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PASmith
PASmith's picture
Technique Tool belt

An idea I've been mentally kicking around, but not yet fully formed, is an expansion on the the idea of a "technique tool box". How. why and what do we include in our own personal tool box?

I'm starting to think of technique more in terms of what's on my "tool belt", what's in my "tool box", in my "tool van" and left back in the "tool shed".

If a builder, electrician, pumber, carpet fitter, etc comes to do a job at our house they will invariably have some sort of tool belt (or multiple pockets), a tool box, a work van parked outside and probably some other bits of kit back at their house/lockup/office/shed.

And different tools will make it into those storage locations based on how useful and vital they are to that person's job.

Anything they use on every job, and is handy and portable enough to be carried habitually, will generally make it to the tool belt. It will probably even have a well used specific location on the belt (or behind the ear!) so that person can access that tool easily. These are that person's most tried and trusted tools that they cannot do their job without or tools they need to use often.

Obviously what will make it on to a person's tool belt will depend on the job they are doing and their end goal. But even across different jobs there will be common tools almost everyone finds useful. A tape measure, a pencil, a phillips screw driver perhaps.

In terms of martial techniques what's on my tool belt is a very select small group of techniques I find useful in a wide range of circumstances and techniques I come back to time and again. The old reliables. Although my tool belt changes as the context changes (I have a "sport sparring tool belt" that is different to my "self protection tool belt" for example) there are even techniques that end up on multiple tool belts. A rear hand cross/rear straight ends up on many tool belts from one for pre-emption, self protection, sport sparring to just the enjoyment of training tool belt.

Next in line are tools in my technique "tool box". This is one step down from my tool belt techniques. Tools that are often vital to the job at hand but don't quite make it to the "indispensble"  tool belt category. Some of this stuff might even make it onto the tool belt eventually. This stuff needs to be easy to access and readily available so ends up in the box.

I then have techniques in my "tool van". Stuff I might need from time to time, stuff I'm still learning how to use, stuff that is useful in very specific situations, more specialist tools, etc.

And finally I have tools back at the depot or in my tool shed. Tools I bought for one job but haven't used since. Very specialist tools. Old unloved tools I might rediscover and get into the van again. New tools I've yet to use.

In terms of technique this is how I'm starting to organise techniques. What actually on my "tool belt"? What's in my tool box?

I think often people training martial arts think they are expected to cram every technique on the syllabus onto their tool belt. Whereas I think it should be more about using all the tools but then refining what ones make it onto your personal tool belt.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Paul,

As a former craftsman, the above analogy really resonates with me. I like it!

As an apprentice, one of the craftsmen I learnt my trade from introduced me to the idea of “pocket tools”. These are the true go to items that you could use initially on most jobs. Some jobs obviously did require specific tools but to avoid going back to the workshop every time there was a breakdown (we worked on a very big site), and to avoid lugging around a tool bag or belt, he would keep his “pocket tools” on him at all times. This would essentially be a terminal screwdriver, a standard “electricians screwdriver”, a small adjustable spanner (“wrench” for our American readers), a pair of point nosed plyers, and a voltage tester. He could get most breakdowns fixed, or at least properly assessed, with those items.

To me, my preferred physical self-protection methods would be my “pocket tools”. My martial arts are all the other stuff. Preference goes to the “pocket tools”. They are the first point of contact with any “problem”. I’m not going to lug my pipe benders everywhere just in case, but I know where they are for the less common occasions where they are needed.

All the best,

Iain

PASmith
PASmith's picture

Yes! "Pocket tools" takes the analogy to its logical conclusion. I suppose the ultimate simpliffication and stream lining is the pre-emptive strike! The one thing we'll go to when effluent meets aircon.

Zach Zinn
Zach Zinn's picture

A few high quality, multi-purpose tools, with one or two more specilized pieces.

I started structuring my self-defense oriented teaching and training like this, kind of a flow chart of tactical approaches, from most to least preferable:

1) Pre empting attack/pre emptive striking/escape

2) Flinch reaction into striking/escape

3) Clinch into striking/escape

4) Clinch into grappling/escape

5) Grappling (striking if possible) /escape

6) Groundwork (stirking of possible) /escape

So speaking purely of stuff within a self defense paradigm (not all I am into, Iain's recent video further convinced of the value of the other stuff), the priority of tools roughly meets my criteria above.

For non-self defense stuff I try to think in terms of what area I am trying to develop in myself or my students. For instance, working footwork drills tends to increase overall agility, working on a jab while moving inor backwards focuses on skills in finding range, etc.

deltabluesman
deltabluesman's picture

This is an excellent suggestion.  I use the term "game plan" to refer to a similar idea.  Game plans are common in BJJ (where they're mainly used to prepare for competition), but Geoff Thompson has also written about them for self-protection training (in Three Second Fighter).  The idea of the game plan would be to write down the techniques on your "tool belt" and then use the plan to structure your training and drills.

Sometimes people object and say, "There's no way you can think through your game plan in the middle of a fight!"  And that's a complete misunderstanding, of course, because the purpose of the game plan is to guide training.  The training develops the habits, instincts, and reflexes that you use in self-protection situations.  This is one area where I think the tool kit terminology is an improvement, because it helps to avoid that misunderstanding.  

