Self Discipline in Training
Contents: Introduction | Training Mode | Lead by Example | Red Zone Training | Soap BoxIntroduction
Naturally, there are the usual class rules and disciplines associated with training premised on common courtesy and honesty and covered in the Training Basics section of this Website. At their most basic level, these rules cover the usual and mandatory standards: neat appearance, regular training sessions, being punctual, showing respect to others, et cetera, et cetera. In essence though, the rules are requesting a level of self discipline, honesty and common courtesy which are and will be the foundations of ones training. The honesty aspect is not dealing with the honesty of leaving something of value around and expecting it not to be stolen, that is just plain common decency and should be expected in society anywhere? Honesty in the training context is having a real hard go all the time, always pushing harder, 'seizei'. It is all too easy to walk through classes and believe one is training at their maximum or by just turning up to classes is enough. Like most practices, a good Coach/Instructor will push the students level and increase the deficient areas, thus balancing the students technique. In some special cases, a student may be granted special exemptions in training as long as the student is demonstrating their full extent and capabilities but for whatever reason could not bridge the gap that this article is endeavouring to cover, probably the biggest assessment criteria at level 3 is intent, technical issues are seldom a problem if a student is hell bent on succeeding.
Training Mode
This article will endeavour to explain the reasons of why we train with this militant nature and its direct parallel to both training and as well, how one should hold oneself socially. Students are expected to be in training mode from the moment they walk into a class. Training mode? Basically, being alert at all times, no goofing off. A term the military uses is 'at ease', and is defined by Dictionary.com as – 'In a relaxed position, especially standing silently at rest with the right foot stationary: put the soldiers at ease while waiting for inspection… ' In a training context, this can be interpreted at various levels, however, there are two basic traits that must be noted and will be built upon throughout a students training. Character wise – a good positive nature, motivated, prepared to really listen and learn and being honest and objective with oneself. There is always room for improvement. Posture wise – not slouching, always stand tall, (at ease) and never give any sign of lethargy, (Never give the instructors the pleasure of seeing one suffering!), and always, apply maximum effort. Though all students must take note of these disciplines, it must be noted that this article is primarily targeted towards the more advanced students who have completed their basic training. Further reasons for this mindset will be expanded upon throughout this article, the web site and especially at training. Generally, the more experienced students have formed long term training goals and even more optimistically, a lifelong endeavour that promotes health, discipline, humility, spirit, courage, morals, knowledge and inner peace. Ironically, students that work hard and stretch themselves through hard work become very spiritual, an extract from the Tao Te Ching:
When Beauty is recognised in the
World
Ugliness has been learned;
When Good is recognised in the World
Evil has been learned.
(Tao Te Ching)
From this extract, one perspective allows one to see and have an appreciation of another perspective, Yin & Yang or, how anything gained and appreciated is generally obtained from hard work or a struggle. No matter how peaceful these attributes seem they are an integral aspect of fighting (honesty). At a martial art's most base level, a martial art is always martial art. A student must fully understand why they are acting so disciplined. A strong self disciplined student must have patience to keep at their discipline, mental training will test one considerably. A student should be dedicated to regular training sessions regardless of the variables albeit, good and bad times, hot or cold weather et cetera. Training in the adverse times strengthens ones resolve. Simply, a student is training or isn't training, no in between or excuses. A disciplined lifestyle allows one to be physically and mentally stronger and open to pushing themselves further. These dogged attributes are practiced over and over and never stop and result in a mentally and physically stronger student. An opponent won’t be nice, and your added strength through the fitness and discipline may be the determining factor that saves you. Finally, a martial art should not be attempted or compared to a sport, these are vastly different disciplines with different goals and objectives. A book thoroughly worth reading is 'Karate-Do, My Way of Life' by Gichen Funakoshi.
Lead by Example
The more experienced students should always apply and demonstrate these self disciplined attributes in the class at all times which not only benefits themselves, but also leading by example. The first reason is for the new students, monkey see, monkey do. If new students come to the class and witnesses slack behaviour, then they will carry on with this behaviour. If a class has 50 students and one of the senior students‘ walks off and gets a drink, this behaviour will then be deemed appropriate and as a result, get people walking around the school at will. If out of place comments from a senior student either good or bad are made, a false sense of discipline and class protocols can be produced which is the start of mediocrity. A misinformed comment or gesticulation by a senior student e.g. 'It's OK mate…', can undo work that the principal instructor may be trying to achieve. A students character maybe being tested, if a more senior student then makes comment, 'It's OK mate…', it may give the student the wrong idea. In the end, a student is trying to be developed in such a manner that can protect themselves, by getting let off the hook, or things made easy will not help in the long run. A case in point is a story where an instructor verbally disciplined a student in a big way. When the class had finished, another more ‘senior‘ member said to the student, 'don‘t worry about it…' and undid the work that the principal instructor was trying to achieve.
