Comments on: The Paradox of Hidden Simplicity http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/ What, how and about martial arts Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:22:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: alan http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-254 alan Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:58:43 +0000 http://www.martialwhat.com/?p=244#comment-254 Now all I need to do is improve my spelling ;-) Sorry about the errors, I was writing as the thoughts tumbled out. Alan Now all I need to do is improve my spelling ;-)
Sorry about the errors, I was writing as the thoughts tumbled out.
Alan

]]> By: alan http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-253 alan Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:54:02 +0000 http://www.martialwhat.com/?p=244#comment-253 Hi massimo I also agree with your comments. In WSL Ving Tsun we always try to keep things Simple Direct and Efficient. However, that's not to say that it is easy to achieve this end, especially whilst someone is trying to punch your teeth down your throat. For sure, acheiving Simplicity in your technique is difficult, but usually this comes down to truly understanding the idea behind the idea. Once again this brings us back to properly understood basics. Ving Tsun, like all 'internal' Chinese martial arts, is based on the correct structural alingmnet of the body, this makes the body work more efficiently, hence powerfully, faster using less energy etc. We also need to consider Efficiency of the application - i.e. nearest weapon nearest target and making the attack / defence travel down the quickest path or shortest distance. Of course we also require beliefe in our system. This comes from the knowledge that acting in specific way, which is apparently simple and yet which is probably not the most 'natural' or intuative response will work. This ability comes ultimately from previous experiences of a given thing working in the required way under many circumstances. I guess this is why we have drills in Ving Tsun, to help break down, understand and isolate concepts or principles shown in the forms and practise them under increasing levels of pressure, until they are absorbed or assimilated into our personal system. Wong Shun Leung always said that if you wish to improve your Ving Tsun, make it more Simple, Direct or Efficient. This, as you say is not always easy to achieve but as coaches, it is part of our job to deliver this idea. Personally, I can now teach people to be more effective fighters, with a far deeper level of understanding, more quickly than I used to be able to. This shows me (I hope) that my own understanding and skill is still developing and that my coaching abillity is also improving. I'm glad you posed that quandry, it helped me think this through! Alan Hi massimo
I also agree with your comments.
In WSL Ving Tsun we always try to keep things Simple Direct and Efficient.
However, that’s not to say that it is easy to achieve this end, especially whilst someone is trying to punch your teeth down your throat.
For sure, acheiving Simplicity in your technique is difficult, but usually this comes down to truly understanding the idea behind the idea. Once again this brings us back to properly understood basics.
Ving Tsun, like all ‘internal’ Chinese martial arts, is based on the correct structural alingmnet of the body, this makes the body work more efficiently, hence powerfully, faster using less energy etc.
We also need to consider Efficiency of the application – i.e. nearest weapon nearest target and making the attack / defence travel down the quickest path or shortest distance.
Of course we also require beliefe in our system. This comes from the knowledge that acting in specific way, which is apparently simple and yet which is probably not the most ‘natural’ or intuative response will work. This ability comes ultimately from previous experiences of a given thing working in the required way under many circumstances.
I guess this is why we have drills in Ving Tsun, to help break down, understand and isolate concepts or principles shown in the forms and practise them under increasing levels of pressure, until they are absorbed or assimilated into our personal system.
Wong Shun Leung always said that if you wish to improve your Ving Tsun, make it more Simple, Direct or Efficient. This, as you say is not always easy to achieve but as coaches, it is part of our job to deliver this idea.
Personally, I can now teach people to be more effective fighters, with a far deeper level of understanding, more quickly than I used to be able to.
This shows me (I hope) that my own understanding and skill is still developing and that my coaching abillity is also improving.
I’m glad you posed that quandry, it helped me think this through!
Alan

]]> By: Col http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Col Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:39:00 +0000 http://www.martialwhat.com/?p=244#comment-252 I agree, the goal is simplicity, but that doesn't mean it's simple to get there. Another way I think about it is: Simple does not mean easy - it just means you can do stuff well enough to make it simple. Something simple to a teacher could very well be incredibly hard for a beginner. After years of training, there re certain ideas and movements that I find simple. Saying to a student - It's simple, just move here - can actually for them be a very complicated manoeuvre. But after some practice it will be simpler, and therefore easier. I agree, the goal is simplicity, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple to get there. Another way I think about it is: Simple does not mean easy – it just means you can do stuff well enough to make it simple. Something simple to a teacher could very well be incredibly hard for a beginner.

After years of training, there re certain ideas and movements that I find simple. Saying to a student – It’s simple, just move here – can actually for them be a very complicated manoeuvre. But after some practice it will be simpler, and therefore easier.

]]> By: massimo http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-251 massimo Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:38:47 +0000 http://www.martialwhat.com/?p=244#comment-251 My personal way of teaching: the basics should be taught as well as getting into the most complicated moves. Without this teaching students will not learn. At the same time if we inspire simplicity they might find their own way to achieve it. I like to think that: "a master should show you the way... it's up to you if and how to walk through it". My personal way of teaching: the basics should be taught as well as getting into the most complicated moves. Without this teaching students will not learn. At the same time if we inspire simplicity they might find their own way to achieve it. I like to think that: “a master should show you the way… it’s up to you if and how to walk through it”.

]]> By: James http://www.martialwhat.com/the-paradox-of-hidden-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-250 James Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:31:55 +0000 http://www.martialwhat.com/?p=244#comment-250 Hi Massimo, I like this post a lot. My thoughts are similar that the ultimate aim of simplicity comes only from total understanding of the complex. It sounds like a 'zen' way of thinking. As martial arts teachers can we, or should we try to help our students 'short cut' the complex? Or should we just help them on the journey of understanding the complex? Hi Massimo, I like this post a lot. My thoughts are similar that the ultimate aim of simplicity comes only from total understanding of the complex. It sounds like a ‘zen’ way of thinking. As martial arts teachers can we, or should we try to help our students ‘short cut’ the complex? Or should we just help them on the journey of understanding the complex?

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