Training to Train

(thanks for the inspiration KW)

Great discussion over breakfast with one of my assistant instructors.  We talked a lot about training.  Specifically, how to train for training.  What do I mean?

Most students show up to class 1-2 times per week.  At best they come to class fresh, alert, well-rested and ready to learn.  They are open-minded and ready to train in the drills and instruction we give.  At worst they are tired, distracted and unfocused - but we quickly put them back on track, at least for the few hours they are in the dojo.

This is training, of course, but it is not enough.  Not nearly enough.

Becoming proficient in FMA, especially in Kali Majapahit, takes much more.  We need to be facile/fluent with single/double sticks, knife defense, a variety of empty hand styles including Panantukan/Pangamut/Dumog, Hakka Kuntao, Silat and to be competent boxers/kickboxers.  We learn about a variety of other weapons including the barong, sarong, karambit, tomahawk too.  It's a lot to remember.

It is said that martial arts must be understood with the mind, done with the heart and mastered with the body.  This means that we must learn strategy and science (the intellectual component), apply it with our hearts (ethical and moral integrity) and commit the movements to muscle memory (the physical side).  All three are required to progress in capability.

Particularly the foundation skills - footwork, stick manipulation, basic punches.  All of these need to be fully committed to muscle memory like they would be in any other activity.  Professional athletes of every sport spend countless hours on the basics: footwork, swinging, throwing, passing, shooting.  They invest this time until those movements are instinctive and done at will under any circumstance.

Why??

If not, then part of the awareness must be used to execute the physical movement.  Unfamiliar movements require our focused attention - the more delicate/precise the more attention needed.  Once we master a movement through repetition we no longer need our attention there.  This is important since, in fighting, we need our attention to be focused on the adversary and their intention.  We need our attention to perceive any changes in our surroundings.  We need our attention to decide our strategy for each situation.  Playing an instrument first requires mastering the position of the hands, after which attention can be redirected to the sheet music, for example.

Sometimes students tell me I move fast.  Too fast for them to defeat.  This is simply not true.  I am not bigger/stronger/faster than most of my students.  However, when I start moving I do not pause or stop.  That makes me appear faster than I am because I act without hesitation.  How does this work?

Every attacking motion coming to me gets routed or "bucketed" into a particular configuration that flows through a pattern I have committed to muscle memory.  Once I react, I am always redirecting the attacker into one of these "buckets" where their attack can be processed.  Similarly, a pachinko ball does not pause after hitting each pin.  It merely goes to one side or the other until it reaches the destination.  So do I.  Regardless of the attacker's response, I just keep flowing into one of the "buckets" I have drilled again and again.  Then I end the situation as needed.  I've been preparing "buckets" like that for almost 10 years, and always channeling the attacker into them makes it far easier to deal with whatever attacks may come.  The more you train, the more of these solutions can be embedded in muscle memory.

We have about 4 hours per week to train together, during which time we introduce new material, show sample techniques, drill and practice our skills.  We spend time on our fundamentals, but frankly 4 hours per week is not enough to develop fluency in fundamentals very soon.  This requires work outside of the scheduled classes.  I often recommend students to train on their own, and this is why.  Striking and especially the flowing striking combinations we use in Kali take time to commit into muscle memory.   This means DAILY PRACTICE.  Even for a few minutes per day it is very important to work with the sticks.  Just a round or two of Karenza is often enough.

Train Hard.  EVERY DAY. Even for just a few minutes.  The results will surprise you.