Fighting vs Training
"If you practice to win, you will lose."
Student: Master, how long will it take me to get good?
Master: 10 years.
Student: What if I really practice hard, then how long will it
take?
Master: 20 years.
Student: But what if I do nothing else but practice, then when will
I obtain a graduation certificate?
Master: 30 years. The master went on to explain that if one eye is
on the destination, then you have only one eye left with which to find the
path.
There are specific ways to train Wing Chun skills. These ways depend on
understanding the basis for the Wing Chun art. We all want to win but
winning without a strategy is not the best way. In Wing Chun we train to
respond to force in particular ways. Other arts sometimes use shapes that
resemble Wing Chun shapes but the mental attitude and body mechanics are
still different.
- The Neuron Concept
The brain consists of many interconnected cells called neurons. When
we are in learning mode, input signals from our senses are processed by
the brain to produce new neuron connections, or alter the strength of
existing neuron connections, or alter the information content of a mass
of neurons.
- A Model of Neuron Learning
One neuron model of learning that is used in Artificial Neural
Networks is to present some input to the network, and to present the
expected response as the correct answer. The network computes an output
based on the presented inputs and compares this with the correct answer.
Then the network adjusts various parameters to get closer to the answer.
This process is continued over and over until the neural network has
just the right parameters to get reasonably close to the correct answer
each time.
When learning an internal type of art the idea is similar. The Master
presents various input stimuli to the student. The student reacts in a
certain way and the Master guides the student to a more appropriate
action. After much repetition (REPETITION is the key to all learning)
the student reacts in the appropriate way.
- Can you have many options as a correct response?
When there is a force such as a push on your arm, what do you do?
- resist
- get pushed off balance
- yield in the direction of the force
- press back until your limit has been exceeded, then release the
force
- lots of other ways
- all of the above
- none of the above
- it depends on what I feel like at the time
- who cares about a push on my arm
We train to react in specific ways. At non-combat speed any option is
possible. During practice you have the time to ponder over which action
to take. It doesn't matter if we choose option 5 and take one second to
think, but at high combat speed your reactions must be built in. A good
opponent will just explode into you. If you hesitate, or must think,
then you are lost. You must train your neurons to act reflexively.
So what is the correct way? Is there a correct way? Some people say
as long as you win it is good. But beating one person with inferior
techniques may get you killed if you meet up with the wrong person.
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