| Most martial artists are making a critical error in their | | | | potential to understand the whole context, or to |
| approach to training. This error has the potential to | | | | become over-reliant on a principle and then stumble in |
| prevent them from ever developing true ability, | | | | situations that force you to discard that principle. As an |
| confidence and understanding. The critical mistake is | | | | example, people trained in martial arts that emphasise |
| not utilising a conceptual approach to training. | | | | striking are often taught only one way to generate |
| Although the benefits of a conceptual approach are | | | | impact. There are different approaches to impact |
| too numerous to cover in one article, contrasting this | | | | generation, and most of these are valid in one context |
| approach with the approaches that currently dominate | | | | or another, but coaches and instructors will usually |
| the industry is a good starting point in understanding | | | | prescribe only one, even though it is possible that the |
| why a conceptual approach is necessary. | | | | martial artist will encounter a situation in which this |
| So let's actually get down to definitions. What do I | | | | method cannot be used. Such situations can be seen |
| mean by a conceptual approach? And why do we | | | | when people with devastating striking skills relying on |
| need one? What practical difference does having one | | | | hip movement to generate impact (many boxers and |
| make to our training? | | | | kickboxers, for example) find themselves unable to |
| Most martial artists have been exposed to a | | | | strike effectively on the ground in MMA or |
| technique-based approach. Some have been exposed | | | | reality-based situations, as a result of the restrictions |
| to principle-based training methods. A truly conceptual | | | | that many ground fighting positions place on hip |
| approach can include elements of both of these | | | | movement. |
| methods (and particularly principle-based training), but its | | | | So now that we have seen that technique-based |
| potential is much greater. | | | | training is essentially worse than useless (as a training |
| The technique-based approach has always been | | | | method - I will explain in later articles how this method |
| exemplified by classical martial arts. Rote learning, | | | | may have analytical value), and that principle-based |
| mimicry and choreographed training are the order of | | | | training is highly effective, but potentially limiting, why is |
| the day. You line up in rows, copy the instructor, and | | | | conceptual training better? |
| attempt to memorise a plethora of formulaic | | | | A conceptual approach allows us to work with the |
| techniques. This is the most flawed approach to the | | | | ideas and issues informing our training, but with control |
| development of capability in martial arts, roughly | | | | over the extent to which we allow these to direct our |
| analogous to attempting to prepare for the task of | | | | actions. Conceptual training is about context, and the |
| reading by trying to memorise every sentence you | | | | big picture. It removes the limitations of principle-based |
| could possibly encounter, or learning to do mathematics | | | | training by organising the principles we rely on under |
| by tying to memorise ever possible answer to every | | | | more general conceptual distinctions, so that we are |
| problem. No one has ever learned to read or do | | | | not trapped in any one principle, and can understand |
| mathematics that way, and no one ever will. Instead, | | | | and apply the appropriate methods in any given |
| you simply learn the concepts and principles (grammar | | | | situation. |
| etc) behind the language, and apply these when | | | | It allows us to train to adapt and improvise in the |
| reading. You learn what it means to add, subtract, | | | | moment - the single most important ability for success |
| divide or multiply, and then apply these concepts | | | | in combat. It allows us to quickly and easily adapt our |
| appropriately. Martial art should be no different. | | | | training methods as we discover new ideas to |
| Principle based training is more effective than | | | | improve our practice. |
| technique-based training. Anything would be. When you | | | | Most importantly, a conceptual approach allows us to |
| identify particular principles that you can apply in | | | | create a meaningful personal philosophy of training. |
| combat, the benefits are clear. There are, however, as | | | | Your training should be about you, and should enhance |
| many dangers in principle-based training as there are | | | | your life, rather than forcing you to be just like |
| advantages. It is easy, for example, to fall into the trap | | | | everyone else. You cannot create your own personal |
| of assuming that a given principle is the only correct | | | | philosophy of training without a conceptual approach. |
| guide for behaviour in all situations, thus limiting your | | | | |