Picking a few techniques and "owning" them

[yamesu]

I was actually introduced to this concept in judo--tokui-waza, or specialty techniques. Top level judo competitors tend to only have 3 techniques that they use consistently, but they get very good at them and very good at applying them in any situation.

^^ This.

Note, the applying in "any situation".

I am not going to argue that being well rounded is a bad thing. Quite the opposite. More to my point - I can throw a killer Ushiro Mawashi geri (spinning back kick) and land it a good proportion of the time, but its not my staple, and I would prefer to focus on something like chudan mawashi.

The point is, as long as you have covered all ranges of combat and can apply that set of techniques under stress in an "alive" situation, then they should be all you need!

Agreed. A very good point.

However, once we have become well rounded and drilled/learnt applications to all techniques within the art, when do we say, ok, my body type/structure and the way I personally move is better suited to techniques x/y/z than a/b/c???

"Never fear a man that can do a thousand techniques - fear the man that has done one technique a thousand times".

Exactly. Look at Muay Thai - most of the fighters Ive seen (in Thailand particularly) utilise a few techniques with GREAT results.

Oh, it is true. We each have our dye-in-the-wool techniques that we depend on each and every time we're on the floor; my hand techniques are extremely fast and powerful. I will use them until the moment requires of me to postpone them for the time being.

This is great - I know you are a well seasoned MA'ist sensei8, and this is the general point I was intially getting at After years and years of learning multitudes of techniques, we then have the opportunity (and I stress OPPORTUNITY) to make some our staple diets.

I have a great front hand stop hit, and utilise it regularly. This doent mean that I simply throw it at any occasion, but when I do throw it, I expect (for the most part) it will land, do damage and recieve the expected outcome.

On the long term side, this gives you more options that can be used across more varied situations.

Both are important. Drill a few hard until they are useful under stress. Make sure that they are ones that have the most use. Then, once those are down, set them aside in training and learn others. It's how we grow.

And eventually, you'll want more tactics in your arsenal. I know, everyone starts reaction time and Hick's Law at this point. Even Siddel, who did so much work in the area, points out that training mitigates these factors. Training to unconscious competence has much more to do with success under stress than does the number of tactics one drills.

I dont disagree that long-term more techniques means more options.

But I also would like to point out that even single techniques (take a rear cross for example) have a plethora of applications outside of simple basics. One can stand head to head and throw a punch, or while moving in-out of distances, or while on ones back being mounted etc etc etc.

I appreciate your point here, its a double edged sword, but I personally am a big advocate for reaction time vs. muscle memory - its actually quite sound scientifically. I wont go into this too much as I guess it can get a bit subjective.

Success under stress is a great point Tallgeese!

Its highly difficult to pull off complicated techniques in the heat of the moment, especially after having already been punched in the jaw or if adrenaline is at full-pump. So why not focus on a few moves you know suit your body and drill these to the point you knwo that you are comfortable utilisng them?

I am not saying that we should stop training broadly by any means, but just that it may be worth putting that littel extra into certain areas we know we can gain "comfortable competence"...?

tallgeese brings up a good point. You need to keep training your weaknesses as well as focusing on your strong techniques so you get the best of both worlds.

Though I am no top level fighter, one of my specialty techniques for sparring is low roundhouse kicks. I spent quite a while developing them and working on strategies and tactics around them, to the point where I am known in my school for having strong low kicks that I can implement in a variety of ways. Unfortunately for me I focused too much on them and neglected my other kicks, so when I finally realized my mistake I had to make sure I was equally focusing on them. Now I am a much better fighter for it, as I have combined my strong low kicks with decent middle and high ones (I even have a decent lead high kick if I do say so myself).

Good point on negletcing other areas. I am not saying that this should be done in point, but rather that once gaining some competency in "the whole" of your system, that there will be some standout tech's which suit your means to a better end.

