One day I'm having a conversation with someone and we were talking about martial arts; then it turned to guns. We were talking about styles and how people will ask "If you put such-such against blah-blah, which one would win?" and how you really can't answer that because it depends on each person's skill in what they do. Then the person said "I'll tell you what can beat any martial art, my gun." So, he goes on for a bit about his gun and at the end of it he says "I mean, really, what can beat my gun?" I turn around to him and say "A bomb." To which he says "Wha?? I mean really who's gonna have a bomb?" "You asked what could, a bomb could."
What's the point of the story?
Sometimes people just get so crazy with an idea that they just can't stop and trying to talk to them becomes more difficult than it's worth and more time than it should. So you say something crazy just to get them to take a step back and listen. I feel that way training sometimes. You're just starting out and every technique someone's saying "What if they attacked me from behind?" What if they are further away?" "What if..." It makes me want to say "What if the attacker is an alien who beams you up to their planet and makes you fight on unicorns!"
That's ridiculous. It will never happen, but it does make you get out of your brain a little bit and make you see something for what it is. It's a technique, it's a learning step. Calm your mind and learn it; the rest will come later.
I'm not saying it's always bad to ask what if, but there's a time, place, and understanding of the technique that comes first.
When you're learning a technique and it's the first time you're seeing it I feel that you see it, do it, practice it, and have an understanding of how it works as is before you start asking "what if".
Also, take into account that it's a technique. It's a starting point. We all know the saying "You have to learn to crawl before you can walk" well, think of it like this before you can crawl you have to learn to sit up and before you can sit up you have to learn to hold your head up. There are steps.
If you can't do the technique or even remember how it looks you might be a victim of...what if. If we're not learning we might be asking what if too much and slowing down our own progress. We all want to run, but first let's hold our heads up.
We should also be considerate of other's time. When we don't let ourselves progress because we're asking what if all the time we are also taking away from other's time. If you feel it's really important to your training to know the hundreds of what if's, ask one what if question and then ask the others after the class or on an open mat night.
How do we study 'what if'?
First we understand the attack. If it's a grab, push, strike, etc. It's important to know what you're dealing with.
Next we understand the ideal response. Sometimes in a technique we're kicking in the groin because the person will double over which sets up for the next attack. That is ideal, but people have different pain tolerance and reactions so they may not be that hurt or react the way we hoped for. We may not respond the way that is ideal either.
After these two things we learn to modify. If you're learning the technique and you see how you can modify it you may not have to ask what if as much because you're seeing for yourself how to change it up.
What if can be important to training. We just have to know the time and place. Don't get hung up on "But we're not always going to get grabbed from behind..." Because true, not everyone is going to attack the same way, but we're building up and learning how to respond effectively in different situations.
So, fellow students. Don't get frustrated and please don't think that something won't work effectively just because you're not learning right away how to use it differently. I mean after all we're all learning to hold our heads up together, right?
