Importance of Weapons in Your System?
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 6:35 pm
So, I recently put more-or-less the final touches on my system and now I am wondering if I need to add a weapon or not to round out the package. Most of the unarmed applications in my art double up as knife techniques and I will spend some time on that with students, but the fact is that, if someone pulls a knife, your best bet is to GTFO.
I have always been interested in swords and staves, but I feel like they just aren't that practical in this day and age and to become proficient in weapons use one must first be able to fight well unarmed. And to fight well unarmed, one must train unarmed fighting! So, there just isn't that much time. And it would take a lot of time, because learning the sword or something isn't just learning a new fucking form, but more like learning an entire new art. I'd want to be able to spar with the weapon and try to get as close to how it was used during ancient times as possible. Otherwise, what's the point?
So, my question is this; If my goal is to get students in the door that want to learn to defend themselves, how important is it to have weapon training (besides the above mentioned knife stuff) in the curriculum?
Currently, I don't even have a form. I tore apart all my forms (some of which I made together with my master), took out all of the most practical, high-efficiency techniques, that can be used with or without gloves, experimented with different combinations against boxers and put together a group of them that can prepare someone for most scenarios with entering moves and at least one follow-up move that can be mixed and matched. I'm thinking of making a short and sweet form with these top techniques, but in doing so I'd remove it further from reality, so we'll see..
Are students going to be hell-bent on learning this shit or will they appreciate that I've worked so hard to create this system that will get them out of the door, ready to kick arse if need be, in the shortest amount of time (and using traditional IMA)?
I have always been interested in swords and staves, but I feel like they just aren't that practical in this day and age and to become proficient in weapons use one must first be able to fight well unarmed. And to fight well unarmed, one must train unarmed fighting! So, there just isn't that much time. And it would take a lot of time, because learning the sword or something isn't just learning a new fucking form, but more like learning an entire new art. I'd want to be able to spar with the weapon and try to get as close to how it was used during ancient times as possible. Otherwise, what's the point?
So, my question is this; If my goal is to get students in the door that want to learn to defend themselves, how important is it to have weapon training (besides the above mentioned knife stuff) in the curriculum?
Currently, I don't even have a form. I tore apart all my forms (some of which I made together with my master), took out all of the most practical, high-efficiency techniques, that can be used with or without gloves, experimented with different combinations against boxers and put together a group of them that can prepare someone for most scenarios with entering moves and at least one follow-up move that can be mixed and matched. I'm thinking of making a short and sweet form with these top techniques, but in doing so I'd remove it further from reality, so we'll see..
Are students going to be hell-bent on learning this shit or will they appreciate that I've worked so hard to create this system that will get them out of the door, ready to kick arse if need be, in the shortest amount of time (and using traditional IMA)?