| Sometimes, we can get too caught up in memorizing | | | | doors with hinges on the left. The restaurant down the |
| the small details. In martial arts and self defense, we | | | | street has ... |
| don't have time to get bogged down with a lot of | | | | You will spend your time trying to remember every |
| memorization -- especially not during a street fight. | | | | little detail, every possible situation, every bathroom |
| For example, when you go through a door, do you | | | | hinge orientation. Will this information be practical to |
| look to see whether it opens in or out? Whether the | | | | you, when you need it? Will you be able to avoid a |
| hinges are on the left or the right? What about when | | | | door being kicked or swung in your face? Will you |
| you go into a restaurant? How about the door to the | | | | know the orientation of any particular door, in case you |
| restroom? How about the door on the stall, inside the | | | | have need of an impromptu weapon in a self-defense |
| restroom? | | | | situation? |
| Martial Arts Memorization | | | | Instead, learn how to instantly recognize the the |
| If someone were to decide to kick in the stall door, | | | | various door latches and hinges. Do you see a circular, |
| knowing whether the door swings in toward the stall, | | | | shiny piece of metal on the restroom stall door? That's |
| or outward, into the restroom could be important. One | | | | the outside of the latch. Is there a piece of metal in |
| direction is distinctly easier for your attacker to kick in. | | | | front of the edge of the door, about an inch away. If |
| Now, here's the real point of this article: | | | | so, the door swings in, toward the toilet. |
| Some martial arts teachers require too much | | | | Rather than memorizing each and every locale, you |
| memorization from their students for any practical | | | | only have to memorize several characteristics. It takes |
| application. | | | | very little, to know how a door will move, even if you |
| Reread that last sentence. | | | | have never "met" the door before. You'll instantly |
| Now, we could contrast styles with a minimum of | | | | recognize whether or not the door can be kicked in or |
| moves versus those with all sorts of hair-brained | | | | not. |
| techniques and sequences. Instead, let's examine ... the | | | | End Note |
| hinge of the stall door! (No, I haven't lost my mind.) | | | | We weren't really talking about stall doors, were we? |
| Martial Arts Technique Heavy ... | | | | What sequences would you be "likely to forget" in a |
| If you are technique heavy, then your approach might | | | | street fight? When you are nervous and have to |
| be to try to remember the doors in every public | | | | defend yourself, will you be able to react and respond |
| restaurant, store, and restroom you ever visit. The fish | | | | without relying on "your memory?" |
| house, has inward doors, with the hinge on the left. The | | | | Was this article a little too subtle? For direct martial |
| fancy steak house out on the highway has outward | | | | arts advice... |