Thursday, June 9, 2011

Featured Essay: Thinking versus Feeling

This short, but thought-provoking essay was written and submitted by our teammate, blue belt Mike Mongelli. Please take a moment to read it and reply, whether you agree or disagree with his premise. It doesn't have to be long but I do encourage you to show your support. You can also check the +1 tab or the reaction box at the end of the post if you elect not to write anything. 
**Just to make things a little interesting, for all those that post a comment, one of those entries will be selected, by Prof. Mike-Mike Mongelli and myself, and the winner will get a choice of (1) ticket to Asylum Fight League fights on 6/18/11, (1) academy tee or (1) academy shorts, compliments of Cageside at Codella's. Winner will be announced here on Weds 6/15/11 You don't have to log in to the blog but you do have to write your full name at the end of your comment if you're an academy member; non- members can email me their contact info and guest # assigned to post at jaystorm15@yahoo.com 
      One complaint I frequently hear from practitioners of martial arts is that they often cannot commit to memory the techniques they perform in class.  It is certainly beneficial to do your best to remember what your teacher demonstrates, such as by internalizing these movements by working drills, or even by actually writing down what you observed and executed, but it is not the end of the world if one does not retain everything that is shown.  Personally I’ve spoken to and read many articles by black belts who believe that once one reaches the so-called level of master that one then realizes that the martial arts journey is far from over; rather that it begins all over again as though once more, one were a white belt.  The point is, learning any legitimate martial art is a commitment to undertaking a lifelong journey – it is absolutely impossible to remember everything!

     However, I believe that there is a deeper issue at hand here; one that goes further than simply not being able to commit techniques to cognitive memory – and it is not exclusive to beginners.  What I believe is the true problem that these martial artists commonly struggle with, a problem that may cripple their growth and demoralize them into quitting if not addressed, is that they place too much emphasis on the intellectual aspect of learning an art over the concept of learning it by feeling.  The way that I learn martial arts is by looking for a balance between my mental and emotional approach to them.  While of course one strives to know proper technique, or know how to escape sticky positions, obsessing over every detail in order to attain some semblance of progression or “perfection” will place too much emphasis on the cerebral part of learning, and this poses a legitimate risk of stunting the growth of the martial artist.  Seldom do these artists realize that the issue is not that there is too little memory in their approach, but rather instead that there is too little emotion in it (outside, of course, of the frustration they feel, no doubt caused by over-thinking).  There comes a point where sometimes one must stop thinking about what is happening and just let the body, which has been physically trained and encoded with the knowledge of the martial art, react instead.  I vehemently believe that the entire point of martial arts is to protect yourself through finding this balance.

     If you disagree with me and believe that mental obsession is a good thing, or that emotionalizing or feeling martial arts is not important – since you value thought so much, then philosophize over this scenario: if someone on the streets points a gun in your face, how much time are you going to have to “remember” what technique you should use?  A bullet can travel faster than the speed of sound; your reaction needs to be even quicker.  You will not think about what to do; you will just do.  That is the emotional part of training; that is the part that feels the martial art.  Do not underestimate the value of learning a martial art by feeling it – it may save your life.  Once you attain that balance between the intellect and instinct, only then may the boundaries in your martial arts journey – as well as the boundaries in the overall journey of your life – be removed.

     Feel it!

7 comments:

  1. Although I agree with what is spoken in this article to some degree I also Respectfully disagree. Although instinct has to play major role in the Martial Arts or as the Japanese call Mushin meaning “No Mind” to just do without thinking, One cannot just do without doing a Technique thousands of times! Becoming a Black belt and starting over again means to know nothing else. For example if I teach someone to tie there shoe they need to keep doing it thousand times over until they can close there eyes and do it correct! Once this happens they have attained it as a natural instinct, but then if I tell them to show me how they you used to tie your shoe guess what they couldn’t tell you the only way they now know how to do it is the way they have done it a thousand times! Trying asking Prof. Mike Codella how the first day he trained how he put on a triangle choke and I bet he couldn’t tell you because the only way he knows how is the way he does it now. It is now only natural for him to do it one way. He would have to unlearn what he has now made his own and go back again! With that said I believe that Mental obsession is important for a long time until it is so embedded in the brain that one can now make it instinct unknowingly! The Japanese call it enso circle to go around again to learn, memorize, and then forget it and what you have learned is all you now know.

    Karate Mike

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  2. Karate Mike,

    Thank you for taking the time to read my words and for your insights! You have brought to my attention that I have not clarified my thoughts enough.

    I hope I have not misconstrued your point: the way to attain mushin is to practice until the thought of the technique turns into the instinct (or "feeling," as I would describe it) of the technique -- to do the technique without having to think about it. With your point in mind, I would like to say that I do believe that thinking about the techniques and committing them to memory is indeed important; however, I feel that perhaps some people may think about how to do something so much that it brings them to the point where, if they are frequently unsuccessful in executing the technique, it may hinder their progress by blocking their transition from thought into no thought -- forcing them to hit a mental brick wall, kind of like writer's block. In thinking about how to do a technique, yet failing in its execution, the frustration that sets in on some of these martial artists may bring them to believe that they are no good. I believe that it is at this point that some martial artists stay stuck for a long time and do not make as much progress as they could (or quit) and it is because they cannot find a way to turn the thought of the technique into the feeling of the technique.

