I was at a park and noticed a group off in one corner of the park. It was a martial arts class.

Of course I watched.

I’m not 100% sure what they were studying, but from the looks of the movements along with the clothing I suspect a form of ninjutsu.

They were practicing one-step sparring techniques. So teacher demonstrates technique, discusses aspects of it, then students pair off and practice the technique in a cooperative way.

Sounds familiar.

And as I watched, I saw good and bad. I saw a traditional martial art being taught, which is not a bad thing. I saw movements being taught that were unrealistic. For instance, opponent throws a right haymaker. The defense is to hard block with your lead arm (left arm in this case), then redirect their arm by moving your arm in a large counter-clockwise circle. The problem? First the meeting of force-with-force, which isn’t horrible, but then to try to change the direction of their movement to the total opposite direction using only the strength of your posterior deltoid vs. the whole of their body being behind that haymaker? I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it happening in a real situation. Furthermore, there was little footwork, and what there was tended to involve cross-stepping and putting yourself in twisted and positions of little balance.

However, I watched other techniques and saw some nice stuff. For instance, opponent comes with a right haymaker/straight-punch. You block with the lead arm in a sort of backfist-like movement meeting their forearm with your forearm, then you slide that left fist up to grab their lapel… now you’re inside and you can use the right to do all manner of things. I also saw some application of locks and pressure points for distraction to move then into sweeps and take downs.

So it was a mix.

I look upon it like a lot of traditional/classical martial arts. It’s not a bad thing. There’s much sound and good in it, and there are a lot of principles that are good to learn. However, to fight this way? I’m not sure. What I hope all students do, at least at the higher levels (once you get that black belt, at least), is to review the techniques you learn and question everything: the stances, the footwork, the kicks, the punches, the locks, the movements, the blocks, entries, exits, counters, reversals, attack, defense, everything. Find what is useful. That which doesn’t appear to be useful, see what it may be trying to teach — it may not be practical, but it may have good theoretical basis. Question everything.

The interesting thing? I had a feeling of really missing traditional martial arts study. 🙂

I heard good things about Blankenship’s internal arts practice. It seems to be just about doing and seeking enlightenment, instead of being rote. I could dig that.