A scheme to quickly learn any kind of technique

How to learn any kind of technique

We have already pointed out the best way to learn a technique (related to fighting, strategy, etc.) in the tutorial The best way to study technique: 10 tips, now we want to go forward and propose a practical and functional scheme to acquire theoretical knowledge and transform it into practice.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

A few premises before starting:

  • This methodology is, in general, valid for (almost) any kind of martial concept (a Chin Na, a breathiong method, etc.)
  • What we want to learn must be consistently evaluated as real, practicable without danger and above all, not the result of parlor tricks
  • In order to do not repeat ourselves, we will do not repropose all that has already been said in the tutorial mentioned above

13 learning steps

Here are the steps to follow (nothing paradoxical, it’s simply the right way to achieve a good result):

  1. Undergoing the technique – First of all, let’s visualize the technique execution (ideally both with us as the “victim” both on others)
  2. Is it clear? – Let’s divide the technique into several consequential steps and let’s ask ourselves if there is a part we did not understand (theory or practice); if the execution is complex or long, let’s write down the phases and our doubts (on a paper or on a smart device)
  3. Change the point of view – If we have problems about the practical applicaiton we simply have to visualize the technique again and again (ideally from different angles, slowing down and with the mind open to the idea of cause-effect)
  4. Fill the gaps with the study – Often the most advanced techniques hide concepts and principles that are not visible to the naked eye and completely out of the reach of a beginner’s intuition; if we have doubts about the theory (everything behind the obvious) we must focus on the unclear parts and fill our knowledge gaps (through courses, questions to experts, etc.); after that, we have to review the technique again
  5. Is our body / mind the limit?  When we are certain that we have understood at least the general theory, we have to ask ourselves if we have the psycho-physical skills necessary for its execution; we must discover what our gap is (musculature, flexibility, spatial intelligence, precision, etc.)
  6. Plan a path – If we realize that we are currently unable to execute the technique, we must (in agreement with an instructor) split the technique into multiple development phases and establish the necessary psycho-physical training for each of them
  7. Start trying the technique – When we are certain that we possess all the requirements, we can finally go for the first-person practice but in a simplified context (no partner’s resistance, slow pace, no obstavles, etc.)
  8. Are there problems? – If we find theoretical difficulties during the practice (which we had previously not imagined) we must go back to step 4; if instead we find troubles in applying the theory to the practice, we must go back to step 6;
  9. Film ourselves – Filming ourselves is incredibly useful, first to discover the difference between what we think we are doing and what we truly are doing and second, to have material to confront us with an instructor and correct the errors (many of which we do not even imagine)
  10. Increase the difficulty – When we can easily apply the technique in a simplified context, we must gradually increase the difficulty (different partners, non-collaborative, obstacles in the scenario, application during sparring, etc.)
  11. Is it working? – If we can not make the technique working effectively in these “more realistic” contexts, we just have to go back to step 6
  12. Technique acquired – When we can instinctively apply the technique even in complex contexts the knowledge is acquired (by our mind and our body) but our work is far from finished
  13. Optimization – The last stage (the longest) is the customization one; whether it is a basic technique (or one that we intend to add to our personal fighting style), we must insist with tests, constant training, increasing difficulties (etc.); the idea is to endlessly optimize it through experience

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

  • Any combat technique alone is useless, without serious basic training in martial arts that develops combat instinct, quick reasoning, spatial intelligence (etc.), we are simply losingou time (read How to use martial arts in a real fight)
  • It is important to understand that acquiring a technique does not mean seeing it once on a video, on a book or on an internship nor executing it 1-2 times; if it is worth, we are talking about thousands of not passive executions (read Martial arts: the secret for the perfect training)
  • Interiorizing a technique means studying it, de-engineering it, applying it, and deploying it in depth, all the others “methods” are pure delusions

A note by Master Kongling – At this address we can download a PDF file that contains the logic schema just described /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///.

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