In the context of strategy though, self discipline is absolutely paramount. As written previously that when a student isn't doing any exercise in the hall and no official break has been called, the student should be 'at ease' in a line against a wall. If a student is tired and squats down or bends over, the overall body area is smaller and the heat radiates in a more concentrated area making things even worse. By standing up straight, air has a larger frontal area to cool one down quicker and better air can be sucked in. Apart from practicing good class etiquette and more efficient cooling, there is a martial aspect as well. Primarily it is to practice not giving any indication of ones distress and in the overall scheme of things, don‘t give any inkling of diminishing energy to an opponent! There is nothing worse than competing/fighting and somebody who shows no fatigue or won't give up. Remembering in a class environment, the instructors can and do act as ones antithesis, testing the students character under stress. The instructors through personal experience are aware of the fact that students get very close to saying, 'I've got to sit down', or have to get a drink… Generally the rest of the students are distressed as well, one should try and let another student be the first to break, 'seizei'. However, if one is getting too dizzy, one should go to ground and have a rest rather than risking further injury through falling over et cetera. Personally, I tried to ensure I was the last to cave-in, it was a little competitive game that I thoroughly recommend. When a fellow student faltered or made comment/excuse, I took it as a little victory, be the last one standing. While we're training, we get periods of time where we are individually demonstrating forms. The observing students should stand at ease and practice never buckling over, hands on hips, squatting or panting for breath, in short, standing tall "energy up" and as well, a demonstration of respect to ones fellow student by not talking or walking about during examinations. A student will also learn a great deal from ones peers while observing their technique.
If one is training correctly, one will be both mentally and physically fatigued at training. A byproduct of fatigue is loss of technique. As a student tires, they let their technique (angles and sharpness) go and subsequently get even more tired, catch–22. Discipline minds will manage their technique and ensure the technique doesn't diminish but hold it together more. Wide stances and punches are synonymous with tiredness and only worsen the situation, the more tired one gets, the more one should use their strong mind and ENFORCE correct disciplined technique, if one always trains mentally to keep going and not give up, negative thoughts don't enter the mind. When students fatigue, or demonstrate other gestures of fatigue, it is very apparent to the instructor/opponent and as documented will be taken advantage of.
Red Zone Training
Students train at a level, the instructor attempts to always push the student through these physical, technical and mental areas and hence, the reasons for a good coach. Students training themselves tend to exercise what they like and not what they require. This is usually demonstrated by students who take time off, when they return, their training has gone off on a tangent and incorrect energies being implemented, no plan, just training. When the principal instructor deems a student having sufficient technique (square and straight) and mentally ready, a new form of training is introduced. This method is called Red Zone (RZ) training and is defined by always pushing the envelope higher and harder and operating outside the comfort zone. Red Zone training is where the strong can operate, are reasonably comfortable and even excel, and why we always train to the extreme, 'seizei'.
The higher and longer one can operate in their Red Zone, the better and stronger ones Green Zone (Normal operating rate) training becomes. Green Zone (GZ) training is generally 75–100% operating rate or just basic exercise rate. If a students GZ could be given a quantifiable figure (5), then RZ would push the student into (6) until it become their normal operating rate, thus lifting the overall level of their training to (6). Once the technique, physical, and mental elements have acclimatised to this new level, (6), it becomes the students Green Zone and the next push is attempted. Red Zone is the level we train in and the more often one trains, the longer one can stay within this zone, once achieved, one can ride the groove and operate in the Green Zone which is now a more comfortable and higher operating limits and move into the Red Zone which can be very demoralising as the strength doesn't taper off but rather, increases. Red Zone training is achieved totally through mental training, not only does it make one physically stronger in the Green Zone, but generally more alert as well.
Pushing a student from Basic to RZ_1 in this document is a simplistic description. This is taking a student out of their comfort zone and into something they have no concept of and is totally different training. Generally, humans don't like this sort of thing.
