pguinto
09-28-2009, 03:10 AM
Please excuse the long oration, but i kinda wanted to share this excerpt from an email i sent to my best compadres entitled "A time for living, a time for playing, a time for dancing, a time for training and a time for dying."
Chatted with a certain someone and gave him a new perspective on training and spoke with him regarding some flaws and growing pains:
1) Reduce the tendency to do some of the maneuvers within drills/counters a little half-ass. Approach each block and each attack as if they were real regardless. That it is essential for learning on both sides of the encounter to gain experience (whether or not it is hard/soft, fast/slow; ie going quarter speed/quarter power, half speed/half power, 3-quarter up, or full speed/full power).
a) Explained to him what it means to feed. That when its his turn, his motions should be that of an actual attacking opponent. Dont shortcut cuz it's not an ongoing choreographed set of dance steps; each step within a sequence must be done correctly with full concentration, and his ability to perform will develop over time and correctly repeated motions, bc in reality there is no sequence and a real altercation is no place for practicing; that IF and when you're there, there's just "doing it", period, or else he will die
b) explained to him he wont learn from any encounter if his blocking is sloppy/unfocused cuz it will collapse, and he will die
c) told him in combat he isnt going to be half-focused, or else he will die
d) i believe that the "or else he will die" statements had a profound affect on his psyche/approach (we'll see)
e) I also explained that he should have enough respect to attempt a striking blow, or else you're not giving your partner something that he can learn from. Otherwise you are simpling wasting his time and yours. Your partner is giving you something to learn from, have enough respect to give your partner something to learn from as well. Your partner wants to learn from having to deal with something resembling a real blow and not some wussy motion that gramma can avoid while changing her Depends.
2) I also explained to him that before doing drills or whatever with someone, he needs to negotiate the ground rules upfront so that there is no disagreement or bitching or bad blood, from either party. That sayin "i wanna go light and easy" does not quantify the amount of energy he wants to work at. Its kinda my fault cuz when i work with him, the norm is to go at quarter speed/quarter power and even lower as it is my tendency to "feel out" my partner's energy and work at that level. We've rarely stepped it up, cuz he likes to walk on egg shells. So i told him im gonna step it up from now on instead of letting him consistently dictate low energy sessions. Said that there is a huge spectrum of energy ranges that we have can work at and we should run the full gamut of those ranges, low to high, high to low and everything in between. That there is something to be learned from every range. Then i reminded him that there are those who train regularly at higher/harder levels, and just telling your partner "let's go easy" doesnt give him an accurate gauge; i mean what is "going light" to someone who trains in an atmosphere where things go faster/harder. So instead, giving a quantifiable percentage might accomplish more; quarter speed/quarter power, half n half, 3-quarter, what have you, and/or any combination thereof. And to be ready cuz even when your partner goes faster/harder than expected, if you follow #1 above, you wont be totally blown away, and theoretically, should be able to compensate for energies encountered at point of contact; that's where developing sensitivity helps, and you can only develop that thru working thru the various energy ranges, and not simply thru passive yoga meditation.
So i told him that it's like sparring in my college days, tell your partner something like three-quarter speed/ half power; or for drilling say something like "...lets do it quarter speed/quarter power until i get used to it then we can step it up to half n half, eventually moving to three-quarter, then we can bring it down if either of us get a little overwhelmed..." This will prevent any misgivings and ensure a friendly and productive give/take session; but most importantly, both will depart the session as friends and without animosity. Ending a session, on a bad note only breeds bad blood between the parties involved. So keeping in mind that we are the best of buddies first and foremost is conducive to a productive learning environment. You're not really hurting your friends or letting them hurt you, you are here to learn so that when there is an enemy, you will not be green. Leave the bitching for your girlfriend; ie his number five strike, lawlz.
