Slave of your technique

The best way to get at technique to be a part of you is through repetition. System and styles all over the world have known this for years. These repetitions have even been passed down from generation to generation. There is lot of value and history in these styles, but for some it's become a question of the correct way to do the technique and not if the technique is an inspiration to how to handle a physical confrontation in modern life.

Some people become a slave of these techniques, letting them dictate their reality, instead of using the technique to see how reality can be handled, by using the technique in a realistic environment (or close to realistic as possible).

By not testing your technique according to how you'll use it, you'll be exposing yourself to many more unknown possibilities and many of them dangerous for yourself in a real life situation. Because it works in a safe training environment it is not certain that it will outside in the streets. Try to take your training outside on the pavement and try out some ground work – some of it will be more dangerous to you than to your opponent, the pavement is unforgiving and will hurt you if you don’t adjust the technique. Maybe it’s raining and the surface is slippery, suddenly some of your techniques need adjustments or being replaced. Try out your arsenal of techniques in different environments, so you will know, what works where and under which circumstances.

So let the techniques inspirer and not enslave; use the techniques and not let yourself be used by them.