Outside The Dojo

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Outside, the Dojo.

There is something that has weighed on my mind for some time. Why has Martial Arts training moved inside? When did the idea of learning or training Martial Arts, as a general accepted practice, encompass the idea or concept that if someone wanted to learn Karate, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu,  etc. they would be going into a well lit, air conditioned studio with mats from wall to wall? Don’t get me wrong, I fell into this same ideology as well. I don’t know the answer. However when I started researching (because I’m a nerd that way) I realized that the practice is very recent and almost exclusively isolated to Western Europe, and North America. (I would include Brazil, but it does not seem to follow that rule there, in my findings anyway.) For most of the world and all but recent history people have trained Martial Arts outside. 

Training in the environment that is most similar to where you will need your skill set will definitely change your outlook on what you are learning or know. :) MMA fighters practice in a cage, Boxers in a Boxing Ring, Soldiers do war games outside, Fireman practice putting out house fires by lighting a house on fire, and so on. Do yourself a favor and do the same thing. If you learn something in an indoor training facility, go home and practice outside with shoes on, in as many environments as possible. I could waste both of our time by explaining the multitudes of differences, but until you experience the difference you will not fully understand. It may save your life one day, and it will make you a better Martial Artist.  

Training To Win

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Be careful not to get too emotionally attached to a technique, combo, concept or principle or you will give the opponent the way in which to beat you.

Martial arts training has to be balanced. It truly drives me crazy when I hear someone describe themselves as a “Striker” or a “Grappler”, or my personal favorite “I only train for reality, so I don’t spar”, etc. etc. whatever their preferred emotional specialty is. It’s like learning to add, but not subtract and claiming to know math. Or learning the alphabet minus the vowels. There are always those things in life we have to learn or else our knowledge is incomplete. Martial Arts are no exception.

I recently took a call from a gentleman who stated he wanted to train with me for MMA competition. He just wanted “to bring his hands up” as he put it. Which was fine since he trains wrestling and BJJ as well. So during the interview I explained that I teach knife and stick fighting during our “stand up” classes as well. He then stated he would “just skip those classes”. He expressed that he didn’t need to learn those things, and had no desire to learn them. So I declined to teach him. A small lesson for cage/MMA fighters coming so pay attention. ;) Nothing gets you to move your feet, keep your guard up, and keep moving like getting hit with a stick or learning to knife fight (training knives of course). I love and respect MMA, don’t get me wrong. Just a real world example of a poor training attitude.

Now for the reality guys that don’t spar. Do you really think that you will stand a chance on the street if the first time you get hit in the nose,or your melon thumped is during a violent criminal encounter. Think again. Sparring is an indispensable tool for all Martial Artist. Get over yourself, put some gloves on, make some safety rules and spar. (Mouth guard and groin protection might be nice to have too  ;) )

Train everything, even what you don’t like. Train honestly with yourself. Thanks for reading my rant.

Tim