When it comes to physical endeavors, what is the difference between information and knowledge?
The best kind of training for self-defense, is one that will allow the student to just react in a situation, rather than think it through. Great instructors always talk about this response as, "neuromuscular imprinting".
The problem when teaching people can come from trying to balance information and spending the time to make that information knowledge. It's a problem only because the wrong kind of student will just take in a large amount of information, dabble in it, and think that that's enough to make the technique work; only to be surprised to find that when the time comes for the technique to really be called upon against a higher level skill...they can't do it. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you approach the wrong kind of student with offering not as much information, but just constant repetition, that wrong kind of student can get bored and no longer want to continue their training to reach their full potential; to refine the technique to it's sharpest expression that he or she can do. Why? Because it can take a little longer to get it especially for the student who is not a natural martial artists, or even capable of having smooth physical coordination. And let's face it, the ones who really need training in self-defense, are the ones who are awkward, and NOT natural martial artists.
So what's the solution? I believe that it's a blend of information, and constant repetition. You can't give too much information at once. Just enough to give the student a direction, a purpose. Then, let them feel it. Feel it as a motion, then feel it (at least attempting) in semi-application. And once they have that motion, that feeling down, you add another piece of information to help them refine that motion. And sometimes that information comes in the form of just feeling how it's supposed to be done. Which is why it's important to interact directly with the instructor. Never be afraid to ask him what it feels like. Closed mouth never gets fed.
But a teacher/student relationship is a two-way street in so much as the student must be patient & dedicated, so also the teacher must be patient & dedicated, and a goal for skill has to be more important than just an acquisition of information & belt rank. Progression is better measured in what you can do, not with how much you've been exposed to. Because let's face it, in any type of altercation what the driving force is, is "feeling", emotions; thinking goes out the window. So think only during learning to have a direction, a basic understanding. But feel to make that understanding a reality; a personal experience that becomes your own knowledge. Something that is "neurologically imprinted". Something you just do.
Information must be turned into knowledge by gaining experience, gaining a feel & understanding for it, and being able to actually do it! But this takes time, takes training, takes sweat, takes dedication.
As the great quote associated to Bruce Lee goes, "Knowing is not enough, you must Apply. Willing is not enough, you must Do."
Knowledge takes time! Be patient, be dedicated, and knowledge will come.
Labels: classes, training
