When I first started posting, I thought to myself that I didn't want to make this blog too much about venting, but one thing that I need to get off my chest is that I don't necessarily think that Sijo DeMile is valued as much as he should be. There are numerous reasons that might be the case. But I think the one that tweeks me the most is that people who have never interacted with the man, have decided that they won't because of comments made by other instructors who may see Sijo as a threat, or as someone they need to downplay because they cannot articulate things as well as he does.
The shining characteristic that makes Sijo such a great instructor is that he can break down technique to make it conceptually & technically understandable for especially those students who want to know the details of how to make a technique work, because just copying isn't cutting it for those students, or they're just not physically or athletically gifted to get it.
The man's technique is physically amazing when you experience 1st hand. But the overall experience of interacting with him, is even more amazing when you leave realizing he's articulated to you the peices and steps you need to take to be able to do it like him, or more importantly, to the best of your ability so that you can get the same results against an opponent as him, and so that you don't have to leave saying, "God how does he do that?!", or with a impossible, defeatist attitude say, "I wish I could even somewhat move and effect my opponent like that". Instead you leave with "wow that stuff is great, and now I understand the steps I need to take so that I can KNOW how to do it without thought". Far too often though, most martial artists are into just getting beat down. And fall into the praising one man's ability based on how much he got completely shut down by him, or "beating the crap out of". Then resulting in the attitude and mindset to what I remember experiencing years ago when I met this other martial artist and all he did was talk about what his teacher could do. To me, who cares what your teacher can do, what can you do?!
One of the things that defines a good teacher is not how they do the technique, but how well they can get YOU to do the technique. Magic Johnson is considered one of the 50 greatest NBA basketball players to play the game, yet he couldn't coach the Lakers as well as he could play, or lead them as a player playing alongside the rest of the team. It's an example of how someone can be really great at something, but not a great teacher of that thing that they do so well.
Sijo DeMile can defend himself, and most importantly with little effort. And not only can he do that, but he's empowered a lot of people to be able to do the same, at different levels of skill. And what is so unique about how he teaches, is...
...that the potential for refinement is exponential; never cut off by a "glass ceiling". Letting you get
more and more refined so that you require less and less effort to get the results that you want!!!"
Example of this is what most people dub as a cheap parlor trick, or sideshow carnival act...in other words, the Floating Punch.
People get too caught up with this guy hitting a phone book and sending a guy flying or whatever, not realize that what the punch really is all about is that this is an example of refinement in being able to hit with minimal effort. If you can generate that much power moving your arm so little, imagine what you could do using those same principles and technique moving your arm with the added power of full range of motion, but yet with as little kinetic effort as it took to send the guy flying from a few inches. Again, the Floating Punch, 1" punch is not about hitting a guy with a phonebook, standing the way one does, and setting up the way one does to do it as a demonstration; when would you ever find yourself being able to do that on the street?! It's about the message it sends...about realizing that technique will allow you to use very little kinetic effort to get maximum results, and that that technique is achieved by constantly refining your abilities so you don't have to work as hard as a novice does when they're uncoordinated and clumsy with the unfamiliar that they are learning. And it's not just restricted to the Floating Punch. It's in everything the offers, how to Close the gap, how to trap, the footwork you can use...Everything. But like everyone's evolution it takes time, and understanding that to really know something you have to experience as it's gross motion as well as it's refined motion.
And that's the only downside to Sijo's method of teaching. Because he shares so much. Students tend to think they KNOW it all. They don't. They have an understanding, but they don't know it, because they can't do it since they don't SPEND THE TIME that they should. If they spent the time, and use the knowledge shared not only would they be able to KNOW it, they would also be able to constantly REFINE it! And have an added confidence because they can both DO it and understand the science behind it.
That is the message that Sijo tries to share. Self-defense should be applicable for everyone, the athletically gifted as well as those that are not so much, and that it can be refined so that you don't have to work hard.
If only more people would be willing to judge the man by experiencing him and what he teaches on their own, rather than take someone's word for it...more people would realize it. And more people wouldn't be continuing the attitude that perpetuates the prejudice that causes so many rifts in our world today.
Labels: Sijo DeMile
