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After years of training, a student of Martial Arts has worked hard to develop a personal style that they feel competent with. They have a level of confidence in the techniques they have practiced over and over again, perhaps hundreds or even thousands of times. This confidence is justified in a controlled environment, with familiar practice partners who have no “real” harmful intent and whose attack methodology is often quite recognizable. Consistently training with the same individuals offers a sense of camaraderie, trust, and predictability. This works well from a convenient group teaching mind set, however, it can also contribute to a false sense of security in one’s skills. The challenge to maintaining a higher level of proficiency is to be constantly taken out of your comfort zone. This keeps the necessary mental, physical, and emotional fighting flexibility sharp.
The ease in which students can get comfortable with routine is precisely why trained fighters may become complacent and confused by the lack of predictability in “street smart” fighters who are excellent at being “scrappy”. Where they live, they are never in a “comfort zone”. I guess the next question one might ask is how does one train to be “scrappy”? Simple – Give up technique. What does it mean to give up technique? My years on the street and as cop have taught me that fighting is most often sloppy and unpredictable. By the same measure, my years of training in many different martial arts have taught me innumerable fighting skills. I suppose that it is clear, to me at least, that I have no preference for any particular technique, even as I perform it. Therefore, if my training “tells” me to do a particular task, but my opponent immediately stymies that plan, I am flexible enough to recognize some other opening more suitable to my defense. My advantage is not to stubbornly cling to a failed response. I readily adapt and give up technique.
Mr. Weber is the chief instructor at the Aikido Academy of Self-Defense located at 16134 N. Oracle Rd., in Catalina. He has more than 45 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has achieved skills in a variety of disciplines. He also teaches Tai-Chi on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.
Please call (520) 825-8500 for information regarding these and other programs. If you wish, check out the website at www.AikidoAcademyOfArizona.com.
Mr. Weber is the chief instructor at the Aikido Academy of Self-Defense located at 16134 N. Oracle Rd., in Catalina. He has more than 45 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has achieved skills in a variety of disciplines. He also teaches Tai-Chi on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Please call (520) 825-8500 for information regarding these and other programs. If you wish, check out the website at www.AikidoAcademyOfArizona.com.
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