Often my students ask me, “What’s your favourite technique?” or “What’s your favourite weapon. I always answer the same, I don’t have one. Conversely I have been asked “what’s your least favourite weapon/technique” and again I don’t have one.

In martial arts the ideas of like and dislike are impotent as a favourite technique is as much a handicap as a least favourite technique. Both will reveal an opportunity for an aggressor to take an advantage. If a preference for long distance is obvious, fight close; if they wish to fight close, fight long distance. In short having no preference means that you will not give away a “freebie” to an assailant. If one of my students mentions a technique they don’t like, we’re doing that one tonight!

This is essential more so when training with weapons. One should train with as many tools as can be laid hands on. Train with stave, train with blades, train with car keys, train with everything and anything. Make the DIY store your friend. See what you can find, se how you can improvise what you carry normally in day to day life. When anything is a weapon, you are never unarmed!

To summarise, be free with your training and have no like or dislike. Without preference or prejudice you can flow smoothly and adapt and change. It is said that it is like walking a tightrope on one side is light and on the other is darkness. Occasionally we may waiver into one or the other, without prejudice, but never totally embracing either.

Through this we move freely.

Keep Training
Reginhard OR

Tags: aggressor, assailant, handicap, martial arts, preference, technique, Weapons

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