Drills

[jkdberlin]

Drills by Rick Faye


My name is Rick Faye. I have run the Minnesota Kali Group, a martial arts school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for over twenty years.

I see we are once again in the midst of controversy as yet another generation asserts itself. There seems to be a new examination of whether drills in martial arts are productive. Along with this seems to go a wholesale disposal of technical information from the arts we train.

First off, let me say that I am adding my opinion as a way to solidify my own thoughts, and to constantly re-examine what we teach and train at the Minnesota Kali Group. I don?t have any great hope of changing minds (they seem to be quite convinced of their own genius). I?m also not here to challenge anyone?s abilities. The J.K.D. family has always been full of people much more physically talented than I.

I will weigh in with what experience I have. It seems to me that Sifu Dan Inosanto has settled these issues at every seminar for the last twenty-five years. I?ll try to repeat, in my own language, the messages that seemed so obvious to me from the very start.

Drills work, and are necessary for most students. Drills themselves are not fighting ? that?s understood, and this has been pointed out at every seminar I have ever been to. Drills allow students to go through a progressive learning process, and make the art accessible to many different types of students. Drills help to pass on combative and developmental insights gained over time at the cost of many lives. Drills allow concentrated repetition on important aspects of the art. Drills also happen to be fun, which is important for those of us who don?t spend every waking moment trying to ?kick ass? on the next random attacker.

In martial arts we are in the business of trying to modify how people act under stress. This generation has come up with the stunning revelation that personal combat is an aggressive, frenzied, painful and nasty business where things get very difficult. (I?m sure the warriors of the ages will be thankful that someone has finally discovered the true nature of combat.) It will be interesting to see how they go about passing these insights on to students of different abilities, different personalities, different values, and different needs. Could it be that creating drills of some sort would help the student get a glimpse of their instructor?s true brilliance?

I apologize for the tone of these statements, but it seems to me that people are overstepping. Sifu Inosanto, Master Chai, and many other great martial artists have taught us through drills. So now, we have students who make their personal discoveries public, and are inadvertently disrespectful to those who taught them. (Respect of any kind is one of the deeper values that has left martial arts in the last years.) Are they questioning the intellect or the sincerity of these teachers? Either they don?t see these instructors as smart enough to guide students correctly, or they believe they are somehow filling the time with useless fluff. I don?t see either of these as the truth.

There are good reasons why most martial systems take many years to ?declare? a student a ?master? or even an instructor. The perspective and maturity gained by years in the arts are very important. You need perspective to understand complete developmental cycles for many kinds of students. You also need perspective to understand the many different ways to approach the art. You need maturity to be able to understand the place for your capabilities in life. You also need maturity to assess your role as instructor and as a martial artist in life. The martial artists that I admire are outwardly mild and easily approachable. They think and act on many levels ? most of them much deeper than just fighting.

Next point: we have been constantly told three related things. Number one: just because the technique or strategy doesn?t work for you in your circumstance doesn?t mean it doesn?t work. The fact that a technique doesn?t work is not always because it is structurally ineffective. Most failures in martial arts are due to a problem in attributes, such as distancing, timing, rhythm, strength, line familiarization, etc. It could also be that the technique was tried in the wrong circumstance. A gym is not always the best format for each technique.

Two: we should constantly experiment to find what does work for us at this stage of our development. As we experiment with different things, we will find that we are able to do some things quite naturally, and that others will take development.

Three: we should determine what attributes we need to train to become functional in a given area. Many of the drills we do are designed to improve certain attributes. Like weight training, they are more about development than they are directly related to fighting. In many aspects of the arts, we simply need more repetition on specific motions. Drills are often the best way to get the desired repetitions in the shortest amount of time.

Martial arts are an intensely personal search. To discredit anyone?s way of practicing his art, is very arrogant, and not a credit to Sifu Inosanto?s example. Sifu Inosanto has always taught us that each individual will find his or her own way. Some, however, will find their way and then tell everyone about it. This assumes a level of accomplishment, intellect, ability and insight that may not actually be there, other than in the mind of that person.

