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"Must Haves" of Training for Combat or Protection, Part 2:Technique

In the last blog posted we talked about three primary aspects of combat training that can be observed across multiple modalities: military, law enforcement/protection, ring fighting (combat sports) and traditional martial arts.  The first was physical preparation which involves preparing the individual physically for the demands of the situation and their ability to perform.  Next, we will explore technique, its importance and the methods used to practice it across the various forms of combat training.

If you've ever watch an experienced fighter against a complete amateur it becomes quite obvious how technique comes into play.  Technique allows an individual to efficiently use their physical strengths against another.  This can allow a weaker person to overcome a much stronger person without technique. Good technique is essential especially in competitive fighting where the physical abilities of the fighters is evenly matched.  Bad habits are soon taken advantage of by more skilled athletes.  Good technique not only provides the maximum efficiency of effort but also minimizes the opportunities the opponent has to take advantage on offense or to counter defensively.  
Technique training essentially consists of practicing the various movements and tactics that are used in combat.  For military training, this would be akin to firearm training or practicing field maneuvers.  For wrestling and other grappling sports/arts this would be learning the various take downs, throws, pins, locks and their defenses or entries.  Striking arts would learn the various ways to punch, kick, elbow, knee and otherwise strike.  At the beginning, the focus is on simply learning the movements.  Once the movement is understood adding speed and power is typical. The techniques can then be drilled in more complex ways to form instinctual responses during a fight.  The importance of physical preparation is often noticed here.  Many techniques require a certain level of flexibility and or strength to execute.  It's far easier for an already athletic individual to learn techniques while someone not prepared will struggle.  

There are many different methods in which technique is practiced.  Chinese and Japanese martial arts (with a couple exceptions) are known for forms or kata  practice.  Forms are collections of techniques and concepts contained in the art.  It was the method by which the arts were passed down prior to the modern convenience of photos and video.  By practicing the form the trainee is learning and drilling the movements within the art  for various combat situations.  Many times movements in the form/kata may have multiple applications and should be drilled and practiced individually to learn the necessary timing and details against a resisting opponent.  Another method of technique training that is similar to form/kata practice is shadowboxing.  Most practitioners of striking based combat sports (boxing, kickboxing, etc.) include some form of shadowboxing to mentally and physically drill movements while visualizing their opponent.  Both forms and shadowboxing can be be done lightly as part of a warmup or more intensely as to replicate fighting conditions.  The aforementioned training methods allow the trainee to learn the movement and get comfortable with them.  Other methods such as mitt work and heavy bag training are used to develop speed, accuracy and/or power with techniques.  There are many different ways to perform mitt/pad work as demonstrated in the following video showing examples from Muay Thai and Boxing.  In grappling based arts such as American freestyle wrestling, judo and BJJ technique practice typically consists of drilling the techniques back and forth with a partner.  Here are some examples of wrestling  and judo  drills.  While most grappling arts require a partner, the Chinese grappling art of Shuai Jiao has a number of solo drills that mimic the movements used in throws and trips.  

A similar approach occurs in Law enforcement and security professions.  Use of a firearm and practicing drawing and shooting a target(s) is an example of technique that would apply here.  Other technique training for law enforcement could involve learning take downs and methods of restraining a non-compliant individual.  Officers are often faced with dangerous, potentially life threatening scenarios and must train techniques in order to effectively bring the situation under control before they or other civilians are injured.

Technique makes efficient use of physical preparation and provides tools to be use in combat.  This is just a quick overview of the various ways that technique can be trained, but is intended to provide insight on the commonality between forms of combat.  As shown each modality of combat training has its own method of training technique however the overall intent is the same.  To learn tools and methods to effectively operate in combat making use of the physical skills built in the previous stage.