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Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture
The 3 Components of Every Martial Art

Stephan Kesting makes some really good points in this video. The essential point is that every art has:

1 – Techniques

2 – Equipment

3 – Training Methods

It is the mix of these three that ultimately shape the art. This is why I feel progressive live practise, unlimited by any given rule set (just stafey considerations), is a must (3); and why modern training equipment such as focus mitts and the heavy bag (2) have so much to offer karateka.

One-step sparring is a very poor training method (nothing like fighting or self-defence so it develops no transferable or relevant skills) … and we can see the problems it causes.

A makiwara has its place … but if it’s not like hitting a person (does not move, flat and unrealistically solid, can’t apply meaningful combinations on it, etc) and if it becomes the primary method of impact training then we can develop some very strange ideas about power generation, real world striking, etc.

And so on. It’s a interesting way of looking at the make-up of the martial arts, and lots of it resonated with me.

We can have great techniques, but with sub-optimum kit and poor training methods, arts can quickly deteriorate (a point Mr Kesting makes very well in the video).

Well worth a watch!

All the best,

Iain

Marc
Marc's picture

A good video with some excellent points.

I would like to add three more aspects that I think contribute to the shape of a martial art or style:

4 - Goal: What you want to achieve by training in your art or style (or what the art/style is intended to enable you to do)

5 - Rules a.k.a. The Law: In sports environment or self defence respectively

6 - Strategies and Tactics: How you can best make use of the techniques in practice to achive the goal.

I guess all of these six aspects are heavily intertwined. But change one and you'll change at least the style or even the art.

All the best

Marc  

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

I’d agree with those additions! Great post!

I think 4 and 5 could be ladled as “primary shapers” with the others being “secondary”.

Primary: What are we training to achieve?

Secondary: How are we training to achieve it?

So we could present them as (starting with most significant and working down; accepting that they are all interrelated):

1 – Goal: What you want to achieve by training in your art or style (or what the art/style is intended to enable you to do)

2 – Rules a.k.a. The Law: In sports environment or self defence respectively

3 – Strategies and Tactics: How you can best make use of the techniques in practice to achive the goal.

4 – Training Methods: How we train, practise and drill.

5 – Techniques: The physical movements used in the training methods

6 – Equipment: The equipment we train on.

There’s a sort of mnemonic there too!

Get Results Successfully Through Training Efficiently

G.R.S.T.T.E.

Goal: Clearly defined

Rules: Laws and sporting rules understood and integrated

Strategies and Tactics: The methods of achieving the goal in line with the laws / rules identified and understood.

Training Methods: The optimum practise methods and drills identified.

Techniques: The physical motions that will be used in the drills identified and refined.

Equipment: The most suitable training equipment for the training methods identified and utilised.

Thoughts?

All the best,

Iain

Marc
Marc's picture

"G.R.S.T.T.E" - I love it. Succinct and easy to remember! wink

I'd agree with the way you ordered the shapers. They apply to martial arts in general as well as styles as subdivisions of an art.

With a focus on karate styles I would like to add another point.

- The selection of katas and their specific versions as practiced in the style.

Now, of course katas are a training method. A chosen kata also has encoded strategies and tactics and it provides a spectrum of techniques.

So, the selection of katas can certainly be seen as a sub-point of GRSTTE, but in the special context of karate styles has grown to be a style-defining element.

What do you think?  

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Marc wrote:
"G.R.S.T.T.E" - I love it. Succinct and easy to remember!

LOL. I think so ;-)

Marc wrote:
So, the selection of katas can certainly be seen as a sub-point of GRSTTE, but in the special context of karate styles has grown to be a style-defining element.

What do you think?

I totally agree. It’s a defining training methods that seeks to encapsulate karate’s goal, strategies, tactics and techniques. It needs to be part of the wider training matrix to be fully realised, but it’s influence and importance (for “old style karate” at least) is pivotal in shaping what karate is.

All the best,

Iain