Why build a solid foundation?
Noun:
A body or ground on which other parts rest or are overlaid.
Taking the above definition, applying it to, and understanding the importance of laying a solid foundation within any martial arts system can be a key factor not only to the development of a martial skill but also to the pressure testing and real life application thereof.
The need for something new
It seems to be a Western culture or trait that seem to creep in to Martial arts classes that put pressure on instructors to always be showing some new technique or way of doing something rather than trying to improve and build upon the foundations of the basic / core techniques.
The importance of basics
Have you ever watched a movie where the “bad guy” chasing his victim, the victim seems to stumble, not run straight then the inevitable happens, getting to a door that is closed or locked and always requires the potential victim to use their keys to open it, they, in the movie it seems, always drop their keys, then struggle to find the lock after they recover them, not being able to co-ordinate their hand movements, only to drop the keys again and……. You know the outcome.
Not only in the movies
Fine motor skills, like holding and using keys to open a locked door while under pressure are one of the effects of having a sudden “dump of adrenaline” causing the flight or fight response within the body, so running from a crazed maniac and trying to open a locked door is not just for effect in Hollywood blockbusters, it can happen in real life.
Putting this in the context of martial arts or self-defense when faced with an aggressive attacker, the small complex movements that are sometimes taught in self-defense classes will be much more difficult to execute unless you can control the adrenaline, see the article “What is adrenaline anyway” for more on this.
When under pressure and your fine / complex motor skills are not at their best your body will have to rely on the more gross motor skills, think larger movements of arms and legs without all the fancy complex movements. Putting this in to a combat situation, keeping it simple, using more gross motor skills is key. There is a whole topic that can be written on motor skills and the psychology of violence.
Building upon and revisiting basics within a martial arts system not only helps refine and build upon understanding, it also helps embed the core movements so that, with time, you should become unconsciously competent, if you follow the four stages of competence, or the “conscious competence” learning model, which relates to the psychological states involved in the process of progressing from incompetence to competence in a skill. The four stages being, Unconscious incompetence, Conscious incompetence, Conscious competence, Unconscious competence.
So remember when you are in your next martial arts class and your getting bored revisiting the “basics again”, these very techniques may well be the ones that get you out of trouble or even save your life.
Sifu Alan:
Wing Chun Halesowen’s Instructor, Sifu Alan has been involved in martial arts since 1992. Sifu Alan holds a Level 2 Coaches Certificate through the BCCMA, and has a passion and dedication for the passing on of the martial art of Wing Chun. Sifu Alan offers a unique approach to learning, utilising aspects of both physical and psychological aspects of training to help the student fully understand the reasons behind their training. Sifu Alan does not want the “copy as I do” approach, he wants his students to know, feel and understand what they can do within the Wing Chun System.
Sifu Alan is CRB checked and registered to work with children and young adults.
MIDLANDS WING CHUN KUEN – Director: Grandmaster Ip Chun, Chief Instructor: Si-Fu S. Rawcliffe All Midlands Wing Chun Kuen Instructors are Registered Members of: British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), Sports Coach UK ~ The National Coaching Foundation and Ving Tsun Athletic Association in Hong Kong.