3) His reply is that he only wants to have fun, play, dance and live life. Explained to him that there is a time for living, a time for playing, a time for dancing, a time for training and a time for dying. Life is all about living to the fullest, i am all about that. But if i wanna play, i will find a game. If i wanna dance, i will go to a niteclub or put on my ipod, turn off the lights, turn on a strobe light and dance in my underwear like Tom Cruise in an ipod commercial. If i wanna train, well goddammit, i should be willing to train, and do so progressively faster/harder within my limits. And so when its time to die, hopefully i will be prepared. So to do any art that is martial in nature, one needs to develop the right mindset when going into any session that involves fighting; that this isnt pansy twinkie doggy-paddle slapping. Keep in mind that this is rough and tumble rumbling. And that a good way to do this is to think about and take to heart the words within the eskrima/cadena salute:
a) I offer you my empty hand and weapon hand to you in frienship. Explained that to me this means this is a friendly reminder that we are friends, we are friends before what is to follow and that we will still be friends after...
b) As heaven and earth as my witness, i will not bow down in submission before you. To me, this means that i am letting you know up front that im not here to be your bitch; that I will give back what i get and i expect likewise in return. Explained to him that when someone hits you good or knocks you down, it takes a real man to stand right back up and get back into the mix. Reminded him that if you turn your back now and run away cuz you got hit too hard in practice, you wont have the cajones or the heart to continue when it really counts. Told him that when he took that good blow, he ran away with his tail tucked between his legs; he went wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. I said that instead, he should've had the fire (the resolve) to get back in, mix it up, and give back something good. Also so what if you're a big guy and dont wanna hurt your friends, so what if you're a clumsy oaf, control of your strength and power will develop with time, practice, and repetition. If you hit me hard, c'est la vie. We're not gonna quit a session cuz you slammed my thumb. Dont worry cuz it is a part of what we are doing, giving/taking some good hits, without malice as it is a part of training (and i accept that, as per the following 'd' and 'e', see below). Besides you just hit me a good one, and goddammit we arent ending the session before i give back some good, beeyach!!! So if you wanna live, you must be willing to die, here and now. Learn something at this moment, be prepared to take a blow, and be willing to give back some. Cuz if you're in a life and death situation there is no giving up, why? Or else you will die, of course.
c) I offer you my empty hand and weapon hand to you in friendship. Sounds redundant, right? But it isnt cuz to me this means that in light of what was just said (and meant), i reiterate that we are friends. Regardless of whatever happens, we will remain so; my intention is not to pWn or to be pWn'D; that we are here to gain experience and to learn from each other and so there will be no animosity regardless. No if's, and's or but's. Im telling you upfront that it is beholden to me to pardon misgivings, misconceptions and/or misunderstandings. It may not happen instantly during the heat of the moment but rest assured that it will. As stated before, we are friends and it is fully my intention that we remain so. And hopefully the feeling is mutual.
d) I accept the earthly and heavenly spirits. To me this means that im telling you that my intention is to learn something; that at this moment, im not here to be half-assed, i will learn something from this session and hopefully find meaning in everything that is to come, here now and in the future and further upon reflection.
e) And lock them within my heart. Im letting you know that i accept everything that occurs and it is my responsibility to gain experience/knowledge, learn something, and respectfully to give back the same. That I will not take things at face value, hopefully i will develop the eyes to see beyond the material; its applications, its weak points, strong points, the situations where it is effective and isnt, etc (ie developing the "third eye"). In the words of Bruce Lee, "Do not focus on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory." So I will try to find openings, i will try to learn to recognize what works and what doesnt within my current abilities, i will try to develop my skills and abilities, i will accept and take to heart constructive criticisms, and i recognize that this takes a lifetime. Explained to him that even masters learn from every encounter or session. And since he knows about something about playing guitar, i reminded him that even Eric Clapton claims that he is still learning something new every day and every time he picks up a guitar.
Recommended to him it is a must before each session that he should remind himself of the words and the meanings in the salute, chant it to himself over and over, so that he could internalize everything above and find the correct mindset to approach what is to come.
After our chat he took up that special Dos Manos stick, and with his Thor-like manner, struck it on the floor, and made a pledge that from this moment on he will be a man and wont be so wimpy and will work on approaching all sessions as an arena for learning with a productive mindset. So hopefully our buddy isnt blowing hot air and that he wholeheartedly believes he is willing to step it up a notch and henceforth to be nobody's bitch.