I believe we can all find something in the arts that fascinate us. Yes, we need to examine the material for function and application. In our analysis, we need to keep in mind a broader context. The art should serve as a tool for self-development as well as self-defense. There is room for more than one area of training. To narrow our focus to include only what works against a determined athlete in the gym when performed by a talented athlete is to set ?limitations? on J.K.D. I admire the athleticism and durability of extreme competitors, but it remains a small part of this great art. Extreme contact is not for everyone, and should not dictate our training. ?Ultimate? or ?Extreme? formats can be learned from, and that knowledge should be added to the things in which we train, not replace them completely.

As for the Minnesota Kali Group, we will continue to use drills to train our students. Making this art accessible to a wider variety of students has been my goal, and I will continue to seek out methods that allow average people to improve their lives. If you get a chance to visit, look forward to working on Thai Boxing combinations, Sumbrada and other great stick drills, a whole variety of drills for sensitivity and body feel, set focus mitt combinations, grappling drills, and equipment training set out in combinations. You?ll find all sorts of students having a great time, and improving in all sorts of areas.

-Friday, December 13, 2002
This article was published on Friday 19 March, 2004.
Quelle: www.inosanto.com

Grüsse

[christianauskiel]

Hi Frank,

meine Meinung ist vielleicht nicht objektiv, da ich unter Dan und Rick Instructor bin, aber ich versuchs mal :

Der Artikel ist anläßlich einer Diskussion darüber entstanden, ob Trainingsdrills (combinations, flow, sensibility etc.) Zeitverschwendung sind und zwar insbesondere für Kämpfer. Klar kann man darüber unterschiedlicher Meinung sein. Wer im Kampf bestehen will muss sicherlich eine Menge andere Fähigkeiten besitzen als 100 Drills abspulen zu können. Trotzdem habe ich die Erfahrung gemacht, das auch der Kämpfer, der sich zusätzlich mit Drills beschäftigt, langfristig profitiert. Er wird technisch versierter ! Zugegeben benötigt er diese Versiertheit eigentlich erst als Profi.

Die Inhalte die Dan vermittelt gehen natürlich weit über Kampfaspekte hinaus, was leider häufig vergessen wird und daß ist es was Rick eigentlich zu diesem Artikel motiviert hat. Es ist schon traurig, wenn man mitbekommt wie stark die "Kampfaspekte" in den Vordegrund gerückt worden sind. In Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass von allen aktiven Kampfsportlern wohl kaum mehr wie 10% ernsthaft ans Kämpfen denken (Vollkontakt, Strasse etc.), davon träumen tun natürlich sehr viel mehr, wäre es an der Zeit das Ruder mal wieder rum zu reissen. Langfristig verlieren wir sonst die anders motivierten an die Fitnessgruppen (Thaibo etc.) oder die fangen gar nicht erst an. Gerade diese grosse Gruppe der "Normalos" wird durch Drills besonders angesprochen. Attribute wie Technik, Motorik, Koordination und sportartspezifische Fitness können nicht besser trainiert werden (führt hier jetzt zu weit die Trainingslehre dahinter zu erklären). Die Lehre von Dan Inosanto zeichnet sich eben besonders dadurch aus, Kampfkünste jedem zu eröffnen und das möglichst auf hohem Niveau. Ein gehandicapter Mensch (z.B. steifes Bein..) wird nicht in den Ring steigen, aber vielleicht der weltbeste Messerspezialist und er wird Freude daran haben.....

