Principles and advice

[AngelaG]

The task: Imagine a new person has started at your club. You have been asked to pick 5 principles which you think help "sum up" your art, and to also provide 5 pieces of advice that you think will help the new person on their MA journey. What would you say?

I know this won't be easy, but I thought I'd get a few brains ticking over

[Aefibird]

Crikey, definately not an easy thing to do!!

I think I'd probaby crib from Funakoshi's 20 precepts as a starting point, especially the Precept about there being no first attack in karate.

[AngelaG]

aefibird said:

Crikey, definately not an easy thing to do!!

I know I deliberately wrote a post that might make people think a bit deeper.

[Andy]

[Sionnagh]

This is really not easy! I'd guess I'd have to say one principle of what I do could be described as "don't get hit - get out of the way". OK one down and four to go.


Mick

[AngelaG]

Don't get hit - fantastic Mick. Definite number one on anyone's list!

[jones]

The task: Imagine a new person has started at your club. You have been asked to pick 5 principles which you think help "sum up" your art, and to also provide 5 pieces of advice that you think will help the new person on their MA journey. What would you say?

1) Always attack first (If you are threatened that is - I don't mean attack innocent people obviously).

2) Once you have attacked do not stop until the enemy is completely destroyed.

3) Never be afraid of hurting your enemy or of the consequenses of your actions - think about them later.

4) Always assume that the fight is to the death.

5) Always stick up for your friends. No matter what.

[Sionnagh]

angelag said:

Don't get hit - fantastic Mick. Definite number one on anyone's list!

I was only being half facetious.

I talk a bit about "levels of response" as in:
1. Evade (don't get hit)
2. Contact (make physical contact)
3. Control (block or redirect)
4. Restrain (through some form of hold)
5. Takedown
6. Pin
7. Escalate (break things)

This is not a precise order since there is no reason you couldn't go from #1 and jump to #7, but the intent is to teach that the extreme option may not always be the only way.

I have seen some "self defence" seminars where e.g. against an arm grab they taught an escape-and-break response. Clearly this would not be appropriate against a child who is clinging to you and generally just being annoying (as an extreme example). There are as many examples of where you may need a softer option as there are for where a hard option might be required.


Mick

[AngelaG]

sionnagh said:

angelag said:

Don't get hit - fantastic Mick. Definite number one on anyone's list!

I was only being half facetious.

I wasn't being sarcastic by the way.

Seriously I think don't get hit is a priority because
a ) Who wants to get hit?
b ) If they hit hard you may never get the upper hand
c ) It hurts
d ) You'll always be fighting from the defensive

[jones]

Exactly. Don't get hit sounds obvious but it is sound advice.

[random]

Principles and advice are always difficult to articulate, firstly because we are all different and our experiences mould and shape that which we value.

I am not sure if these are the exact Principles of my club but it is probably the advice I might give.

The first principle/advice stems from the first thing that a beginner is taught how to do, or at least the first thing they try. And that is to bow and from that comes respect (sorry if this sounds like the 20 principles). In our culture to bow (and scrape) is a subservient thing to do and may not come naturally to every body, the mental not the physical. Where as in other cultures to bow, to offer ones neck is very respectful and it is not too much to expect it to be reciprocated. I think that to get this across early to new students and reiterated to old is a good building block from which to start the next principle/advice.

To begin Karate is to begin a pilgrimage a journey, to walk a path that has been and is being walked by many people. This journey, as I have walked it begins by first learning to walk, literally, as we try to master Zenkutsu dachi, by master I mean not fall over and not stand up in the middle. And so the journey begins as techniques are added onto techniques. And this leads onto the next principle/advice.

Patience, I remember when the film Karate Kid came out, the amount of kids turning up wanting to learn the crane kick in an hour (that ages me). But as we know it can be a long and slow process. As the new Karate Ka learns what a slow and frustrating process learning Karate can be they tend to drop out, a few remain fortunately realising that hey need to learn to walk before they learn to fly. This patient out look can affect all of ones life. This leads us into the next.

Learning Karate can and ought be a holistic experience, as our bodies change and adapt to the rigours of training, then hopefully our minds too change and develop. We aim to reach that point where we can forget the Kata, that is to be able to do a Kata without knowing what the next move is, but feeling what the next move is (sorry a bit Enter the Dragon) and put real emotion into it, real feeling, real imagination. I first came across this principle learning the trumpet, first learn the tune, and then learn to play it, and so we must strive to achieve this sense of enlightenment and b. help others to achieve it too.

And when we have reached this point we are ready to take the second step on the journey…

[Sionnagh]

Learning a musical instrument often makes an excellent analogy to learning karate. Few people expect to master an instrument in a single lesson but the same people expect to come out of a karate class having achieved some sort of mastery?

Another principle - yield when they are strong and apply your strengths into their weaknesses. Now doesn't that sound all mystical and stuff, the sort of thing people expect with principles? What I mean is that you don't have to meet a strong attack with a strong defence. The defence needs to be effective, but if you're facing someone stronger than you then there's no way you can directly overpower them. Which sorta comes back to my earlier post - don't get hit. Evade, redirect the attack. Move to a better position. Strike when they're out of position, off balance or otherwise unable to respond quickly. Be committed. If you have to attack, don't hold back.

I feel that principles are easier shown than explained in writing. Of course I could also be trying to avoid answering...


Mick

[jones]

I agree that martial arts should take time and dedication to master. However, a person should be able to defend themselves within a few months or so if the style in question is to be considered effective.

It's no good telling someone that they will only be able to defend themselves after 5 years of training.

[AngelaG]

Depends at what age they start

[jones]

True. If a 7 year old kid starts then they will not be able to defend themselves against a determined adult no matter what.

In my oppinion, the way you can tell to see if you are achieving something in martial arts is to ask yourself what you want from your training. Then consider if your training is actually providing this. I remember when I did TKD asking this middle aged woman who had been training 6 months why she started. She never had a drop of sweat on her and just stood in line casually doing the movements. I asked her why she started TKD and she said "mainly for fitness and to learn to defend herself". In six months she had achieved neither of those things. She would have been better of joining the gym. Most people just do what's easy they don't even question why they turn up every week at training.

If you want to be good at self defence you have to train for it. If you want to train for fitness then you have to get a sweat on etc. If you want to compete then you have to put the hours in. If you want to turn up for a social then great do that. there's nothing wrong with that at all. I just think people need to realise what they are achieving and whether it is what they originally intended.