INTRODUCTION; WHAT'S IN THE NAME FORMFIGHTING?

shape; behaviour according to custom; correct procedure; condition of heath and training (To be in form or out of form), make; take shape; arrangement; structure; fashion; mode in which something exist or manifest itself; mould (something into shape, upon pattern); become solid; mould by discipline, train; unite; frame, make, develop, produce. 

I suggest that all who wish to study in the Art of Formfighting look up the word form in the Dictionary for themselves and study the word and all meanings of this word and develop a sound understanding behind the word. If then we take all our understanding of the word form and place this in front of what we practice the word fighting, then we have Formfighting. Formfighting Martial Arts can be broken down into four major classification

Martial Philosophy
Our Beliefs and what we believe and although we all may not believe the same we should all agree to disagree

Martial Science
The understanding of what we do and the applications behind what we do

Martial Discipline
The practicing of our art in the form of training to help us enable and develop full concentration and focus so that we may have control over our actions.

Martial Sport
The least and most insignificant, in the form of competitive competition. Although I have nothing against competitions has they help us to develop and enhance our skills.

MARTIAL ARTS, A WAY OF LIFE

There is very few constants in life, but one of the few is change and as we continue to learn we generally change, hopefully this change is for the better, and as this occurs within ourselves our Martial Art will change with us. this change and learning should bring about personal growth and development. All people hopefully, tend to learn from their mistakes in life and as they grow older if they have learnt from the past they tend to change and thus does their thinking. To start with someone may not have what we consider to be the right attitude (attitude being a way of thinking) or temperament for Martial Arts training. Martial Arts is about constant change and growth, and hence thus to achieve this it must become a way life. Martial Training is not just the physical side, but that of encompassing all of life's experiences.

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Family

After students have been training with me for a long period of time they became as family and it is a very sad thing when they as they do, sometimes leave. Like all families children don’t always agree with their parents or parents approve of all the children's wishes and generally the second of the two is for for the benefit of the other. But like all families under normal circumstances they accept most decision and endeavour to get along. What I would like for people to gain from Formfighting is to continually grow in this manner thus developing a strong and united organisation and from this point we can all grow and learn together. Do not take this next statement to the extremes, I would like to think that if people, other organisation or whatever the case may be, mess with my students then they mess with me or if they mess with me, they mess with my students and I don't mean this in a pure physical sense. We should all help each other. On note although I encourage my students to take part in other Martial Arts activities outside of our organisation and national body, I would like you all to remember where your loyalties lie.

THE MIND OF A FIGHTER

The mind of a fighter works in many ways and the next statement I am about to make “I hope” sums it up, but not just in a physical sense. When confronted with the enemy, if the distance is too far, advance towards him and strike. When from first the distance is just right, strike from where you are, No thinking is required. With most Martial Artist however, the case is different. As soon as they stand against the enemy, they fix their glance on him: survey the distance between them: take up the position which they think will be most advantageous; measure the length; reflect on what kind of trickery's they will use, giving, taking away, or slowing of motion and so on. Their minds work in the busiest way possible on how best to make use of all the tactics they have learned. They have no idea whatsoever of any given heavenly reason and its function under varying conditions. The great mistake in Martial Arts is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement, you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Just let nature take its course, and you and your art will strike at the right moment.

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Reasons for Commencement and Goal Setting

People start taking part in Martial Arts for all kinds of varying reason, to get fit, to learn how to defend themselves, to improve their lives, and so on. but a person who continues then eventually sets goals and one of these might be to gain their Black belt, but to achieve this level is only the beginning, if they have grasped the true spirit of Martial Arts. I feel that to became a black belt in what we do or in any other style of Martial Art I hope this would apply, is to become an Instructor weather or not you wish to start your own school. The fact of the matter is to become a Martial Arts teacher is simple. I feel the boom in the Martial Arts has seen a continuing increase in the number of new entrants and a swing away from the Martial Philosophies to what I would term Martial Sports has increased. It is because of this if someone does quite well in tournaments the trend is to ask that person to start teaching the Arts.

INSTRUCTION

To be a good Instructor you must first start your training as an Assistant Instructor and by teaching hopefully your own Martial Arts will Improve. If you think that teaching is simple then by Instructing you may find it more difficult than you had anticipated. An instructor has to set an example in everything he/she does. However one needs to note that the most important aspects of teaching Martial Arts is the way of thinking and the character of the person who is to become an Instructor. At the start of their Martial Arts training their attitude or temperament may not be considered quite right to be an Martial Artist but as they continue to study, grow and learn this may change. Instructors are not Gods, they are only human and make mistakes, but hopefully they learn from these mistakes. It is because of this that such a person becomes an Instructor, not because they have a natural ability but because their always trying to improve themselves that they can become a Instructor.