Whatever name you use for it, I believe the exercise is helpful.  I always tried to ask myself, "What techniques am I realistically going to be able to train on a regular basis at my current schools?"  That helps to narrow down the list.  You can also ask, "What techniques or training methods are most likely to lead to injury for me or my training partners?"  That will help you focus on whether the risks really justify the benefits.  Just like you mentioned, I also create game plans for different contexts and then try to choose techniques that are multi-purpose.  That way you can make the most of your cross-training.  

They can also help with bunkai.  The game plan can help you identify the techniques you need and then you can look at kata to see what tools they have to offer.  If there's a kata that you practice every day, you can connect its bunkai to your game plan to make sure you're spending enough time on applications/kata-based sparring, etc.

I like to update them whenever I come back from a break.  For example, let's say you're out for a few months because of an injury (. . . or pandemic).  When you come back, you can look at what techniques still feel natural or comfortable to you.  Those are good candidates for the game plan/tool kit, because you have evidence that they stayed (relatively) sharp while you took a break from training.

Once you have a pretty solid idea of your tool kit, you can also use that to build supporting skills and to adjust your strength and conditioning program.  This can be another way to reduce the risk of injury and improve mobility.  

I think the concept has a lot of benefits. 

deltabluesman
deltabluesman's picture

There's one other thing worth mentioning.  Experienced martial artists shouldn't feel the need to limit their tool kit/game plan solely to specific techniques.  In many situations, they will find it easier to include both techniques and "principles."  The idea will probably be very familiar to bunkai-oriented karateka, since the kata are built on this same insight.

For example, the principle of "framing" is an excellent candidate for the game plan.  You can use it in so many different areas . . . striking, takedown defense, groundwork, etc.  Instead of writing down a lot of different techniques that involve framing, you can just say, "This week, I'm going to spend at least one training session looking for ways to use the concept of framing."  Or maybe it's just one sparring round per week.

To give a specific example of what this might look like, I'll borrow this video from coach Firas Zahabi:  https://youtu.be/DYU9VCg-LtY?t=96

That's for a sporting context, but it illustrates my point.  And of course, framing is just one example, you can do the same thing with any reliable principle (whether it comes from your kata or from another source).

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

A couple of fun and related thought experiments that I often used when teaching:

1) You are training alone in the dojo and a person enters to tell you they have to deal with an aggressive individual who is arriving in 15 mins. They have no training, can’t call for help, and can’t escape before they arrive (no idea why that would the case but stick with me here!). You have 15 mins to teach them something. What do you teach them?

I’m pretty confident that no one is going to suggest advanced kicks, throws, locks, etc. So, whatever you would teach is probably going to be the simplest, most retainable, high-percentage technique you can think of. Whatever you chose, should definitely be your primary go-to method.

2) You are diagnosed with early signs of an illness that means you will only be able retain five martial methods. Those five are the ones you have to stick with for life and they will be the only methods you could use going forward if you found yourself in a self-protection situation. What five methods do you embed before the effects of the illness take hold?

These methods would be the go-to “back-ups” to the primary methods in Thought Experiment 1.

All the best,

Iain

Zach Zinn
Zach Zinn's picture

Iain Abernethy wrote:
1) You are training alone in the dojo and a person enters to tell you they have to deal with an aggressive individual who is arriving in 15 mins. They have no training, can’t call for help, and can’t escape before they arrive (no idea why that would the case but stick with me here!). You have 15 mins to teach them something. What do you teach them?

A "shell" or cross-arm cover into palm strikes into (shuto uchi)forearm strikes to the neck/jaw would be my choice...if we are still talking techniques, since other stuff (de escalation, etc.) isn't possible here.

Iain Abernethy wrote:
2) You are diagnosed with early signs of an illness that means you will only be able retain five martial methods. Those five are the ones you have to stick with for life and they will be the only methods you could use going forward if you found yourself in a self-protection situation. What five methods do you embed before the effects of the illness take hold?

Funnily enough years I did a seminar with you a few years back where we did the "invent your own kata" thing and I kind of ran with my creation. So, I have my own simple "self defense" kata consisting of  a shell or cross arm ( like the beginning of a shuto) into palm strike/shuto to neck or jaw, progressing into indexing/elbow strike ala Naihanchin, into low line knee strikes, into a head snap/drive to the ground. It's not pretty but if I had to limit myself to a particular set of fault-tolerant tools it would be these.

I would have alot less fun training if this were all I could do with this weird cognitive martial arts disorder!

deltabluesman
deltabluesman's picture

These are great thought experiments . . . I will have to save them to my notes for future reference. 

If I had to select only five martial methods, I think it might be something like this:

1.  the skill of managing pre-fight distance while trying to de-escalate and escape

2.  striking with the open hands, with an emphasis on preemptive striking

3.  using covers and the flinch response to survive incoming strikes

4.  footwork skills (focusing on staying upright during the fight, moving at angles, and escaping)

5.  standing up from the ground (which can cover a lot of different techniques)

I probably stretched the idea of a "martial method" a bit far with this list.