Learning Through Play... Its not quite cricket my old fruity! Nasser Butt ©November 2014 Often when we see people train in the martial arts, its all taken far too seriously! Musclebound bodies move mechanically, trying out the latest technique. I often wonder if an animal stepped into one of these testosterone-fuelled environments then what would it make of this? Ive never seen a lion cub walk around rigid or attending a martial arts class. Ive never seen a dog do this either and far more importantly... Ive spent a lot of time watching our simian cousins and neither do they! What I have seen them do is play. Yet, in this very play, with relaxed attitudes they display an amazing level of body mechanics, co-ordination and power! Interestingly enough, in time of need or danger, their bodies know exactly what to do without thought or technique! They understand how to move from their centre - they know nothing else! They dont intellectualise.. they just do! I once saw a mama monkey walk up to a baby who was misbehaving and simply swipe it with a heavy club-like hand and knock it over! The body mechanism was a sight to behold... the baby rolled, got up and sat down quietly. It had got the message yet it didnt appear to be hurt other then a bruised ego! The video clips below are not about technique.. they are simply about getting the students to move and throw limbs randomly with a forward intent and in a flowing manner without seizing up! We have mostly used the typical wild swing kind of shots but that is not even important... whats important is that we learn to move the body freely without thought. Power is not necessary while learning. Competitive thoughts should simply be thrown out of the window! Some silly techniques etc are shown but they are purely learning tools - not methods of actual fighting. Its a good way to learn and develop practical and natural body mechanics, and forward intent. You can make up your own... its play - thats the magic word! For my non-Punjabi friends... the music is from a genre of Punjabi movies which were the staple diets of the working classes and farmers! It was the era of Sultan Rahi. Who? I hear you ask. Well imagine Willis, Schwarzenneger, Stallone, Gibson, Norris, Lee, Bond, Superman & Batman all rolled into one and you’d make about 10% of Sultan Rahi - the man was indestructible - at least on screen! A bit of foreign culture and play... ;-) All good fun!
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:04:03 +0000
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