Breaking the Mould
When learning how to fight constant repetition of patterns is essential to develop smooth coordinated action and speed. It is also easier for the teaher or coach to spot errors and potential issues in the student’s movement.
Seven Stars High Low Strikes | |
For this reason (there are others) I have found it necessary to keep changing and adapting the exercises to keep my students continually having to pay attention and think about what they are doing, instead of just going through the motions.
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However there is a danger than once a pattern has been learnt and it is constantly repeated without variation that the practitioner becomes subconsciously programmed to perform that action and will do it automatically without thought to the circumstances and whether that action is appropriate or not.
It is not possible to learn performing completely free form so a balance must be made. The balance that works best is to perform the repetitive actions but create variations in the repetition. An example of this is to change the number of steps in the Seven Stars pattern from 3 steps, to 4 forward & 3 Steps back , and other combinations. To make it harder I will also alter the hand pattern strikes , or add in a kicking movement.
Seven Stars High Low Single Hand Defence | |
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Patterns are necessary but then they need to be boken. In an actual fight a pattern has its plce but only when finishing a fight when you have the advantage. A finifhing combination can quickly end a fight and so is a useful weapon in the armoury but a fixed attacking pattern when there is no advantage becomes a liability as it enables the opponent to predict your behaviour.
March 6, 2010 at 12:22 pm | Training | No comment
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