True that too much focus on gendan may have left joday weaker, but in reality, would you be more inclined, and feel safer utilising gedan as a primary technique?

A few years back I took 2 of my Senior Students to meet my Teacher - He took both of them on the side and did 8 or 9 motions with his hands and feet - He then informed them that he had just showed then practically the whole system. They both looked at him like he had 2 heads - but out of respect said nothing - It took awhile - but they eventually understood . A few techniques but many different combinations. But again - things are looked at differently by different individuals.

Another interesting point, and one that I had not though of. Most movements can be boiled down to variations on a set of simple movements. I guess this is where kata and interpretation of bunkai comes into play.

[AdamKralic]

I believe that certain techniques do work better for certain fighters. Both in body types and in what feels "easier" for them.

To me though footwork is THE technique that makes all others "accessories."

[Spodo Komodo]

I think everyone needs a few techniques they are extremely confident about. If you know you can get a really solid empi in that will usually knock your opponent back then your mental state is going to be better than if you are only half-confident in throwing an effective junzuki. However if it looks like you are not going to get into a situation where you can throw your empi in there then you also need the other techniques in order to control the distance and the openings to get your favoured technique set up. This can lead to missing opportunities due to restricting your techniques. I think the middle way is probably for me, train in everything but have a few tricks in the bag for when they are needed.

[straightblast]

Less is more

[Harkon72]

Being able to perform all the techniques in your syllabus is the mark of a seasoned Dan grade. Being able to use the best in your armory to great effect is the mark of an efficient fighter. Being able to leave yourself with the techniques that would save your life is the mark of a good self defense specialist. Being able to have no technique in mind, to hold true to your center and produce a response to any situation from the core of your being is the mark of a true warrior.

[bushido_man96]

The way to get effective tactics quickly is indeed to "own" a handful that apply across the board. That's great.

The downside to this is that it stunts the growth of the rest of your art.

So, again, we come back to what are you looking for. I've been on both sides of this. I will say, that my ground game EXPLODED when I decided to stop using the 4 things I was good at on the ground and made myself use new tactics.

On the long term side, this gives you more options that can be used across more varied situations.

Both are important. Drill a few hard until they are useful under stress. Make sure that they are ones that have the most use. Then, once those are down, set them aside in training and learn others. It's how we grow.

And eventually, you'll want more tactics in your arsenal. I know, everyone starts reaction time and Hick's Law at this point. Even Siddel, who did so much work in the area, points out that training mitigates these factors. Training to unconscious competence has much more to do with success under stress than does the number of tactics one drills.

I agree here. We all have our "bread and butter" techniques. I think our body type and tendencies/habits tend to tailor these "bread and butter" techniques to us. From there, its important to learn how to apply the "bread and butter" to various scenarios. I like straight arm bars, so its important to be able to learn how to apply them from various angles and entries. From there, its important to know a good counter for them, and also a good "switch to" move, in case one thwarts the move on the way to locking it in, like a wrist throw/takedown.

From the "bread and butter," its important to learn others so that you have other options to choose from. You never know when injury inflicted during a fight/combat might render a limb of less use, altering what it is you can or can't do.

Screw drivers, wrenches, and hammers are good tools to have in the tool box; they get used a lot. But its nice to have a torque wrench on hand from time to time, too.

[Harkon72]

I just bought claw hammer tonight, perfect for heavy nail driving; but my new electric driver/drill is what I need to finish the job. I like the Uraken and Empi techniques of Karate, but you can't beat the center line punch of Wing Chun in a defense situation. If you limit yourself to one way of thinking you are missing out; if you try and capture the whole spectrum of techniques you are wasting your time. Practice what works for you, your type and your ethical stance. Not everyone will headbutt their way out of trouble, some will avoid, direct and evolve a way to prevail. Do not paint with just one color, try a few effects but Budo doesn't always flow like a masterpiece from a brush; it takes time, effort and a few bruises along the way.