Martial artists train to prevail against an assailant. As such, practicing with a partner has a competitive spirit expressed when sparring and during two man drills, like arm toughening or punching mitts. Am I stronger, faster or tougher than my opponent? A healthy competitive attitude is natural and necessary for progress.
At the same time, cooperation is vital for high level training. Soft systems like Tai Ji and Aikido or the more aggressive Wing Chun also teach the importance of cooperation during practice. Why is this spirit of cooperation a hallmark of advance training?
Two man training drills that require a cooperative attitude, like pushing hands and chi sau focus on subtleties that make core techniques more effective, efficient and dangerous. Novice and young black belts are often unconsciously compelled to compete with their partners to prove they are faster or stronger. The exercise becomes a contest not an educational tool. In trying to prove they are more powerful, they miss the greater value of these exercises.
On the other hand, seasoned martial artists confident and emotionally secure in their abilities, focus on the real lesson: such as using a live partner to safely study redirecting of force, leverage and finding the path of least resistance into precise vulnerable targets. Although they are both doing the same drill, the young black belt focuses on power to hit the opponent’s head, while the old master focuses on striking the precise knockout point on the jaw.
Competitive training is important. After all, we strive to vanquish the foe. But to refine and go beyond strength, speed and technical skill, cooperation is necessary. When practiced in the spirit of experimentation and mutual cooperation, both attacker and defender feel safe to explore, analyze and discover deeper “secrets” that are invisible to those focusing on competing.
Evolving Martial Artists in learning to balance cooperation and competition may awaken to the harmony of opposites the ancients allude to.
With this in mind check out our latest TanDao Fight Lab, TanDao Blindfold Training.
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Keep Practicing,
Lawrence Tan
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Tags: chi sau, kung fu, lawrence tan, Martial Arts, pushing hands, tan dao, tan's dazzling hands, tdh, two man drills evolving martial artist, wing chun
I have two big guys–beginners–in my class. Naturally because of their size I often have them working together, but this brings out the competitiveness in them. Because they are both big, I guess, they feel a need to prove themselves. Partner drills then become tests of prowess, instead of skill development exercises. I often have to remind them to the purpose of the exercise, something that seem to forget much too easily.
Luckily there are sparring opportunities too, so that they can indulge the competitive side as well.
Soo Shim Kwan
I like the way you put it: partner drills as tests of prowess as compared to skill development. Yes, it requires a level of awareness and security to let go of our ego need to win in order to really explore techniques with a partner. Like knowledge in any art, these realizations come over time and unfortunately do not come through intellectual understanding. Let them bang away at each other, until they wake up!
Thanks for sharing.