4 Ranges,
In my opinion, there are several types of awareness:
- Awareness of sight (light, movement, color, shape, etc..)
- Awareness of sound
- Awareness of smell
- Awareness of touch
- Awareness of taste
- Awareness of the mind
- Awareness of the spirit
Many people FOCUS their efforts on a few of these, usually the first
two. Event fewer people FOCUS on numbers 3, 4 and 5. And even fewer
can FOCUS numbers 6 and 7.
While grappling, most students focus on what they see. Even fewer
focus on what they hear or touch. With proper training, discipline and
time, any student can develop their awareness to touch, which is what
we call sensitivity, to a high level.
How does one accomplish this? By paying attention to detail from day
one and by asking and answering some simple questions!
For years, I have written about paying attention to details (i.e. the
subtle nuances of how, when, why and what). For example, I have
talked and written about the subtle nuances of the upa and elbow/
knee techniques, yet I still see students around the world who have my
instructionals yet they still have problems performing the most basic of
movements. Why do these students STILL have problems with these
fundamental techniques? Because they contracted a Grappler's disease
I refer to as the "Yeah, I got it" disease.
What is the "Yeah, I got it"? Well, I describe it like this: The student is
shown a simple technique. After a few minutes of contemplation, the
student thinks to themselves, "Yeah, I've got it now." Then, for the next
several years, he or she never digs any deeper into the meaning of the
movements they were taught. Rather, they simply accept what they
have been taught as Gospel truth and never commit any personal
research to the issue. Additionally, they are rarely able to make certain
techniques work unless speed, power and explosiveness are used.
However, that doesn't bother them because they feel, "Hey, I got the
tap (or the sweep)......and that's all that matters." This attitude is the
number one symptom of the "Yeah, I got it" disease.
Here is another example: Over the years, I have given over 100 blue
belt examinations in the past seven years, yet only two or three out of
ten people (when performing the upa technique) actually trap the arm
like I demonstrate on my instructional videos (and like I teach to all of
my instructors). Why is it that so many of these students trap the arm
any way they feel like trapping it (some of which work and others
which work because their training partners allow them to work)? Why
don't they trap it the way I taught them to trap it or the way their
instructor taught them? Simple. Because "They've got it."
What's interesting is when it comes time for them to grapple, very few
of them can rarely perform the upa technique. Yet, when they see me
grapple with my purple belts, and I allow a purple belt to mount on top
of me, and they see me perform a simple upa technique REALLY SLOW,
they wonder how I am able to do that. Heck, I have even had some of
my purple belts ask me how I do it! What they miss is so simple - It is
right before their eyes.........yet many of them still think THEY'VE GOT
IT! However, from my perspective, they don't got it.
So, from my perspective, to raising one's level of awareness (which is
the first key to developing sensitivity), the first mountain that must be
conquered is the Mountain of AWARENESS TO SELF. Once this mountain
is conquered, the practitioner must go through a short (or long) valley
called "a plateau" before beginning their journey up the next mountain,
the Mountain of AWARENESS TO ONE'S TRAINING PARTNER. These two
mountains must be conquered before can even begins to think about
climbing the third, fourth and fifth mountains of awareness.
So, where does the journey begin? The first journey up the first
mountain begins with paying attention to detail right from the start. It
also involves keeping the same level of interest (i.e. intensity)
throughout the journey through the various belt levels. For example,
many beginners make light of the upa and elbow/knee escape
techniques. However, they do not realize the wisdom contained within
these two techniques. They do not realize HOW IMPORTANT these
techniques are to their overall development, even if it is stated to
them. Why? Because of that dreaded "Yeah, I got it" disease.
Here's the wisdom in these two techniques: Upa and elbow/knee
escape lay the foundation for 90+% of what a student will perform in
live grappling sessions from day one until they hang up the wrestling
shoes, head gear and/or gi. Therefore, in my opinion, it will be
imperative that Upa and elbow/knee escape be studied in detail from
white belt to advanced purple belt (or should I say "The first five to
seven years of one's journey.")
NOTE: I know many who would disagree with me on this point, but
that's OK. My goal is not to make the student effective. Anyone can be
effective given enough time, determination and desire. Additionally,
technique is not required for effectiveness! No, my goal as an
instructor is to help my students become efficient over time, as well as
teach them how to play and discover on their own. In short, I am in this
for the long haul (two to four decades).
So, once a student has studied these two techniques with their eyes
open, they'll need to study them with their eyes closed. With their eyes
closed, they need to learn how to FEEL the techniques. How do they
FEEL a technique? Well, here are a few ideas for you to play with:
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your feet? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your shins? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your knees? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your thighs? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your hips? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your stomach? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your chest? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your shoulders? Describe and define it
in explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your neck? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your elbows? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your forearms? Describe and define it
in explicit , non-visual terms.
- What does Upa FEEL LIKE on your hands? Describe and define it in
explicit , non-visual terms.
Continued.....