When I first began my martial arts training things with my instructor were done the old way. "Shut up, don't talk, don't ask questions, do as I say, TRAIN."
This method did work for some people. But as I look at the number of people who went through that system versus how many of us are left, it was an utter failure. But for some "martial arts masters" even today a high drop out rate is a point of pride. "They could not cut it with me." Egotistical CRAP.
For me the point of pride is reaching people. Teaching them to be safe, defend themselves and their family. But sadly there is no quick fixes for this. The reason is the years of programming people have received that damages their self worth. That is why there are only a handful of "star" athletes compared to the population. It is not that they are special, other than the programming they received at a young age. But sadly many of them end up failures too. (Drugs etc).
One of the things martial arts training should do is build self confidence. Taught correctly it does! But it also needs to properly program the subconscious mind to accept certain moves, and then be able to apply them.
But here is the catch, muscle memory is not enough! The unconscious mind needs an association and a reason to do the movements.
Thus the Kyusho/Kata connection. It is a link between intelligent thought, and unconscious movement. But the student needs to "discover" WHY this movement happens, not to be TOLD what it is! As Bruce Lee spoke, "all knowledge is self knowledge" and martial arts training, KATA training is about discovery, NOT DOGMA.
When the mind and body come together as one the results are magic. Any long time martial arts student has had these "AH-HA" moment in training. The object is to have more of them!
Right now I am putting together a NEW course in learning HOW to interpret, see the applications of movement in you own Kata regardless of style. These discoveries will help you make these movement part of yourself, thus making it possible to use them under high stress situations.
Follow the link and take a look!