Peace.
Chatted with a certain someone and gave him a new perspective on training and spoke with him regarding some flaws and growing pains:
1) Reduce the tendency to do some of the maneuvers within drills/counters a little half-ass. Approach each block and each attack as if they were real regardless. That it is essential for learning on both sides of the encounter to gain experience (whether or not it is hard/soft, fast/slow; ie going quarter speed/quarter power, half speed/half power, 3-quarter up, or full speed/full power).
a) Explained to him what it means to feed. That when its his turn, his motions should be that of an actual attacking opponent. Dont shortcut cuz it's not an ongoing choreographed set of dance steps; each step within a sequence must be done correctly with full concentration, and his ability to perform will develop over time and correctly repeated motions, bc in reality there is no sequence and a real altercation is no place for practicing; that IF and when you're there, there's just "doing it", period, or else he will die
b) explained to him he wont learn from any encounter if his blocking is sloppy/unfocused cuz it will collapse, and he will die
c) told him in combat he isnt going to be half-focused, or else he will die
d) i believe that the "or else he will die" statements had a profound affect on his psyche/approach (we'll see)
e) I also explained that he should have enough respect to attempt a striking blow, or else you're not giving your partner something that he can learn from. Otherwise you are simpling wasting his time and yours. Your partner is giving you something to learn from, have enough respect to give your partner something to learn from as well. Your partner wants to learn from having to deal with something resembling a real blow and not some wussy motion that gramma can avoid while changing her Depends.
2) I also explained to him that before doing drills or whatever with someone, he needs to negotiate the ground rules upfront so that there is no disagreement or bitching or bad blood, from either party. That sayin "i wanna go light and easy" does not quantify the amount of energy he wants to work at. Its kinda my fault cuz when i work with him, the norm is to go at quarter speed/quarter power and even lower as it is my tendency to "feel out" my partner's energy and work at that level. We've rarely stepped it up, cuz he likes to walk on egg shells. So i told him im gonna step it up from now on instead of letting him consistently dictate low energy sessions. Said that there is a huge spectrum of energy ranges that we have can work at and we should run the full gamut of those ranges, low to high, high to low and everything in between. That there is something to be learned from every range. Then i reminded him that there are those who train regularly at higher/harder levels, and just telling your partner "let's go easy" doesnt give him an accurate gauge; i mean what is "going light" to someone who trains in an atmosphere where things go faster/harder. So instead, giving a quantifiable percentage might accomplish more; quarter speed/quarter power, half n half, 3-quarter, what have you, and/or any combination thereof. And to be ready cuz even when your partner goes faster/harder than expected, if you follow #1 above, you wont be totally blown away, and theoretically, should be able to compensate for energies encountered at point of contact; that's where developing sensitivity helps, and you can only develop that thru working thru the various energy ranges, and not simply thru passive yoga meditation.
So i told him that it's like sparring in my college days, tell your partner something like three-quarter speed/ half power; or for drilling say something like "...lets do it quarter speed/quarter power until i get used to it then we can step it up to half n half, eventually moving to three-quarter, then we can bring it down if either of us get a little overwhelmed..." This will prevent any misgivings and ensure a friendly and productive give/take session; but most importantly, both will depart the session as friends and without animosity. Ending a session, on a bad note only breeds bad blood between the parties involved. So keeping in mind that we are the best of buddies first and foremost is conducive to a productive learning environment. You're not really hurting your friends or letting them hurt you, you are here to learn so that when there is an enemy, you will not be green. Leave the bitching for your girlfriend; ie his number five strike, lawlz.
