I often hear comments being made like, " this is a no frills MA." So the question is what are people referring to when they say this? What are the FRILLS they speak of?

probably comes from the old chinese saying "fah kuen, sau tui" (flowery fists, patterned feet).

 

loosely saying that it looks good but that's about it.

 

no frills would imply that it's simple and direct and doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't.

And also, remember the old Japanese saying, "Never go into battle beside a samurai wearing lace-trimmed hakama."

Kind of like what Sugar Ray Leonard used to do in his boxing matches? I get it now.

Well, these seem to be attached to a few martial arts schools: kids sleepovers, childcare, weight lifting gym, cardio kickboxing, yoga, fancy location, showers, sauna, whirlpool, birthday parties, snacks, drinks, etc.

 

Some useful for martial arts training, some not, but all frills.

and also

 

the old "just hit them" is an example of no frills.

 

you know when you are doing some light sparring and you block your partner's strike with a kwun sau then feed up to biu gee to lap and hit back.

 

your sifu stands there watching, and shakes his head and asks you, why didn't you just hit them after the kwun sau?

Wasted movement is a frill- things like chambering before a strike or a block that goes way too far out. And, as f.t.g.u pointed out, a lot of flourish when a simple punch would have worked. Too little movement is also a frill- like posing in a stance. Ineffective or dangerous moves are frills- high kicks come to mind here (though if set up properly some of you may find them effective). Bobbing, weaving, twisting or jumping around without regard to proper body mechanics, allignment and ballance are frills.

 

I guess I'd define frills as those movements which reduce your efficiency in destroying or controling an opponent.

 

I did like Kamidake's take on it, though!

I know of a school nearby that costs over $200 a month, Canadian. You learn Karate, Judo, and some Russian self defense course. The frills are health insurance, massuese, neutritionist, etc. I've seen them running down the sidewalk in their bare feet. I wonder if the health insurance covers infected feet...

Thanks for the insite, everyone.