(Thanks for the inspiration Yutaka sensei)
When I started Kali Majapahit in 2008 I already had more than 25 years of experience across several martial arts. I had trained in Ninjutsu originally, then in Iaijutsu, and in Aikido and was progressing toward my black belt in Yoshinkan Aikido, which I got in 2009. However something was missing in the traditional practice for me.
When I started Yoshinkan Aikido in Tokyo, it was an intensive program run by Roppongi Yoshinkan Aikido, and my training partner Chris (a former London police officer) and I did a semi-private class from 0545 - 0645 (yes, 5:45 AM!) class three days a week with our teacher Sensei Mike at the Roppongi Dojo where I still go to teach KM. He taught us according to his curriculum in the famous Senshusei course (Angry White Pyjamas) and was severe. We loved it. The 0700 class couldn't believe there were students there earlier than they were...yep, US. However, I had an ulterior motive. I wasn't there to master aikido per se. I was conducting research and I wanted to have a framework for it. Yoshinkan was perfect for my needs.
Research broadly comes in two types: Basic and Applied
Basic research is research which is conducted without any specific objective in mind. It is basically exploration with the goal of discovery. This is very important because often new areas of thought are uncovered specifically because the restriction of applied research is removed. Basic research can be highly innovative and allows us to challenge "What If?" scenarios limited only by our creativity.
On the other hand, applied research is conducted with the express purpose of solving a know problem or answering a known question. A variety of approaches are suggested and then systematically tested to find the best outcome. This is a method commonly used in business as well, where various scenarios are simulated to arrive at a strategy or plan.
In the martial arts, too, research is very important. In the Yoshinkan Aikido example above, I was conducting applied research on how to modify modern aikido techniques to make them more practical versus a resisting opponent who may also have aikido training. To do this, I needed a framework set of techniques to analyze that were presented very clearly and in a well-organized manner, with plenty of video content to review. Yoshinkan is extremely well organized and thorough, and the techniques are well documented. This allowed me to carefully examine each technique to discover the key attributes for breaking uke's balance, establishing control, and neutralizing the aggressive energy. One at a time, I modified them to remove the ukemi and to operate with a speed and dynamism that I wanted inside my kali flow. The process took about 3 years to complete, and forms a cornerstone of my personal expression of Kali Majapahit. As such, when I travel I am often asked to demonstrate and teach the results of this applied research project.
By contrast, I conducted and presented the results of some basic research as part of my preparation for my 3rd dan black belt test in Kali Majapahit in 2018-2019. This research was born from doing single stick 5-count sumbrada. As we were training it I asked myself if such a drill could be done with double stick as well. If so, what would it look like? This led to some exploration and a series of material based around the pattern of 5-count sumbrada but training the variable responses of using both sticks instead of just one. As far as I know this drill is not done elsewhere and was useful for intermediate and advanced students to better understand how to use the sticks.
I love the FMA because it is so much more than just repeating the same techniques over and over again. Yes, repetition is important for mastery but FMA offers us the opportunity to solve problems and explore/discover in ways that traditional martial arts often do not. I am a big advocate of assigning research projects (both basic and applied) to students during their journeys to help them better understand and develop their own flows.
So don't be afraid to put your lab coat on over your dogi. You might discover something amazing!
See you at class.
