This
topic is an off-shoot of another thread. It touches on the conceptual
method of Tuhon Gaje's teaching vs. rote memorization of "technique
accumulation" so prevalent in MA's today . Many people who come out of
"Technique" based training often initially have a difficult time
understanding the focus of "Conceptual" type learning. It may seem
unorganized at first, but you will soon see that it really focuses on
the foundation principles of movement that all strategies, tactics, and
techniques are built upon. The "structure" isn't always immediately
apparent. It also forces you to take more of an initiative in your
personal learning process to study, research, and explore the
connections in the material presented to you.
This thread is
from the Eskrima Digest ( boy it got quiet after this ;-) ). This
section was started by my fellow Pekiti-Tirsia brother Leslie Buck.
Guro William
From: "Leslie L. Buck Jr. TKA"
Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 22:58:02 -0500
Subject: [Eskrima] On the nature of Pekiti Tirsia
Here's
a topic that really gets me excited. It's the teaching
method. I am interested in this because I truly believe the
secret in martial arts is not in the technique, but in the training
method. The best technique in the world will never work if it is
not trained properly. So how effective we are going to be depends
on the teaching method and our effort to learn.
As a
generalization, I have seen two different approaches to teaching
martialarts. One, I call the western method, which is often
organized in a linear progression. It is more academic in
nature. It typically codifies everything and labels even
the variations of core material. The western method leads
students through lessons in a way that everyone can learn. This
is the way we typically learn in school.
The other method I call
the eastern method. This is one that is nonlinear. It is often taught
without consistancy in content. Fewer connections in the material are
illustrated. Less feedback is offered and there often more than one
"right way." This method more similar to how we learn language -
through imitation, conversation, and trial and error when we don't have
a dictionary or grammar book. It's through research. It's up
to you to learn it.
These are of course generalizations, and I
only name them as eastern or western methods because of my personal
experience. Teachers I've known from the west tended to be more
methodical whereas my personal teachers from the
east (Indonesia,
Philippines) seemed to vary the material and leave a lot of the
information up for discovery rather than using direct illustration.
And
this leads to my point. Tuhon Gaje is teaching in a method that is
more eastern in nature. You learn by accumulation. The more
pieces of the puzzle you put together, the clearer the big picture
becomes. In truth, there is a
structure behind the material you
learn, but you are often not given that structure ahead of
time. You must keep training and find it for yourself. This is not
because Tuhon forgot what he taught you last time, it's because he
wants you to develop critical thinking skills. He wants you to
learn to adapt and explore. Tuhon requires you to read between the
lines and figure stuff out rather than just hand it to you. He may
show you the technique in a seminar, but does he teach you how to apply
it? Or perhaps he develops your skills to apply a technique, but
doesn't reveal a technique or its significance until later. It's
not only a way to ensure only loyal students get the "secret stuff,"
but it's also a way to weed out those who either don't get it or just
don't try hard to learn.
I think because of this, Tuhon Gaje's
students and instructor's have different levels of understanding and
expertise with the same material. Some instructor's may just teach
the way they remember Tuhon did them by chunking material
together. Others may rearrange the material to suit their own
method. Again, like learning a language, there are "basics" such
as simple vocabulary and syntax, but there is more than one place to
start.
Like my friend Loki, I started with Tuhon Gaje in 98
after many years with my instructor Erwin Ballarta. I was
fortunate to have some knowledge before my first lesson with Tuhon, and
ever since then, I have studied his method of teaching in addition to
the material itself. There are many layers to it, and I really
have a high appreciation for it. I could go on forever, but as you
can
see I have already too much. (sorry.) Anyway, I think the new
person with Tuhon is either blown away with the challenge and passion
or disappointed because they did not see the significance of what he
offered.
To sum it up: Tuhon's method works best
individually and in small groups because it is tailored to the
student. The goal is not for everyone to learn it all. You
will not be given the next step until you pick up on the first
one. Later, you are guided to learn through your own
discoveries. Also, you are given the freedom to make
mistakes. It's a part of the learning process.
Once you start
to get it, then the learning and teaching process will accelerate -
more subtleties are revealed, more material is condensed in drills that
require more. Eventually, you will learn on the fly (while Tuhon
is hitting you), through technical sparring and bridging drills,
through teaching and through sharing experiences with other instructors
and students who are on the same quest for knowledge.
best regards to all,
Leslie
*****************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 10:36:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: jay de leon
Subject: Re: [Eskrima] On the nature of Pekiti Tirsia
Enjoyed
the overview. One thing that has always helped me both teach and
learn is to distinguish between concept and technique.
For
example, I could probably keep a newbie busy for the next two years
just teaching double stick sinawali patterns (depending on his and my
threshhold of boredom and the threshhold of his wallet). But what
good does that accomplish?
Chances are, if you show him a dozen
basic patterns and teach him the concept, he should be able to figure
out a few more dozen on his own, and even "discover" countless new
patterns. Then he starts to integrate this in the overall scheme
of the arnis universe. In fact, for me, that's what makes learning arnis fun, and (joyously) interminable.
Jay de Leon
*******************************************************************************
From: "William Schultz"
Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 08:13:26 -0400
Subject: [Eskrima] RE: On the nature of Pekiti-Tirsia
Excellent post Leslie. My experience training with Tuhon mirrors exactly
what
you describe. The principles and keys are shown to you, but it's up to
you to study and put in the time to explore and discover the
connections. Then build off of it. I believe having to put in the time
& exploration leads to a greater understanding of the principles
and mechanics behind the material.
As Tuhon says, "It's not the years, it's the hours trained".
>>>You will not be given the next step until you pick up on the first one. >>>
This
is contrary to the "technique accumulation" approach that many in the
MA world are used to. It's not about learning technique 1A, 1B, 1C for
level one. Technique 2A, 2B, 2C for level two etc... It's focused more
on learning the principles of movement (footwork, striking mechanics
& power generation), angles of attack & counter-offense and the
ability to combine these aspects together in a fluid, powerful and
effective manner across weapon categories. That's not to say that
"techniques" are not taught, once you have the foundation system down,
you work strategy and tactic methods. Each method prescribes a specific
strategy, a combative plan or principle, and accompanying tactics,
techniques or skills of execution. PT is a complete system where
strategies and tactics, techniques and skills are encompassed into an
integrated working composition. Each method addresses a specific
strategy and then provides different tactics and techniques that
simultaneously incorporate footwork, offensive and counter-offensive
combative application and attribute development. Each of these
components can be isolated and trained individually to perfect each
particular movement. It's a dynamic approach & thought-provoking
process of learning that stimulates thought and in depth study to a
higher degree then rote memorization of techniques.
I teach more
in this method as well and it does tend to throw off new students who
are used to other approach. I try to explain the reasoning behind it.
Some get it and stay with it, some don't and move on.
Tangents eh Jack? :-)
Guro William Schultz
New England Pekiti-Tirsia Pitbulls
Mongrel Combative Systems
EG Rhode Island
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