A concept approach to teaching versus memorizing technqiues

[Muga_mushin]

I just wanted to share this video on a karate concept emphasizing the use of two hands simultaneously to execute a technique.

I also wanted to drive discussion and ask everyone's opinion on why, generally speaking, there is a lack of the use of concepts when teaching in a karate dojo.

Or if you yourself teach using a concept-based method of instruction, how have you typically approached it? Thank you

[Spodo Komodo]

I'm not sure what you mean. Every karate lesson I have been a part of has had a good section devoted to applications/bunkai/concepts where a particular kata movement is applied to one or more situations and the key concepts of the movement demonstrated. What these guys are doing is exactly that, applying kata movements. I have only seen one class (from a certain contentious karate organization which shall remain nameless) where the whole session was just basic drills and then kata but it was a beginners session with a very junior instructor - I wasn't very impressed and didn't join them on the mat thankfully.

As for teaching it, generally we find the puzzling moves in the kata that the students are learning and show them how they can be used to block, evade, throw or trap. The first one in the video is the movement from the beginning of Pinan Sandan and one that we teach quite early in the syllabus. it stops kata being just a dance with odd moves and helps students to appreciate kata rather than dreading learning another one.

[Muga_mushin]

Thank you for the response, the distinction I would make between conceptual-based versus technique-based teaching is that the identification of the specific movement in kata happens after the execution of the technique rather than before.

For example, in that video, an over-arching concept is taught and then karateka attempts to apply it using various kata movements. Afterwards, he will identify which movements in katas manifested themselves in the exchange. This is different than him say "ok now I will apply the move from pinan sandan"

I hope that clarifies my questions, thank you

[Wastelander]

I think that concepts can be taught through the practice of techniques, as long as they are explained along the way. Sometimes, we will explain a concept before teaching techniques that utilize it. Other times, we teach a few related techniques and then point out the concepts being employed. Every now and then, we won't explain the concepts, but ask the students to figure them out, instead.

I have found that a lot of instructors who don't teach/explain concepts, at all, often don't have many practical techniques to teach. To be able to explore the kata with any real depth, you have to have an understanding of the underlying concepts and methods, after all. You can memorize techniques, but if you never develop an understanding of how they work and fit together, you'll never be able to do more than parrot them.

[P.A.L]

I don't think that you had a question , this is your video after all. if you want my opinion as a member of this board i can give you my 2 cents.

I watched it and it is very good but it is not exactly about concepts. to me a concept is more general. like jamming into an attack. what your hands do is not important it is your technique but the concept is timing. you can use the same concept in kendo , your technique is different but the concept of time and distance is the same.

when I watch your video , i look at your foot work , body change , time , positions these are the concepts what you do with a punch or kick is a continuation of these concepts.

when i teach(which i don't anymore), i start from self defense but i limit the techniques to the ones in the same kata i am about to teach. you teach a class from white belt to black belt so you have to focus on one kata at a time. if the class is private for black belts then you can expand to all the katas.

good luck in your training.

[DaveB]

I just wanted to share this video on a karate concept emphasizing the use of two hands simultaneously to execute a technique.

I also wanted to drive discussion and ask everyone's opinion on why, generally speaking, there is a lack of the use of concepts when teaching in a karate dojo.

Or if you yourself teach using a concept-based method of instruction, how have you typically approached it? Thank you

The answer to every "Why don't karateka do x?" question is the same: Karateka are creatures of habit who by and large revert to how they were taught.

Since the milenium everybody from every school has always trained with a complete and contact centred bunkai curriculum, but before bunkai was a big deal everybody trained with an emphasis on technique and application (kumite) secondary unless they were a competition school. With a technical focus there is no need for tactical concepts. Shotokan (the style I trained) was notorious for the fluff and filler invented to cover a lack of application knowledge.

What was described in the video was what I call tactical principles. It is one third of what makes a fighting style, the others being mechanical principles which describe how you use your body and strategic principles that bind it all into a map to winning/surviving confilcts.

Karateka and MMAists with non traditional backgrounds are the worst for approaching fighting with a jumble of techniques that they throw together. Sparring becomes a trial and error process rather than a means to practice what you have learned. It is true that no plan survives contact with the enemy, but its also true that we cannot possibly train for and absord every possible eventuality. Only by having an understanding of fighting and one or more guiding strategies that we can apply in any scenario can we really be confident in our combat ability.

[CDraper]

IMHO I think it depends on the student and how advanced they are. If you have a brand new student with no previous experience a basic approach may work best were they are shown a technique and then add the application afterwards. I know from personal experience I've gotten a deer in the head light feeling when thrown right into an application situation without first getting a feel for the technique in question.

[CDraper]

Oh thanks for sharing the videos by the way. I've certainly found them interesting!

[sensei8]

For the moment, I'll say this, and go more in depth in a later post...

Concept VS Technique VS Principle VS Memorizing; these are not stand alones because in the grand scheme of the MA, they're dependent on each other!!

Versing this against that, only minimizes the goal: Effectiveness.

Imho!!

[Montana]

For the moment, I'll say this, and go more in depth in a later post...

Concept VS Technique VS Principle VS Memorizing; these are not stand alones because in the grand scheme of the MA, they're dependent on each other!!

Versing this against that, only minimizes the goal: Effectiveness.

Imho!!

Yeah..what he said! lol I aqree. Using both hands..or really, any 2 parts of your body (hands/hands, hands/feet, hands/body shifting, biody shifting/feet, etc), simultanously, is generally worked on very early in Shorin Ryu.