the open line.

Maybe ask yourself what kind of pressure you need to apply on the arm, in order to prevent your partner from kicking with his or her leg.

What direction should you apply the force of the hold on the arm to affect the leg?

Or, after you perform your new technique, are you in range for a head-strike (I want to call it a head-"b," but my SPAM filter won't let me use such potty language. Arrgh.)

How else can you improve the new technique?

Start thinking about early counters that your partner could make. Can you adjust the new technique to shut down these counterattacks, even before they occur?

I am not suggesting that this is the only way to learn. If it were, then I wouldn't have written "Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts More Effectively."

The traditional way of practicing a move to perfection definitely has its merits.

Every once in awhile, folks get in a rut. They need a new paradigm.

If you aren't used to it, practicing and tightening a move simultaneously is one way to shake up the normal routine.