The language of self defense
Some months back, as I was trying to find a way to bring a handful of concepts of karate to the junior crowd, it dawned on me that I could translate a great deal of karate through comparing to ... language.
Now, being a communicator at heart and having held a number of different careers - each with a different focus on language, communication and even different `speak` - it seemed to make sense. So bear with me as I roll our my premise.
In both karate and language, we both learn fundamentals. These fundamentals have different components to them. In language, we focus on letters. In karate, we focus on techniques. As we progress in both, we refine different aspects of the fundamentals to be able to use them. Maybe it is hours on correcting a stance or repeating a basic technique - or doing pages and pages of cursive writing.As you learn basics, you will beging to put elements together - sort of like forming words.
Next we move into putting some of these basic tools together: let`s, for the sake of the current argument, equate kata to sentence formation. There`s two ways to do this - the right way and the wrong way. The right way means that the techniques need to follow a certain pattern. In other words, kata are formations that increase in difficulty as you go along in the study. Similarly, sentences range from simple to complex. The more one understands grammar and structure of language, the more difficult sentence structures one will use.
Putting words together in no particular order or with no specific objective is no more a sentence than putting a bunch of moves together can be called a kata. Both kata and sentences have a purpose - an objective. One is to communicate an idea, one that usually has some specific goal. Kata are an ensemble of moves that transmit a sequence of defensive strategies.
Debate and prose both employ language in the form of sentences. But that is really largely where their common points end. A closer look would identify that each has a different objective and operate under very different conditions and contexts. Similarly, kata used to explore defensive strategies is wholly different from kata that is made to look pretty. They can be the same moves, but that is again largely where their similarities end as well. Soft, flowery hands and fancy high kicks may be great for trophy-winning, but they will do little to keep one`s arse from being handed to them.
I don`t want to complicate the premise too much for you, me or my students. The karate/ language thing could likely be studied in depth, but I have neither the time nor inclination to undertake such an academic exercise. My objective in this whole discussion is this: we need to give meaning and context to the importance of proper technique just as we give meaning and context to proper speech.
Karate, in my mind, is the language of self defense. But consider that karate (and MA in general) is sort of like the division of language in the world. We can perhaps recognize some similarity in the languages we speak, and perhaps some of us speak more than one "language," but that does not mean that one language is better than the other. Nor does it mean that one goal of karate is better than another. Perhaps sparring is the language you 'speak' in your dojo. Maybe in another dojo, the common language is kata training. Maybe another one still just likes to hear itself 'talk.' But they cannot and should not pretend to be another 'language."
Here's a couple of quick thoughts to bring this analogy to a close:
-we all know and see a proliferation of errors in the usage of language. We make shortcuts. We use wrong spellings. Our structure sucks, We lack capitalization or punctuation.
- if we do not practice our linguistic skills, we will slowly use our ability to communicate effectively. If we fail to analyze our language and the language of others, we will miss opportunities to learn and understand. more about our language - and its strength.
- some may choose to 'borrow' the language of others to make themselves look or sound smart. But if people pay attention long enough, they will realize that these people do not know what they are "talking' about. Knowing how to talk does not make you a language teacher.
- and lastly, when it comes to language and karate, do not always believe everything you hear.
Chew on that for a bit.... feedback is welcome.
Now, being a communicator at heart and having held a number of different careers - each with a different focus on language, communication and even different `speak` - it seemed to make sense. So bear with me as I roll our my premise.
In both karate and language, we both learn fundamentals. These fundamentals have different components to them. In language, we focus on letters. In karate, we focus on techniques. As we progress in both, we refine different aspects of the fundamentals to be able to use them. Maybe it is hours on correcting a stance or repeating a basic technique - or doing pages and pages of cursive writing.As you learn basics, you will beging to put elements together - sort of like forming words.
Next we move into putting some of these basic tools together: let`s, for the sake of the current argument, equate kata to sentence formation. There`s two ways to do this - the right way and the wrong way. The right way means that the techniques need to follow a certain pattern. In other words, kata are formations that increase in difficulty as you go along in the study. Similarly, sentences range from simple to complex. The more one understands grammar and structure of language, the more difficult sentence structures one will use.
Putting words together in no particular order or with no specific objective is no more a sentence than putting a bunch of moves together can be called a kata. Both kata and sentences have a purpose - an objective. One is to communicate an idea, one that usually has some specific goal. Kata are an ensemble of moves that transmit a sequence of defensive strategies.
Debate and prose both employ language in the form of sentences. But that is really largely where their common points end. A closer look would identify that each has a different objective and operate under very different conditions and contexts. Similarly, kata used to explore defensive strategies is wholly different from kata that is made to look pretty. They can be the same moves, but that is again largely where their similarities end as well. Soft, flowery hands and fancy high kicks may be great for trophy-winning, but they will do little to keep one`s arse from being handed to them.
I don`t want to complicate the premise too much for you, me or my students. The karate/ language thing could likely be studied in depth, but I have neither the time nor inclination to undertake such an academic exercise. My objective in this whole discussion is this: we need to give meaning and context to the importance of proper technique just as we give meaning and context to proper speech.
Karate, in my mind, is the language of self defense. But consider that karate (and MA in general) is sort of like the division of language in the world. We can perhaps recognize some similarity in the languages we speak, and perhaps some of us speak more than one "language," but that does not mean that one language is better than the other. Nor does it mean that one goal of karate is better than another. Perhaps sparring is the language you 'speak' in your dojo. Maybe in another dojo, the common language is kata training. Maybe another one still just likes to hear itself 'talk.' But they cannot and should not pretend to be another 'language."
Here's a couple of quick thoughts to bring this analogy to a close:
-we all know and see a proliferation of errors in the usage of language. We make shortcuts. We use wrong spellings. Our structure sucks, We lack capitalization or punctuation.
- if we do not practice our linguistic skills, we will slowly use our ability to communicate effectively. If we fail to analyze our language and the language of others, we will miss opportunities to learn and understand. more about our language - and its strength.
- some may choose to 'borrow' the language of others to make themselves look or sound smart. But if people pay attention long enough, they will realize that these people do not know what they are "talking' about. Knowing how to talk does not make you a language teacher.
- and lastly, when it comes to language and karate, do not always believe everything you hear.
Chew on that for a bit.... feedback is welcome.
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