Make the mundane magical

Make the mundane magical

You see a flashy technique in a martial arts film you love and you think I have just got to try that out, but wait you know it is a film. Still you are thinking to yourself that it just might work. I find it really strange that we as human beings find it difficult to separate reality from fiction or maybe we create our own reality in our own minds. Another reason could be that we don’t really know what we are looking at or have the required knowledge to separate the two.

I used to love watching the old John Wayne movies where he would have a fist fight that would last forever, they would take it in turns to hit each other, you could see they were faking it but it was great entertainment. (The quiet man) springs to mind. Did you know that John Waynes real name was Marion? It is no wonder he acted tough all the time it must of been hell growing up with a name like that. Ha Ha.

Someone sent me a clip of a BJJ master pulling off a jumping flying arm bar in the street as a self defense technique and it worked. I must admit I was astounded by his skill level and the cheek of even doing such a move. We have all seen some crazy stuff that has worked in UFC although rare they can still happen.
This had me thinking when something looks easy like a spectacular technique it is because it has been practiced over and over again by that person but wait there is much more to it than this. It is because the person has built up his skills layer upon layers for many years of dedicated training and practice.

They started with posture and learning how to shift centre of mass not only on them self but on how move an opponents mass. They had to learn timing and proper technique on how to apply things using levers which are the arms and legs of an opponent then adding a fulcrum. The effort (input force) and load (output force) are applied to either end of the arm or leg. The fulcrum is the point on which the body can pivot. When an effort is applied to one end of the lever, a load is applied at the other end of the levers. Timing also comes into the equation, breathing, footwork, posture, relaxation to allow for efficient movement, then we have transitional flow and the list goes on and on. If it is a striking art then they had to practice striking over and over again not only on a punch bag but in sparring with a real opponent. I am sure you can think of many more principles. Message me if you would like and we can discuss them.

For me it is about doing your basics everyday. I am amazed when I teach or give a seminar only very rarely does someone notice my footwork they always look at my hands doing something but never my feet and how I arrived there so easily.

Just as you clean your teeth everyday to get the required cleanliness and whiteness.

It takes years and years to master the basic principles of martial arts and you must put in the time.

After you have mastered them, all your movements will seem magical

Make the mundane magical

Clip of BBJ black belt explaining what he did to a burglar.

Stay safe everyone

GM Angelo