Tim and company,

I'd love your input on this.

Once I knew a wrestler who's team took national championships in college. He said his coach restricted them to only practicing 2-3 moves - period, the whole training season. So, they had less variety, but better skilled in a narrow range.

Here's the thought. My training time is extremely limited. For the purpose of fighting... would it be best to artificially limit myself to learning a few "high margin" principles/applications of a system. Certainly, learn the full spectrum of the art, but when it comes to mat time and sparing, realy focus on being highly skilled at a few moves?

A set up or two, a throw or two, a get my A$$ off the mat or two?

I'm looking forward to you-all's thoughts.

Robert,
For pure fighting in the street, it's probably better not to have too many choices. Of course, you need to have ingrained constructive responses to the types of things likely to happen, but more (unless you have a lot of time to train) is more often than not counterproductive.

Most "street fighters" are efficient because they have a couple of tricks they are really good at, and don't hesitate to apply.

Even in combat sports, where the stakes are not as high, most top level competitors will score with the same limited number of techniques throughout their career.

Robert,

Just to add to Tim's response, to be highly conditioned is an excellent complement and may even be better than 'special' technique. Just try to incorporate what you do best with those additional concepts.

Robert,
The point Stan just made is without a doubt 50% of what you need... conditioning.

My teachers always said if you can't take the physical end of fighting(conditioning)dont waste your time learning a bunch of "cool" hand movements.

Thanks for your responses.

If I might ask a follow-up question...

Often you don't know what is "high margin" until you've had years of experience.

For those of you with experience in the different arts, what would you say are the high margin plays from say Xing-i, Tai Chi, Bagua, Bjj etc?

Tai Chi is ward off, push, roll back,press.
Bagua is circling around.
Hsing I is direct and punishing ( Pi Chuan).

Easily stated, but the above list, you are looking at daily practice for years to get it right.

Thats why I appreciate the less is more theory. I know alot of styles, but I only practice very little of it for my "reality" training. The rest of the forms I practice for fun, health, and all that groovy stuff.

Good points about conditioning.

Actually, my hierarchy of real ability is:

First, mindset.

Second, power (trained strength and endurance, or "conditioning").

Third, technique.

You will never know what techniques you can really apply unless you try to apply them against realistic resistance in training.

Well, I've certainly got the "conditioning" taken care of LOL.

Thanks Tim, Rich.

Tim,

Can you expand a little on mindset? I think you are talking about the willingness to fight and I am wondering how one develops that.

Simple... U.S. Marine Corps. boot camp. It is possible to train a "fighting mindset". Marine boot is 90% mental and it is all about mind over matter.

Apply that type of mindset to your training =0)

okay, thanks a lot!

Not that I know what Marines Corps boot camp is like. I'll just imagine how it would be. That should help.

Watch a video about recruit training and yes it will help.

Just to clarify. I am not talking about a rigid body and endless running. I am making referrence to the mind set they instill, they are 100% determined and training is relentless.

The firemen who rushed into the twin towers on 9/11 understood mindset;

As did the Spartan boy who let a fox gnaw through his torso rather than reveal that he had it hidden under his cloak;

As does anyone who does what they have to under perilous conditions, despite being frightened.

As with Boot Camp, anyone can train to be a soldier but not all will be good soldiers. I'm not sure that you can really learn "martial intent" if you aren't born with some spark of it already.

I dunno if it's just fighting spirit.

I once did jjj training with this guy who had a background in hired goon-jutsu. Big guy, basic method was go straight in for heads with his fists. Once, this BB offered to show him 'the defense against a punch'. "It's okay," he said, "I'm a BB, I know what I'm doing." Goon-jutsu guy (a yellow belt), wades in and KO's the BB. Now, this jjj BB is one of those guys who does a lot of set-piece self-defense waza, and talks a lot about sparring. Goon-jutsu's direct, determined assault overwhelmed him. So maybe he lacked will to fight.

But, OTOH goon-jutsu guy put all his eggs in that one basket. The jjj bb who showed up regular, and trained the sparring and grappling teams, with a huge amount of experience in most combat sports, who was a lot smaller than that waza BB, could take goon-jutsu guy with ease. Why? Because, beyond the will to fight, he didn't lose his head. His aggresison was very focused, specific, and opportune. Fact is the head-hunting blitz left goon-jutsu vulnerable, so long as you didn't stand there and try to outpunch him...

So maybe mentality includes intelligence under pressure as well as sheer aggression?

Just my guess.

John,

Fighting spirit is part of the equation also. ability to think under pressure, all go together.
byuze got it!