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Simply because someone has done well at tournament is no guarantee that he, or she, will make a good Instructor. This becomes apparent when one considers whether or not the so-called champions of the world lead exemplary lives, and whether or not they are making a significant contribution to society. What would it be like if the person who became an Instructor thought only of winning competitions; he/she may have the physical strength and techniques, and be a strong player, but they can become consumed with over confidence that they lose sight of themselves. It may be that when such people became Instructors that they produce good players, however what they teach is only the physical or sporting side of Martial Arts, so their students has human beings are unbalanced. If the current trend continues to train Martial Sport Instructors then the spirit of Martial Arts will be lost. Then the unruly and uneducated who rely only on strength will take over. There is nothing wrong with tournaments as I do believe there are many benefits derived from competition such has to practice up on ones skills, fighting spirit and hopefully in most cases without causing injury to yourself or your opponent. But the problems occurs when the winners are looked upon as being the best Martial Artist and the loser ridiculed as being second rank. An instructor should look at educating his/her student and get away from the path of survival of the strongest and try to change the thinking of those who believe so.

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Over the years I have changed my thinking to feel that there is to much commercialism and competitive sport within the Martial Arts and that we should get back to teaching people of all ages from children to adult, men and women whether they are sixty or six, For example, there are people with physical disabilities, mental disabilities, socially disturbed, abused children. It is important that we accept all people into our Martial Art and accept them on his/her individual capabilities and effort, and then help them grow and develop. It is only by doing such things can the true nature of our Art can be understood by the general public. A student must remember that the a grading syllabus is only a guide, for example someone who is crippled in a wheelchair for the rest of there life can never be expected to execute a jumping high turning kick. should this then stop them receiving their Black Belt after years of perseverance, dedication and training? Martial Arts is for everyone not just the strong.

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It is because of the preceding reasons that I am often changing the Grading Syllabus, this is not to make life harder on people, but more so fairer to all, remember the syllabus is set but must remain flexible to allow a student to be judged on his or her individual capabilities. Also by change within our curriculum we are constantly updating our Techniques and improving in our art, thus bringing in new thought and ideals into our system. By adapting to Formfighting in this manner , we are following its greatest underling philosophy of constant improvement and change within ourselves for the better. Formfighting is a more modern day expression of self-defence and has its own principles and philosophies. People within our Martial Art should become a strong group of people who are always trying to improve their own skills and when we refer to skills we are not just referring to the fighting skills but to encourage all peoples to improve their talents in Arts, Crafts, leadership, Communication, and motivation skills. To appreciate all Arts, Music, Dance, etc and the wonders of nature and all living things and of course conceive the Martial Arts as a generic whole.

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Direction and balance

What all Martial Artist must take into consideration is that their Instructor can give them directions, but they themselves must find their own path or way. An Instructor can give direction but the student must find their own centre of balance. A student must learn about themselves, who they are and what they are, once he or she knows themselves then they can begin to develop into a Martial Artist and realise their own full potential. What a student lacks in one aspects of the Martial Arts, he or she may make up in other aspects. This is relevant with athletes just because someone is the worlds 100 metre sprint champion does not make them the worlds best in the decathlon. Formfighting is not a Martial Art that takes a bit of this and a bit of that, but is a Art that has a completely balanced system. We should as practitioners of our Martial Art try more and more to conceive the martial arts as a generic whole.

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What we must realises is that one art cannot be compared to another, this becomes apparent if we try to compare Judo to Taekwondo. The two cannot be compared as one is a grappling Art and the other a kicking art. The person who says that one is better than the other or vice a versa, as no real understanding of the arts. If we take this approach what will happen to ourselves and our art is that we will simply push forward with no control and no real understanding of what potential we have collectively. Is this not the way we as Martial Artist, should Act? Should we not therefore conceive our Martial Arts as a generic whole an approach that allows us to connect to other Martial Arts. Thus giving us a better chance to grow and benefiting the people that wish to use our approach. The best Instructors, students and schools deserve a chance to grow, for as such they will bring all Martial Artists together, this I do not mean under one style (or banner) as each style is unique in itself. I would hope that their perception is one that the Martial Arts should be seen as a generic whole, I myself after years of soul searching and getting to know myself more feel that I am no longer in conflict with myself or anyone else. Is this not what we has Martial Artists should be striving for? To be balanced. To be clear I am not competing with anyone else, the only person I am in competition with is myself. This does not mean that I am in conflict but more that I am continually trying to improve in my Art, myself and have a greater awareness of my own potential and all things around me.