    What do you think? What would you say that the solution is in this situation? More thought, less thought, or something else entirely? How do you believe one may fix the problem of frequent failure in executing a technique that he or she has been attempting for a while?

    -Mike M

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  3. I want to thank you guys for continuing the conversation. This form of communication is quite slow when it comes to sharing thoughts and dialoguing but with patience, I'm confident this will bear fruit! I'll return to patience in a moment but first thought I had after reading Mike's piece is that the title was a little deceptive. It pits one concept or method over the other but later in the body it reveals that attaining, a 'balance' of the two, intellect and instinct, is essential to progressing in our martial arts journey. I believe both are vital parts of the process, at certain times one is more dominant than the other but a part of the whole just the same.
    I think the issue or problem Mike is addressing is when a person gets "stuck", suffers "paralysis from analysis". We've all been there. Grappling presents the kind of problems or situations that seem to only get figured out on the mat. One has to "roll" through the problem seeking the solution or solutions, because BJJ may have more than one answer for a problem(technique or position). Therein lies the beauty and the the brain rattling frustration of our beloved art!! A unique aspect our art is the sparring component. From day one, into the deep end you go!! I have only trained in BJJ but I do know that other martial arts have little to no sparring, training consist of drilling techniques continuously either individually or in the form of katas. For us at our academy drilling, much like conditioning, is up to the individual. If you can find a partner who is just as interested in drilling, I certainly am, the open mats provide the opportunity to work on one particular technique for about 10-15 minutes and during your rolls,IF the technique presents itself go for it, then go for it again, and yet again.
    Finally, just be patient, this is a marathon and you'll be learning the whole way through. One of my favorite words in Japanese is KAIZEN, which translates to "continuous improvement"- slow, incremental but constant.
    Try to find the fun in it, not the failure!

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  4. I will try my best to answer the Second question best I can! I feel that in training a true practitioner who is in it for the long run should not get too frustrated with landing a technique so much that they are willing to question themselves or even the art itself. One must train a technique thousands of times as we talked about before and work it into muscle memory. But even after that, one should not be concerned with executing it - especially on people they train with every day! Remember the people you train with are doing the same thing day in and day out as you and are in the same school taking the same art, so they are more in tune to what you’re trying to do than others. Sometimes I feel after a technique has been worked for a long time, try it on someone fairly new or a stranger. I don’t mean to abuse a new person - that’s not what I’m saying - but I am saying try your technique on someone who is not so in tune to what you’re doing. Then if it works and you feel good you gain confidence in the technique and you can then move on from there with it! On the other hand if you work a technique for so long and you try it and try it and just don’t seem to work out don’t be discouraged - be willing to let go and move on. There are thousands of techniques for a reason some more suitable to people than others. I feel one should know thousands of techniques to train and be able to teach, but one should have only a handful of favorites in which they can master and do with their eyes closed. You always hear new people say “I’m always getting tapped out”, but then as they put their time in and new people join and they roll with them suddenly they start tapping people out and the role changes. And all of a sudden they have confidence in their art and their technique and that’s when things start to fall into place!

    Karate Mike

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  5. I do agree with Karate Mike because I'm afraid of his Kimura, I also agree with Mike M because I like his training style.

    I tend to agree with Karate Mike, practice makes perfect, and one should not get frustrated if he fails to execute a move instead an encouragement to train harder and smarter. It's definitely important to feel the flow or feelings as Mike refers it, but mastering your flow and feelings come from steadfast training. This is what makes BJJ so far superior than any arts - you have to train so hard to master your feelings and flow......

    Both are right in their respective ways... So, now just hand over my Asylum Ticket and free shirtssssss Big John before I break your arm like I did with Rene.

    Emerson

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  6. I feel the perception of thought changes over time, not the balance of "thinking or feeling". We all have one dollar of concentration to put towards a technique. For example , my triangle that I could never pull off. I put 90 cents into the four steps of getting my leg over my opponents shoulder, controlling the other arm, locking my legs and pulling the head. So much thought and emphasis leaves 10 cents for any problems, adjustments or counters. Professor Mike, through years of practice and thousands of successful triangles, puts 5 cents into the same four steps. This action is more muscle reflex then technique. He now has 95 cents of concentration left to think of where my body is. Does he have to adjust or block a counter. He has thought left over to think of two or three further steps depending on my reactions. This extra room of thought now makes it seem like he's just feeling his position rather then having to deliberately think of each step. I believe with training and experience the required thought for each step diminishes and leaves room for our mind to adapt to a situation, however still thinking. I beleave the statement of "no mind" would be better said as "all mind". The technique needed so little effort that we still have our dollars worth of concentration left to see the smallest detail to make the technique more effective.

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  7. It seems like everyone is agreeing: practice a move enough and when it comes time roll you will do the technique without thinking.

    Karate mike comes from the background where you practice a technique ad nauseum and then when it becomes time to use it he does it without thinking. It seems like in bjj you roll ad nauseum (I will keep using that term because it makes me sound smarter than I am) to learn the techniques. It seems like the same idea but a different approach to achieving it.

    Which is better? I don't know ...I am just a crappy white belt..but the first approach worked for the karate kid and the second approach worked for all the advanced belts at the academy.

    Me personally...I like drilling a move ad nauseum...but that is how I learned every sport I've played...and I am a little slow so the repeated drills help...

    Mike (but which one??)

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