Zum Thema Respekt gegenüber Dan Inosanto kann ich nur sagen, dass es wohl kaum einen Kampfsportler unserer Zeit gibt, der den Kampfsport insgesamt und weltweit mehr beeinflusst und verändert wie Dan Inosanto.
Leute die von Ihm gelernt und profitiert haben und sich heute hinstellen und seine Trainingsinhalte kritisieren sind nicht nur respektlos, denen fehlt vor allem Loyalität !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aber so ist die Zeit. Jeder denkt nur an sich und an seinen Vorteil. Jeder will etwas von dem kommerziellen Kuchen abhaben und will bewundert werden. Da können wir uns wohl alle nicht ganz von freisprechen. Ein Grund mehr solche Artikel zu nutzen, um mal wieder etwas in sich zu gehen. Wie steht es mit der eigenen Loyalität, dem Respekt gegenüber Lehrern, Schülern.... ?

Rick Faye ist aus meiner Sicht zur Zeit derjenige aus der JKD- Familie, der nach Guro am meisten Persönlichkeit und Grösse transprotiert ! Von der Sorte gibt es nicht viele. Gute Kämpfer gibt es in Massen.

Don`t forget :

Dan Inosanto in Speyer : 22.-23 Mai
Rick Faye in Hannover : 25. -26. Juni

[John1974]

Noch mehr zum Thema Drills von Chris Kent's Website:
http://www.chriskentjkd.org/index1.html

Learning How to Train

As simple as this may sound, many JKD students become frustrated in not being able to grasp essential techniques and principles because they don’t understand the idea of training and working with the person they are with, and not being “combative.”

One aspect of training is learning “how to feed” lines of attack, energy, rhythm or technique properly to the other person so he or she can work off it and learn the appropriate technique or response. In JKD we refer to this as “line familiarization.” Much of the training in the higher levels requires that both partners have the ability to “feed” each other so that they can do the “drills.” The key word here is ‘drill’ not ‘fight’. The drills are designed to teach a specific aspect or to make a point about something and are not intended to be a form of competition. As such, they are initially cooperative in nature and require sensitivity on the part of the person feeding to make sure it is executed correctly. As the student improves, the speed and power of the drills are progressively increased until they are eventually being done at full combat speed and power. Freelance, non-cooperative sparring then becomes the testing ground for the skills you have developed.

It’s important to remember that we are here to help each other develop and grow as martial artists and as people. Taking advantage of someone of lower skill, knowledge, strength, speed, etc. than you is contrary to the ethics of the methods practiced and taught at the Kent Institute. Everyone at the Institute is your brother or sister in the Martial Arts. Taking advantage of someone in this way is the wrong approach and attitude and shows that this kind of person is of a low level mentally and emotionally since they have not perceived the idea that by contributing to their partner’s growth, they contributes to his own growth.

There are many “key insights” and discoveries that you can make while practicing a drill or technique with someone of lesser experience, strength or ability. By being forced to slow down or be gentler, I have discovered principles that have allowed me to execute techniques much more efficiently.
In conclusion, we all need someone to help us move along and develop and we must all help others at times to do the same

Courtesy of Chris Kent

MFG John

[Jens]

Dem brauch nichts mehr zugefügt werden

- Absolute Zustimmung -

Thumbs up!!!!

Jens

[andreas222]

Hi,


auch ich habe erst ueber Drills zu einem qualitativ hoeherwertigem Training gefunden.
Gerade wenn man mit Martial Art anfaengt ist es wichtig sich gewisse motorische Grundlagen zu erarbeiten.

Viele Gruesse
Andreas

[Bill]

Hi,


auch ich habe erst ueber Drills zu einem qualitativ hoeherwertigem Training gefunden.
Gerade wenn man mit Martial Art anfaengt ist es wichtig sich gewisse motorische Grundlagen zu erarbeiten.

Viele Gruesse
Andreas

Gratulation

[astrid]

Ist ja schon ein älterer Artikel. Ich kannte ihn also schon.

Was Rick Faye da schreibt, ist wohl ein wahres Wort. Mir persönlich gefällt sein Zugang.
Doch jeder betreibt wohl die Kampfkunst so wie er selber es für richtig bzw gut hält.

Christian hat schon wieder mal das wichtigste dazu gesagt.

@ christianauskiel:

Amen!

Wir sehn uns (wie immer) am 23.5. in Speyer!

astrid