Practice intensity is the will, commitment, and enthusiasm to practice with a purpose. Most instructors consider it an important characteristic for any student.
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One of the primary reasons people pursue martial arts is to acquire self-defense skills. And making a habit of questioning your training ensures that you can continuously refine and internalize these skills. In real-life situations, the ability to react quickly and decisively can make a significant difference in personal safety.
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In the pursuit of mastery, you must acknowledge that your journey is marked not only by victories and accomplishments, but equally by the moments of error and realization. The purpose and context of your habitual training are hugely important.
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As an example. The modern interpretation and applications of karate and its kata are full of explanations which are made to fit the modern version. With the modernization of karate in the early part of the 20th century, other budo arts had a huge influence on karate. Three step and five step drills of Judo and Kendo being copied, which resulted in the long rage modern pre-arranged kumite that we have today.
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One of the problems is that many practitioners are trying to apply the modern interpretation of karate to the application of kata for real-world self-defense, to be used outside of the competitive arena.
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The things that make the majority of todays ‘bunkai’ impractical, are unrealistic practices; such as incorrect distancing, highly unlikely types of attacks and defenses, overly complex application sequences, application that is entirely reliant on partner compliance, and unrealistic expectations of our abilities under pressure.
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And if someone wholeheartedly believes that what they do is correct, the only way, then they will believe that anything else is wrong. If it’s someone’s belief that the kata does certain things and nothing else, then they will assert that anything that runs counter to that is wrong, and you won’t be able to change their minds.
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A martial artist, by nature, should be a perpetual student. The training ground is a space for continuous learning, and acknowledging differences and even mistakes, is an integral part of this process.
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Today the prevalence is teaching kata in a way that is for artistic purposes, for physical conditioning, to pass a grade, but really divorced from the reality of combative function. It is vital to remember that the kata were created to help a practitioner defend themselves against determined violent attackers, not other karateka who will stand there, passive and allow unrealistic techniques to be applied upon them.
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The kata are literally full of effective close-range techniques, and they should be given as much emphasis as the long-range techniques made popular through competition, in order to keep karate as the effective and complete fighting art it was designed to be.
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In the crucible of combat, errors are inevitable, and it is through the recognition of these errors that practitioners refine their techniques and strategies. The moment a martial artist acknowledges a mistake, or taking the wrong direction in an application, they open the door to valuable insights that can elevate their skills to new heights.
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The essence of learning lies in the understanding that the moment you are shown to be wrong, a profound opportunity for growth and knowledge progression is unveiled.
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The humility to accept correction from others, is a virtue that distinguishes the true martial artist. It is through this humility that you can open the door to personal and intellectual growth, leading to a deeper comprehension and understanding of the intricacies of the art you study.
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