Bruce Lee once said he didn't fear the man who knew a thousand techniques; rather he feared the man who knew one technique but practiced it a thousand times. This is a concept that's easy to understand but hard to put into practice. If you take the time to watch a demonstration of Iaido, the art of drawing and cutting with a Japanese sword, you may get a little bored after a minute or two because the techniques are not flashy. In fact, the first few forms or kata only have two, maybe three sword cuts before it is resheathed. Or, take a moment to watch a cutting demonstration known as tameshigiri where a master swordsman cuts through a bamboo stalk. To someone who has little interest in tradtional martial arts, these demonstrations may get an uncontrolled yawn before scrolling to another video. I think a lot of people would rather watch two dudes pound the crap out of each other in an MMA ring. It's more exciting and "realistic."
It's difficult to have an appreciation for the time and effort it takes to do anything artistic, whether it's painting, acqustic music, woodworking or martial arts. Painters practice brush strokes, muscisions practice chords, woodworkers will redo pieces until the symmetry is right and traditional martial artists will put in the reps. Endless reps. Not that MMA fighters don't, but there is a difference. When it comes to basics or kata, I hear the same argument all the time. "Why punch air when you can punch a bag?" Why practice the thing when you can just do the thing? You know, I've been to a lot of gyms over the years and I can always spot the guy who just wants to wail on a punching bag vs. the guy who has actually been taught how to punch which undoubtedly included shadow boxing in front of a mirror. I mean, there is a certain amount of ego-boosting satsifaction when we hit something (or someone). Adrenaline rush, anger release...calling attention to one's self. And yes, watching a big dude pound a punching bag and shake the walls can be intimidating. But I'm much more aware of and impressed by a person who calmly works through a punching routine they've clearly performed a bunch of times.
Kata-based martial arts have been around for a very long time. Kung Fu, Jujutsu, Karate, Judo, Iaido, Kendo, Aikido...all of these forms have in their curiculums, patterns of movement that are practiced alone or with a partner. Wether single tecniques or sequences, basic training like this is vital to understanding how a martial art works. More importantly, how your body works. Let's take the basic karate corkscrew punch known as seiken. You've probably seen it in movies, maybe you or your kid have practiced it in past. It kind of seems like a waste of time, right? A right cross or jab-cross combo would be more effective and easier to master than twisting your hand. The thing is, there are a lot of moving parts in that punch that most people don't pick up on. Even, dare I say, people who do karate. Like any good techique, seiken starts from the ground. Although I had several karate teachers, only one taught me to grip the ground with my toes when I punch which makes sense from a prospective of stabilty.
Working your way up the kinetic chain, the knees should be slightly bent and springy, not stiff. This allows for hip mobility during contact. Speaking of hips, learning how to properly move them, which requires coordination in your core, cheifly your obliques, takes years. Then there is the problem of over rotation of the shoulder of the striking hand. This will throw your body off balance and affect the power of the punch. You'll know you're not using your hips properly when your shoulder begins to hurt. Unlike boxers who keep their chins tucked most of the time, a karateka will keep his head straight and centered on the target. People may mistake this as just mere aesthetics, but there are mechanical advantages to keeping your head fixed during this kind of strike. And while you're concentrating on all of these things, your number one goal should be sinking your center into the gound like a corkscrew. Hence the reason you grip the ground with your toes. All of this in one simple technique.
You see, the last paragraph explains why a lot of people these days are not interesed in "punching air." They don't see the benefit of performing single strikes and kicks in front of a mirror or wasting their time doing forms (kata) when they could be hitting focus mitts, punching a bag or sparring with a partner. I can sum it up in one word: patience. This type of training requires a certain amount of faith and tenancity, the same type that allows a master swordsman to cut through a stalk of bamboo. The truth is, anybody can take sword and hack their way through some plants, just like anybody can punch a bag or learn how to spar. Anyobody. But only a skiled swordsman who has undoubtedly spent years perfecting one or two single cuts can slice through it effortlessly. And during that process, years before they make contact with anything but air, the practioner is developing a rare form of physical and mental strength and ability. The kind that our friend who just pounds on a bag inbetween weight training sets (probably poorly executed ones) will never acquire.
Bottom line is this: tradtional martial arts training is not just about fighting. The ability to defend yourself is a natural bi-product of well-balanced training that includes a lot of time doing the boring stuff. I would say it's more imporant than hitting things, although you should hit things, hard things a lot. If you are invovled in a martial art like karate or kung fu, try not to turn your nose up at punching and kicking the air. There's more to it than you think.
Dave Magliano
Tatsu Dojo
Jissenkan Budo
Dojo Cho
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