The proper method to develop MA skill

[Kung Fu Wang]

Step 1: Defeat a group of weak opponents to prove that you are not that weak.
Step 2: Defeat a group of average opponents to prove that you are above average.
Step 3: Defeat a group of strong opponents to prove that you are truly strong.

You should try in the order of:

step 1 -> step 2 -> step 3

If you start with step 3, after you get defeated, you may lose your confidence and quit forever.

What's your opinion on this approach?

 

[skribs]

Step 1: Defeat a group of weak opponents to prove that you are not that weak.
Step 2: Defeat a group of average opponents to prove that you are above average.
Step 3: Defeat a group of strong opponents to prove that you are truly strong.

You should try in the order of:

step 1 -> step 2 -> step 3

If you start with step 3, after you get defeated, you may lose your confidence and quit forever.

What's your opinion on this approach?

This is a guy I really respect. He's a BJJ black belt who goes by the name Chewie. He says that sometimes the beginner needs to be smashed. That way the beginner knows what he can learn if he keeps going.

I think learning comes before defeating anyone. I think you should fight 3 types of people:

• Those better than you to learn from
• Those worse from you so you can slow down and drill (and also so they can learn from you)
• Those equal to you so you can compete and grow

Obviously at the start of your training there won't be many people worse than you, or even equal to you. And if you're the most experienced fighter in your gym, it might be hard to find people to push you to improve. But in general, you should try and spar with all 3 in order to improve.

Now, if you're talking about actual competitive fights, then what you suggest is basically in place. In a competition like TKD or Grappling, you're usually separated by belt. When we go to tournaments, our intermediate belts aren't fighting advanced belts or black belts. They're fighting other intermediate students. In competitions without a belt rank, you usually start with local amateur tournaments and work your way up.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Step 1: Defeat a group of weak opponents to prove that you are not that weak.
Step 2: Defeat a group of average opponents to prove that you are above average.
Step 3: Defeat a group of strong opponents to prove that you are truly strong.

You should try in the order of:

step 1 -> step 2 -> step 3

If you start with step 3, after you get defeated, you may lose your confidence and quit forever.

What's your opinion on this approach?

My opinion is that martial arts is about so much more than that.

 

[Christopher Adamchek]

I think learning comes before defeating anyone. I think you should fight 3 types of people:

• Those better than you to learn from
• Those worse from you so you can slow down and drill (and also so they can learn from you)
• Those equal to you so you can compete and grow

this

 

[Flying Crane]

I guess my feelings are that I really don’t care who I can or cannot beat up. I don’t really spend any time at all thinking about it or worrying about it.

 

[Deleted member 39746]

Now here is a spanner in the works: Define weak and strong.

 

[Buka]

You guys all hit the nail on the head.

The hardest part is getting to the dojo. That's all you have to do, get up, go there.

If you do....you'll run into weaker guys, average guys, stronger guys. Beginners who'll try to smash, beginners who get smashed, guys to learn from, guys who'll learn from you, and guys who are your equal.

Eventually you won't care who you can and cannot beat up because you'll learn that Martial Arts is so much more than that.

You just have to get your butt to the dojo. Go on now, git.