Let me just bust your bubble right up front: there are no training shortcuts in the martial arts. Martial arts are learned and developed by repeatedly doing the techniques over and over and over again. There is no other way.
I have noticed a drastic degradation of martial arts skills in America over the years. I believe it is because people no longer have the discipline required to practice the same things over the long haul. Everyone now days has that "drive thru" mentality; or they have the "Breelcream" attitude: "A little dab will do ya." They want to go to karate, soccer, football, and half a dozen other things instead of focusing their energy on one single thing.
Another attitude that I see in people is when you show them something they think they know it and want you to show them something else. "What's next" they say. Folks, if you haven't practiced something to near perfection you don't have it yet. Your techniques have to happen automatically, without thought. The only way to get it like that is to practice it hundreds, thousands of times. If you have to think about what to do it is already too late.
I often watch martial arts video clips on You Tube. Most of the American videos are pathetic. In fact most of the "black belts" and "masters" that I watch make me ashamed to be associated with the martial arts. I'm serious. It's absolutely pitiful. Their basic movements are horrible. I watched a "master" today that looked like a white belt. Folks, having a black belt or master rank doesn't make you one. To BE one you've gotta have the goods.
It all gets back to what I said at the beginning of this article. There are no shortcuts in the martial arts. It appears to me that American martial arts in general has been trying to take them anyway. It is evident in the lack of basic skills. And whatever happened to using your whole body to throw a kick, punch or block. I watch these people on You Tube doing things and there is no hip and shoulder action involved in their techniques. The vast majority of them are as stiff as they can be when they move. They punch with their arms only and kick with their legs only. Consequently, their techniques are weak because they are wrong.
I don't mean to be all negative but facts are facts. If you are a martial artist I exhort you to spend the time it takes to develop your skills to their maximum potential. Work them over and over and over and over. Then start again.
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