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Change

There is very few constants in life, but one of the few is change and as we continue to learn we generally change, hopefully this change is for the better, and as this occurs within ourselves our Martial Art will change with us. this change and learning should bring about personal growth and development. All people hopefully, tend to learn from their mistakes in life and as they grow older if they have learnt from the past they tend to change and thus does their thinking. Remembering to start with someone may not have what we consider to be the right attitude (attitude being a way of thinking) or temperament for Martial Arts training. This also applies with becoming a Black Belt. To become a Black Belt is wanting to continue ones personal learning and growth. Through Martial Arts training we develop the body and mind in unison, hopefully then enhancing our character and integrity. One who cease to train ceases to be a black belt. The dictionary defines Martial as Warlike, if this was our true concept, then our Art would only be there for the strong.

TO BASE ONES LEVEL

All the basic physical skills needed to be competent in ones art are obtained at the black belt level. For a student to base his level of achievement he/she should aspire to reach a standard higher than that set by his or hers Instructors or Senior belts. hopefully by taking on this approach a student will achieve the required standard. A student at all times should capitalise on practical experience gained with his or her Instructor or senior belt. He or she should endeavour at all times to push their seniors to the limit, attempt at all times to match them and hopefully learn from any mistakes made in their techniques. Fear should not enter into a students mind, as no senior belt or Instructor should train in this manner, if he or she did then they would be teaching the survival of the strongest. Remember that one application that is effective on one person may not be effective on another. Every person has different strengths and weakness. If we don't take this into consideration then no-one would ever achieve the level of Black belt e.g.; a 10 year old girl cannot expected to be as strong as a forty year old man or the man expected to be as flexible as the girl. A student hopefully develops his/her skills to a higher level and at the same time an Instructor or senior belt continues to maintain theirs. This also apply to persons of the same level. By taking on this format we protect each other and ourselves, keep each other honest and leave no doubt on the question of the capabilities our Art.

DISCIPLINE

Within your art discipline, this is something that your instructor cannot give you. Your Instructor may try to enforce it and maintain it, but it must come from within yourself (self control).

If a person is dedicated and committed to their training, then this should be firm and strong and also maintained, this in itself is a form of discipline and control If you are committed to train once a week so be it, but if its twice a week or more maintain it, don’t let it drop of. This is discipline, self control and this comes from within yourself. Not from your Instructor. Your Instructor cannot force you to attend classes, this is your choice.

On the same token, once you are in class, your Instructor cannot force you to participate fully, you must have the commitment in the class to gain the full benefits of martial training, again this is discipline and self control that comes from within yourself. Sometimes you will have to dig deep to find this and the motivation that’s goes along with it, but once you do you will understand fully the benefits that you can gain.

That is to participate fully and to the best of your ability and beyond that to achieve the results that our system requires. By approaching your classes and training in this manner, you do not interfere with those who wish to achieve. Those who participate fully, work hard, train hard will turn every little achievement into a big one. Then when you look back two (2) to three (3) years from now, you will be able to see how far you really have come. The other choice you have is to just take it easy and all that you have done will fall by the wayside, as the saying goes “easy come easy go”.

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Working hard will hopefully make you appreciate a lot more, what you have got and earned and then hopefully you will put more effort into maintaining what you have achieved. Then when you look back at how far you have come, what you have done and the self discipline and self sacrifice that was involved in obtaining your goals and targets, you might find that you will be very happy and proud of yourself and what you have become.

The only real Battle that we have in life is the enemy that is within. We all have fears, doubts, different forms of strengths and weakness. This is where the war is fought, “to know ourselves”. Our strengths and to maintain them. Our weakness and to improve on them. Our fears to overcome them and our doubts to be positively assured of them, “That is to think positively and wash away all negativity”. With this we will know ourselves and be centred and balanced in all that we do.

Sometimes the discipline involved to achieve this means self sacrifice, we all have choices in life, for example only, within our art, if I run and hold examination and promotion tests on Friday nights, come a particular Friday evening you may have a hot date you want to go out with, this is the only night they have free or its a school friends Birthday party, whatever the case may be, you have a choice. If you choose your examination then you sacrifice the date or the party, if you choose the date or the party then you sacrifice “maybe” your examination and promotion test. Ever way there is self sacrifice from the choice you make on what you want from life. On the other hand if you attend and the go to your event afterwards, then this is self discipline.

Another example of self discipline is at school, work or whatever the case may be, your had a long day, its been hard work, your tired, you feel crook, how ever you feel doesn’t matter, ‘its only a state of mind” and your favourite TV show is on, you want to stay home and watch it, but no you attend football training, your basketball game, your part time schooling classes in the evening and use your DVD to record your favourite TV show. But maybe you don’t have a VCR. This as well as being self motivation is self discipline and the choice is yours.

