Art and the Martial Arts

Art and the Martial Arts

Art and the Martial Arts…  Lets start with a sketch: When teaching here a Savarese BJJ Academy, (www.njbjj.com), I often keep in mind the analogy of the artistic painter. The painter begins with a sketch and then fills in all the details over time to arrive finally at a beautiful painting. So too, the martial artist must approach every skill that he or she learns in a similar fashion. It’s tempting to jump straight into details, after all, we are told so often it’s the details that make the difference. I believe it’s essential however, to begin with a general idea of the underlying purpose and context of the move first, and once this is clearly established, then move into details. Details without direction is just so much noise that won’t improve performance and can be confusing to new students. Start with what are you trying to accomplish and why this is a good thing and when you employ it. Then start with an overview of the move and finish with details. So like the painter, begin with a sketch and in time let the painting fill out the picture into a work of art that all who see it will admire. Here I chat with many of our students in a recent competition team training day, creating an outline that will give the practice session a sense of direction and purpose that they can build towards over the training time.