Soapbox
Sparring and real-life situations are vastly different situations and generally, we (YJQ) train by the adage of ‘best made plans…’ or Murphy’s Law, meaning everything gets chucked out the window at the worst possible time. We also train with the intent of everything is gained through hard work and leave nothing to chance. It is all well and good to spar in a class environment, nothing too left of field is going to happen and therefore, one can use and practice their awareness skills (trying techniques and relying on ones technique against attacks, the purpose of sparring.). This allows a student to become comfortable in this environment and ultimately allows a student to become aware of all the possible scenarios in a situation. A student is drilled repeatedly and is taught to take the chance out of the scenario and be analytical about possible attacks i.e. a persons arsenal of an attacker is reduced to three main areas, head attack, body attack, and low attack. If one takes the chance out and realises that there are many different strikes but all will come from one of these three key areas, one can focus at a persons centre and have 3 area blocks ready thus removing the thought that an opponent is like an octopus. Our inherent spear/intersection type blocking allows for intersecting at any of the angles:
- Square Block/Attack
- To Body
- 45° High
- To Head Area
- 45° Down
- Lower Area e.g. kicks
Once one of these tangents have been selected, one continues through in true YJQ style. It is often described at this school that martial arts training trains our senses in a more animalistic nature, i.e. becoming more observant. In a spar, a student is observed through their senses (eyes/telegraphing), and over a period of time, this aspect is taught and made aware to the student and ultimately will act as guide through most situations. By seeing a movement from one of the 3 main areas (listed above and having faith in the system), one can take the chance out of a fight and have a deliberate and dedicated response or attack. To use ones art in a fight requires bravery; "courage is grace under pressure", (Ernest Hemingway). Using techniques require much smaller tolerances than open–style (non–trained) fighting. We deliberately block with centimetres to spare because that is where the strength is. To use ones skill in a fight, one has to say to themselves that one is going to put faith in ones system and put ones body on the line, if one errs and mixes the art with open–style fighting, one gets hit. One must stand tall and focus with their self discipline. A student may be asked do a more advanced form that they're not sure of and for only a microsecond, one will see the student ask themselves, "am I sure about this one"? The lack of confidence, or too much confidence is always very transparent. This awareness occurs at the micro level and can be as minute as a flick of an eye when the students kung fu is no longer reflexive, but they are grabbing virtual memory and have a quick think of where they are, this is a person that is about to get hit and is in the Black Zone (operating above oneself). As well, one can see the instant a person doesn't want to be in this situation anymore, their spirit goes from their eyes and one can now defuse the situation in whatever manner deemed appropriate.
At this school, it is suggested that a student in a social context who has trained honestly, gives off a certain aura, this may well be Chi or energy. Call it what you wish, but we (YJQ) believe that there is a massive amount of psychology that some people are not aware of and this area of training/psychology is analysed considerably. We believe that there are so many signs and signals getting sent between humans and we (humanity) are not as aware of them as we should. Martial arts training enables students to enhance and decode this sometimes overlooked quality. This ability has been witnessed enough times by different training groups over a long period of time to know it is not by chance. It must be noted that this quality is not acquired through magic training but in a training environment where we all train hard and we become aware of all the associated emotions and expressions that people emit. These emotions are observed continuously as we are training at our physical and mental limits (or should be!), a class witnesses emotions such as: happy, mad, unsure, positive, and negative and eventually we become aware of these emotions and ultimately it becomes very obvious at the micro level with slight eye movements, body postures, and gesticulations. If a student is capable of standing straight and looking calm, they're a long way to preventing a huge amount of problems. Generally, 90% of social fights are idiotic buffoons more intent on chest butting and doing a lot of talking and trying to pick out a cheap shot. If the attacker in these types of scenarios notices the 'attackee' giving of a a sign of weakness, the attackers' rhetoric grows as they know he has the physiological edge and the rest of the struggle is history. If somebody was legitimately mad, wouldn't the attacker just hit the attackee Talking is the first sign of resolution. Students are taught if there is no way of preventing trouble, hit them, don't procrastinate with talk. Two bad rules in social fighting are going to pre–arranged fights and talking where things can only grow and more trouble can occur. Do what you have to and get out of the situation.
Conversely, a student that can hold themselves straight and confident in public isn't going to look like an easy target and may be passed if it is a random selection? Why would an attacker go for the fit one in a pack? Secondly, when a person is 'discussing' issues, there is the ever present reading of the eyes, even if it isn't aware as it should be. If one is not giving off any negative/frightened signs, the attacker isn't going to be as confident. As the rhetoric is raised, they will see that you are not changing and not scared and this is not the signs people want to see. Mostly though, it is believed (at YJQ) that one should stand tall and look straight and not telegraph anything, 'at ease', this not only is good for martial arts, but a good way to hold oneself through all aspects of life, straight, tall and honest. The mentally stronger one is, the better off one will be. It may sound like dealing with the nth degree and so often a situation is resolved by a slight eye movement and if you are the one who doesn't give the first signal, you may win where winning is very important. Any situation can only benefit from it. An analogy — if two people were genetically exactly the same apart from the fact that one of the 'genetic twins' was not as mentally strong as the other twin and these two 'genetic twins' were hanging off a cliff, the weaker minded is going to fall first, a strange analogy but when it is all said and done, this may be the difference between you and your life one day because one could step up and operate in the Red Zone and groove in the green where most operate in the Green Zone. So many sporting games turn into a whitewash when somebody gets a signal from an opponents weakened mind and thus, the game is over before one knows it, strange analogies but the point is that challenges can be life and death situations and being at your personal best at a particular time and knowing not hoping is a huge benefit?
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