What Are Techniques?

[sensei8]

Is the extension of a punch a different technique than the return of that punch to your guard, for instance? As that is how we detail it.

Every part of ones body is a different technique, as that is how we detail it.

[Dobbersky]

Basics or Kihon if that's what one is referring to are as important as the kata. One can not expect perform various movements without practice of these said "techniques" even Golf needs practice so Martial Arts definitely does. Soldiers practice warfare and techniques of battle so its definitely a valid thread, OSU

[bushido_man96]

How does an instructor versed only in verbal knowledge effectively teach an application, especially if that type has never "experienced" an application themselves??

I'm a bit confused as to what you are asking here, Bob. Do you mean one that doesn't show the technique, but only speaks of it? Or of the lack of "real world application?"

I'll answer to the real world application part. In this area, I don't think if you, or me, personally have applied it in the real world, isn't terribly important. What is important is that its been resarched in class and in scenarios to show that it is applicable or not.

[JusticeZero]

It is, as best I understand, the question of whether it is best to study from the master teacher with practical experience who can't speak a lick of English and has zero teaching experience, or from the expert coach who happens to be a quadraplegic.

Honestly, I would have better luck with the master coach; the nonverbal masters I have tried to train under or dealt with students of tended to be frustrated when I mimicked how they moved because that wasn't the way they wanted to teach it. They wanted us to move some other way for reasons i'm not sure their accent was impenetrable.

[DWx]

It is, as best I understand, the question of whether it is best to study from the master teacher with practical experience who can't speak a lick of English and has zero teaching experience, or from the expert coach who happens to be a quadraplegic.

I think there's merit in both. I've trained with non-English/poor-English teacher's before and the training just ends up being a lot more hands on with them demonstrating and manipulating rather than vocally teaching. The master coach who can't actually do the techniques will be able to give you explanations and reasons much easier but there's only so far words will get you. I'd imagine if anyone on here tried to teach me a technique verbal communication alone (no visual aids) it'd be a while before I grasped it and could perform it well enough.

I'll answer to the real world application part. In this area, I don't think if you, or me, personally have applied it in the real world, isn't terribly important. What is important is that its been resarched in class and in scenarios to show that it is applicable or not.

I agree with this reasoning and I think it makes sense too even when not talking self defence. If you're a sport MA competitor or if you're training MMA to compete, your coach doesn't necessarily have to have competed themselves or experienced that scenario to be able to tell you what's what.