If the teacher doesn’t like questions, then you might be in a cult. Questions are important, and should never be dismissed outright. If the teacher treats all questions with respect, then over time, the more questions a student asks, the more the teacher and student will learn. They will learn which questions are important, and . . . read more

Techniques do not work. But practising techniques gives you the context within which to study the principles and the method. Eventually, you embody the principles and apply the method in ways that manifest as techniques.

This is a statement that can get you into trouble if you misunderstand it or use it to infer some superiority of so-called internal styles like tai chi (taijiquan). There are a few different ways to define “internal power.” But some of its characteristics include an emphasis on class one levers and class two levers, . . . read more

It is impossible to find a teaching method that works the same way for everyone. Traditional standard teaching methods, like those found in many martial art schools, are designed for large groups. Many are geared toward retention more than education. If you have a constant supply of new students, eventually you might find some that . . . read more

Attachment to technique is typically self-defeating. One should be constantly mindful of tactics, strategy, method, and internal principles. If all is done well, the opponent’s resistance can be rendered irrelevant.

This is about the two errors that can result from martial art training.  1. If you base your training too much on sparring, or on training techniques against a non-compliant opponent, they you will tend to associate the success of a technique with the effort you apply. You might fail to recognize the subtle biomechanics . . . read more