The most effective combat technique

Master Kongling All, 6DKF techniques, Conditioning, Fighting strategy, Training 2

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How to discover our personal, most effective, fighting technique

A good fighter aims to know the highest possible number of techniques but he / she truly masters only a few ones; between these, there is one that he / she can:

Apply readily, even in a totally instinctive way
Adapt to a wide range of common scenarios
Manage all its eventual reactions

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).

We are talking about something that harmonizes with our strengths, leverages our unique abilities and evolves alongside our martial growth.

How can we discover ours? In this article, we’ll explore the path in 2 steps.

Step 1: find our future best technique

The world of combat is incredibly variegated, encompassing a plethora of styles, systems, approaches, etc. (read The complete list of all the martial arts) and therefore the first question is: are we truly sure that the one we have chosen contains our potential best technique (read also How to tell if a martial art is good)?

1000 years would not be enough to try them all thoroughly and in addition to this, every individual possesses a unique combination of attributes (speed, strength, flexibility, etc.) that always alter the final result.

This is not the way to conduct our research. We do not have to try to force a too-specific choice. In the pursuit of mastering combat, it is in fact crucial to grasp the essence that unites all the techniques: their principles.

Substantially, to find what we are searching for:

We must transcend the rigid confines of martial arts
We have to embrace a more fluid method of study
We must learn to superimpose what is superimposable and to flank what is not
We must learn to grasp the deep essence and ignore the different surface stylizations

Why? Because the techniques are endless but the principles that govern them are not.

A note by Master Kongling – This is exactly what we are trying to do with 6 Dragons Kung Fu: offer our students a base to understand the core concepts from which deepen a more personal understanding of combat (read 6 Dragons Kung Fu: what does it teach?).

Step 2: the adaptation

Once we understand the principles that we better feel in line with ourselves, it is “just” a question of applying them in the most disparate contexts: making countless mistakes, until we find the right combinations.

Bruce Lee’s lesson

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee

This quote is often misunderstood. Bruce Lee was certainly not referring to 10,000 identical repetitions (any person in athletically good shape can perform them in 1-2 days without problems) but 10,000 times in different contexts (this has truly an exponential meaning, read I fear not a man who practiced 10000 kicks once).

What we are trying to say is that the world is not a controlled environment where battles adhere to a script. Real scenarios (both sports and personal defense, read What is the difference between real fights and combative sport) are unpredictable and dynamic.

The combat technique that will shine is the one that seamlessly molds itself to the unfolding circumstances (be it a sudden change in distance, an unexpected counter, etc.).

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

To excel in combat, it’s essential to adopt a holistic approach to training; this entails not only practicing the techniques but also understanding the principles that underpin it (delving into the mechanics of balance, leverage, timing, distance, etc.); we have to cultivate a profound understanding of the foundational elements
Combat is a dynamic interplay of variables; an effective technique isn’t a static move, it is a sort of “philosophy” that teaches us to respond to the constant change; we have to focus our practice to challenge our adaptability (read also Martial arts: the secret for the perfect training), with time, we’ll notice our intuition becoming increasingly refined, our body will naturally begin to anticipate movements and responses
Within a span of 1-2 years, we’ll likely identify the techniques that resonate most with us; as we accumulate experience, we’ll begin to discern patterns in our approach; the technique that feels most comfortable and consistently yields positive results is our compass towards effective combat
In conclusion, it must be stressed that the most effective combat technique is not confined to a sequence of movements, it should be seen more as an approach that seamlessly integrates with our strengths, evolves with us and remains adaptable to ever-changing circumstances; martial arts mastery is a journey, not a destination
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In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu Exercises – All the practices to build real martial skills
Basic free hand fighting techniques – All the fundamental combat techniques of our school

In-depth articles

The real Bruce Lee’s legacy – Bruce Lee’s point of view about martial arts learning
How to learn to fight: all the steps – The order of development

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

What is your favorite technique?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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