Too often, people think they have figured it all out in the Martial Sciences. They think they have arrived, they have it all or don’t need to learn anything else. I can tell you that after over 43 years of training in the Martial Sciences, I am learning new things all the time. I am a practitioner, a student who is trying to get better or “polishing the stone.” One of the reasons I feel you can learn from anyone who trains, or does not train, or from any system is that you can see how movement blends and is universal. You can even learn a lot of times what not to do, by watching or training with someone else! The worst trap any practitioner can fall into, is to think they have arrived or figured it all out! That is why IRT is open-ended, with No Absolute’s and No Limitations! It is a vehicle for the practitioner, nothing more and nothing less! It is all about the practitioner’s journey, their unique experience, their path… As you practice, find your way. Always be someone who explores, creates, and is never completely satisfied. The idea of Creative Adaptability requires that you think outside of the box. You challenge the norm. You find your path in this world, and you continue on that journey never stopping, never believing you have figured it all out! Never falling into the trap of I am a master or an expert! Or, “I know that.” That leads down a road of ego, neglect or a lessening in you passion to learn. Instead, explore all the world has to offer. It is all there for you on your journey!
The other day, we were working on short sword Long Knife, Machete, Wakizashi, Golok, Bolo, etc. Think any type of middle length edged weapon. We spent a lot of time working on angling off and delivering a cut or half diamond footwork. Then the defense. It was a good warm-up preparing to full comtact spar with fencing helmets and Machete length NOK knives. Sparring, let’s you specifically work against resistance and work on your timing.
Okay so in the last post I stated that you need training with resistance or alive training. But, I wanted too make it perfectly clear that you also need slow, methodical training where you learn the technique that you are attempting to practice. This training is essential so that you not only learn the technique but you can also master the fine details! All good systems of Martial Science have slow, methodical training to work on the details and master those fine details. Only after you have a good understanding of technique should you move into resistance training!
In your martial training you need to have resistance or alive training. This is where someone resists what you are attempting to do and also counters or actually attacks with a technique and you have to counter. In other words you need some sparring and rolling happening to improve! I regularly build practitioners up by teaching them skill sets and then have them go out and work them against a resisting opponent in a sparring match. Always this is done with an eye on injury prevention but there is and always will be an opportunity for injury in any Martial Science training. Older practitioners have to be even more careful during there training. Still we work to improve and sparring, rolling, grappling, randori, etc. is needed!
