Strategies of martial arts styles

[draconis]

I just finished an interesting book, “The Way of Kata” by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder. In many ways, it is similar to any of the other books on kata interpretation (bunkai). However, this one presents an aspect that I hadn’t really considered before, and wanted to bring up with any other martial artists who read this.



I am a member of DKI -- Dillman Karate International. One of the things that distinguishes DKI from many of the other martial organizations is our approach to kata and bunkai. What I’ve never heard discussed before is finding interpretations that fit the overall strategy of a particular style. This group boasts membership from many different styles, including Ryukyu Kempo, Isshinryu, Tae Kwon Do, and Jujitsu, to name a few. These are very different styles, so a bunkai that fits smoothly into one style’s strategies might not fit nearly so well into the other two.

Before I go any further, what do I mean by the term “strategy”?

“Strategy is comprehensive planning and conduct for the long term. Strategy gives us the course of action we take as we attempt to achieve our goals. Tactics are maneuvers we do to carry out strategy.” (Steve Badger, from the article, “Strategy vs. Tactics” by Steve Badger, www.playwinningpoker.com)

“Strategy is a plan of action, especially for obtaining a goal. It is high level and philosophical in nature. Tactics, on the other hand, are expedient means of achieving an end. They are low level and immediate. Strategy is what you do to prepare for contact with the enemy while tactics are what you do during contact with the target.” (The Way of Kata, p. 38)

As the authors are Goju-ryu stylists, they discuss what they consider to be the fundamental strategy of that style: to (1) close distance, (2) imbalance, and (3) use physiological damage to incapacitate an opponent.

What is your style, and what do you perceive its strategy to be?

Comments

[saxononyx.livejournal.com]

interesting, never really looked at an over all strategy to my arts other than what works best at the moment. Each of the arts i have studied has a strategy, but none is a good for all occasions thing.

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

I agree -- I'd never looked at it in those terms before either, having always focused on tactics rather than strategy. Now I'm trying to define what I would consider the strategy of both my current art, and of my personal fighting style.

And of course none of them are good for all occasions -- that's why we study more than one! ::G::