3) His reply is that he only wants to have fun, play, dance and live life. Explained to him that there is a time for living, a time for playing, a time for dancing, a time for training and a time for dying. Life is all about living to the fullest, i am all about that. But if i wanna play, i will find a game. If i wanna dance, i will go to a niteclub or put on my ipod, turn off the lights, turn on a strobe light and dance in my underwear like Tom Cruise in an ipod commercial. If i wanna train, well goddammit, i should be willing to train, and do so progressively faster/harder within my limits. And so when its time to die, hopefully i will be prepared. So to do any art that is martial in nature, one needs to develop the right mindset when going into any session that involves fighting; that this isnt pansy twinkie doggy-paddle slapping. Keep in mind that this is rough and tumble rumbling. And that a good way to do this is to think about and take to heart the words within the eskrima/cadena salute:
a) I offer you my empty hand and weapon hand to you in frienship. Explained that to me this means this is a friendly reminder that we are friends, we are friends before what is to follow and that we will still be friends after...
b) As heaven and earth as my witness, i will not bow down in submission before you. To me, this means that i am letting you know up front that im not here to be your bitch; that I will give back what i get and i expect likewise in return. Explained to him that when someone hits you good or knocks you down, it takes a real man to stand right back up and get back into the mix. Reminded him that if you turn your back now and run away cuz you got hit too hard in practice, you wont have the cajones or the heart to continue when it really counts. Told him that when he took that good blow, he ran away with his tail tucked between his legs; he went wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. I said that instead, he should've had the fire (the resolve) to get back in, mix it up, and give back something good. Also so what if you're a big guy and dont wanna hurt your friends, so what if you're a clumsy oaf, control of your strength and power will develop with time, practice, and repetition. If you hit me hard, c'est la vie. We're not gonna quit a session cuz you slammed my thumb. Dont worry cuz it is a part of what we are doing, giving/taking some good hits, without malice as it is a part of training (and i accept that, as per the following 'd' and 'e', see below). Besides you just hit me a good one, and goddammit we arent ending the session before i give back some good, beeyach!!! So if you wanna live, you must be willing to die, here and now. Learn something at this moment, be prepared to take a blow, and be willing to give back some. Cuz if you're in a life and death situation there is no giving up, why? Or else you will die, of course.
c) I offer you my empty hand and weapon hand to you in friendship. Sounds redundant, right? But it isnt cuz to me this means that in light of what was just said (and meant), i reiterate that we are friends. Regardless of whatever happens, we will remain so; my intention is not to pWn or to be pWn'D; that we are here to gain experience and to learn from each other and so there will be no animosity regardless. No if's, and's or but's. Im telling you upfront that it is beholden to me to pardon misgivings, misconceptions and/or misunderstandings. It may not happen instantly during the heat of the moment but rest assured that it will. As stated before, we are friends and it is fully my intention that we remain so. And hopefully the feeling is mutual.
d) I accept the earthly and heavenly spirits. To me this means that im telling you that my intention is to learn something; that at this moment, im not here to be half-assed, i will learn something from this session and hopefully find meaning in everything that is to come, here now and in the future and further upon reflection.
e) And lock them within my heart. Im letting you know that i accept everything that occurs and it is my responsibility to gain experience/knowledge, learn something, and respectfully to give back the same. That I will not take things at face value, hopefully i will develop the eyes to see beyond the material; its applications, its weak points, strong points, the situations where it is effective and isnt, etc (ie developing the "third eye"). In the words of Bruce Lee, "Do not focus on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory." So I will try to find openings, i will try to learn to recognize what works and what doesnt within my current abilities, i will try to develop my skills and abilities, i will accept and take to heart constructive criticisms, and i recognize that this takes a lifetime. Explained to him that even masters learn from every encounter or session. And since he knows about something about playing guitar, i reminded him that even Eric Clapton claims that he is still learning something new every day and every time he picks up a guitar.
Recommended to him it is a must before each session that he should remind himself of the words and the meanings in the salute, chant it to himself over and over, so that he could internalize everything above and find the correct mindset to approach what is to come.
After our chat he took up that special Dos Manos stick, and with his Thor-like manner, struck it on the floor, and made a pledge that from this moment on he will be a man and wont be so wimpy and will work on approaching all sessions as an arena for learning with a productive mindset. So hopefully our buddy isnt blowing hot air and that he wholeheartedly believes he is willing to step it up a notch and henceforth to be nobody's bitch.
Peace.