Ever way you make a choice and must sacrifice something for the other, self sacrifice. I hope that those of you studying in our art or deciding to study in the art “ Formfighting ” would take the same approach to it as with the last example.

To quote “look at the long term gratification and not the short or instant”.

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Discipline; control, order maintained among persons under control or command; train to obedience and order.

Sacrifice; giving up of something for the sake of something more estimable, important, or urgent; give up as of inferior importance's; Ignoring the slaughter off because this is not relevant to the context here in.

So in essence what I hope for is that all students practicing in our art can develop their own form of discipline and self control and at the same appreciate that sometimes to achieve what we want out of life takes sacrifice. When you have achieved this self control, hopefully you will be able to learn who you are and know more about yourself, first, accept whom you are, then develop and grow within your art. our art, my art.

Always endeavouring to attain a high standard of physical fitness, developing personal character and integrity to the highest of standards, approaching others in the spirit of friendship and heading social ethics at all times.

Having respect and loyalty to our fellow students, instructors and senior belts and maintaining courtesies to each other at all times. Persevering in all things that we do.

IMAGE, POSITIONING, TRUST AND PERCEPTION

Just a quick overview about what Formfighting is, Now that you know the definition and philosophy of what Formfighting is all about. But what I now must stress, is that we are not a Traditional Martial Art, and as such cannot be compared to them in any way or form. We should be training as a whole, has a group and conceiving our Art as a generic whole. For me to resort to a method of teaching and walking around and correcting and saying you must be doing it this way or that, is locking ourselves into a traditional method that has no room for growth or development. By studying in the Formfighting Martial Arts system their is no right or wrong way but there is always room for improvement, e.g. if you have developed a descent low side kick it is time to set a new goal, a decent middle side kick. If you look closer at the more traditional styles, their methods of training are not how you fight. That does not mean that we do not hold the values of discipline but our training methods should be more practical and realistic and the discipline does not come from me but comes from within yourself.

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You ever want to achieve and do it or you don’t, from one belt level to the next, their will be goals and objectives for you to achieve and these should be challenging and enjoyable. For some of you to achieve these you will have to practice outside of class. All goals and objectives that are set are attainable and it is just a matter of whether or not you are prepared to accept the amount of work required by you to obtain these standards. If this seems hard then you just have to take it one step at a time and before you know it you’ll be much closer than you ever thought possible. It is important to note that all people have different work levels so the time frame in which you achieve the required standard will vary and the point should be noted here that on obtaining the level of 1st Dan degree Black belt belt means that a person has only completed the basics of their learning or training and in most cases this could take between 2.5 to 4.5 years depending on someone dedication’s and how much of a work load they are prepared to accept to achieve this level and from this point onwards it can take anything from 10 to 15 years to reach the level of 4th Dan . How someone views the Martial Arts whether they are a beginner or an advanced student is primarily concerned with their image and positioning of the Martial Arts.

Image = ‘Composite mental picture formed by people about an organisation or its style.’

Positioning =’the process of owning a part of the students mind and in so doing creating a position of trust, loyalty and the students desire to learn.

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As you can see from both these definitions, image and positioning relate to the Martial Arts influences that are internal within our own organisation to the external forces outside of our organisation. In this regard it relates more to the someone's perceptions than to reality. The fact of the matter is I am a Martial Arts Instructor not a Marketeer or salesperson and are therefore more concerned with the reality of our Martial Art and not the conventional image that persons from outside or inside of our organisation develop on the Martial Arts, based on what other styles do. But in regards to both of these topics what I want to Achieve is a image of practicality and reality and a positioning of trust and loyalty among all Students, Senior Belts and Instructors in our organisation Trust is the ultimate word, I can take many roads to Brisbane, there are shorter ways and longer ways this depends on how much time I have, if I have got to be there tomorrow, I will fly, but in three months I might drive and stop at every town on the way. But the end result is still achieved I arrive at my required destination. Perception, often it is said that we see what we want to see in any given situation. The fact that we all ‘See’ the same stimulus from the environment does not mean we’ll have the same perceptions. Just view the two figures, do you see an old women or a young women and do you see a vase or a profile silhouettes of twins?

Primary needs (biogenetic)

These are needs that are important to the continuance of life eg; food, drink. warmth, etc. These needs are innate.

Secondary Needs

These need are not innate but learned. Formfighting is a generic Martial Art (e.g. Feed the man meat). Traditional Martial Arts are product-specific (eg; Macdonald's Hamburgers) Quite often students start of in the more general generic area then move on to the more product specific area.

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