JasonE
12-12-2003, 09:39 PM
Thank you for your thoughts on this.
I had the good fortune to spend some years training under traditional instructors who emphasized the importance of fundamental principles and adaptation as the core of technique. It was then that I became fascinated with the concept of mastering principles to create a methodology for automatic adaptation that would always result in a correct reaction to any given circumstance of combat.
It was already plain that emphasizing specific techniques could never accomplish this. All techniques start with certain assumptions and therefore have inherent limitations. However, techniques that work are always performed in accordance with various underlying principles that seem to apply to virtually any situation.
The principle of leverage, for example, does not rely on a particular set of circumstances to work. Correct application of the principle always incorporates adaptation to the situation at hand. If you train to fight in such a way that you are always correctly applying the principle of leverage when it is called for, you will spontaneously create the movements you need to overcome your opponent without once having to consider which particular technique you are going to use next.
Unfortunately, I could not imagine how a person could begin to develop a training method to achieve this type of ability. I simply moved on to crosstraining in a variety of arts that are renowned for various strengths and weaknesses, in hopes of figuring out how to integrate them seamlessly into a dynamic flow of principle-based movement that was free of the limitations of technique. This ultimate integration, I realized, would translate into any physical endeavor, and alter the everyday perceptions and attitudes of anyone involved with it.
Fortunately for me, Mr. Sonnon, you seem to be well on your way to developing the type of program I conceived but could not realize. I will continue to study the materials you have developed, and have begun to go back to some of your sources (i.e. John Jesse and Mel Siff, among others).
I am very excited to see where this leads...!
I had the good fortune to spend some years training under traditional instructors who emphasized the importance of fundamental principles and adaptation as the core of technique. It was then that I became fascinated with the concept of mastering principles to create a methodology for automatic adaptation that would always result in a correct reaction to any given circumstance of combat.
It was already plain that emphasizing specific techniques could never accomplish this. All techniques start with certain assumptions and therefore have inherent limitations. However, techniques that work are always performed in accordance with various underlying principles that seem to apply to virtually any situation.
The principle of leverage, for example, does not rely on a particular set of circumstances to work. Correct application of the principle always incorporates adaptation to the situation at hand. If you train to fight in such a way that you are always correctly applying the principle of leverage when it is called for, you will spontaneously create the movements you need to overcome your opponent without once having to consider which particular technique you are going to use next.
Unfortunately, I could not imagine how a person could begin to develop a training method to achieve this type of ability. I simply moved on to crosstraining in a variety of arts that are renowned for various strengths and weaknesses, in hopes of figuring out how to integrate them seamlessly into a dynamic flow of principle-based movement that was free of the limitations of technique. This ultimate integration, I realized, would translate into any physical endeavor, and alter the everyday perceptions and attitudes of anyone involved with it.
Fortunately for me, Mr. Sonnon, you seem to be well on your way to developing the type of program I conceived but could not realize. I will continue to study the materials you have developed, and have begun to go back to some of your sources (i.e. John Jesse and Mel Siff, among others).
I am very excited to see where this leads...!