From: tk@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Tommy Kelly)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Techniques - important or not?
Date: 27 Jan 93 22:13:37 GMT
Reply-To: tk@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Tommy Kelly)
Organization: Laboratory for the Foundations of Computer Science, Edinburgh U

I've just finished reading a book on some of the "soft" arts, like Hsing I,
Pa Kua, T'ai Chi Chuan etc. 

When I consider the diversity of techniques described in those arts and
others, and in the so-called "hard" arts, like karate, TKD, etc, I
get a bit suspicious.

Some thoughts - following on from the previous discussions on jitsu, do etc:

Since some - many? - techniques seem mutually exclusive, they can't all be
right - or can they?  Lets see.

I've heard it argued that the techniques must be regarded as part of the whole
art, and so are "right" only in cerain combinations.

But I don't buy that.  In my karate style (Shotokai) we use a certain type of
fist, whereas in Shotokan I was told quite explicitly *not* to use that type.
There are not sufficient differences in punching techniques to explain why
what is bad in one style is good in another.

Another example - before I give my attempt at an explanation.
In the Tai Chi short form it seems that one must keep the tip of the
tongue pressed against the roof of the mouth during the whole form.  This
is because the tongue is seen as a vital link in chi flow.

Now I am willing to believe that chi is a useful abstract concept to
explain a complex set of body-mind reactions, but I would need a whole
chunk of evidence before I accepted that the tongue was such a vital
part.

So here's what I think:

1. Most techniques in most arts are pretty useful things - *not* necessarily
   for use in the street, but for training the person in the way of combat.
   That's not to say there are no bad techniques - the eyeball strike
   to the opponents hardened fist is an example of one - but most of our 
   regular stuff is pretty OK at least.
  
2. So it is a waste of time arguing about the details of specific techniques
   effectiveness.  Their actual effectiveness in the street is beside the
  point - because that's *not* what the techniques are for.

3. The techniques are *training* methods, intended for prolomged use
   over many years, to teach the trainee the deep underlying skills 
   needed in combat.  A perfect technician will certainly be formidable,
   but nothing like as much as someone who has got beneath the technique
   and really appropriated the core - the Way - of the art.

HOWEVER

4. It *is* good to insist on a technique for the purposes of discipline.
   The sort of detailed discipline developed by sticking your tongue to
   the roof of the mouth is vital to master an art.  I don't believe that
   the tongue link is important because of Taoist view on chi per se.
   But I believe that it is important to teach the practitioner the sort
   of discipline required of a master martial artist.
   I think this is related to some of the ceremonies seen in Japan - like
   tea.  To a westerner it looks daft to worry about where the ladle handle
   rests, and in practice it reaaly doesnt affect the tea.
	But such attention to detail affects the person - and that is the
  point.

hello?  hello?  aww - did I put you all to sleep...:-)

Anyway, in summary, I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

I suspect that, at the top, the arts converge.  It is foolishness to
think that mastery of a bunch of techniques - even a big bunch - is
really mastery of the art (do or jitsu).  

And what we do week in week out is *train*.  It is the training that is
important.

Someone mentioned "Oriental Dancing" a week or so ago.  I think I would accept
that happily.  There is a lot of dance in Shotokai.  And I suspect in many
styles.  But such is irrelevant.  What is important is the attitude of
the "dancer".  With the attitude of a dancer, he just dances.  But with the
attitude of the warrior, well that is the way to real martial art mastery, and 
real "power".  It would be interesting to
see how a top ballet dancer progressed if they began focussing their
mind on the martial ways while training in their dance.

Ah, but now I'm getting mystical.  Good night.

tommy

Disclaimer:  All IMHO


===============================================================================

"Yurggggh!  Der stod Ingelland.  Lord Nelson!  Lord Beaverbrook!
 Winston Churchill!  Henry Cooper!  Clement Attlee!  Anthony Eden!
 Lady Diana!  Der stod dem all!  Der stod dem all!  Maggie Thatcher,
 can you hear me?  Can you hear me Maggie?  Your boys took one hell
 of a beating tonight!" 
                        -  Borg Lillelien,  Norwegian World Cup commentator.

===============================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts