Jeff:
What would you say are the top 10 technique problems Instructors should look for and some recommendations on correcting them?
Ouch....put me on the spot. Here are a few...I'll come back and edit it later.
10. Lazy attacks: Instructors as well as their students become lax in their technique when throwing punches....This is typically most easily found however in their stick work (due to the extra extension).
Solution: Stop doing it.
9. Watching the weapon etc.: At times, we should concentrate specifically on the weapons. However, I can walk in most any seminar and see instructors watching the attacks rather than keeping a soft focus.
Solution: Stop doing it.
8. Misjudging distance: Mid-level students often fight in their comfortable distance rather than staying out of range (if only a few cm/inches) and then exploding in to finish off the opponent.... the secondary mistake is getting out to quickly and not finishing the opponent.
Solution: Stop doing it.
7. Training with a dominate foot: We typically grown up in martial arts with one foot or the other as the dominate foot forward (e.g., boxing: left forward). Time needs to be spent utilizing either of our feet as the dominate foot...this should change with the situation. Shuffle footing is good, but running forward (exploding) is best.
Solution: Stop doing it.
6. Utilizing one quadrant of the body at a time: Students often forget that they can use more than one quadrant at a time (for example: 1. hit, 2. kick 3 takedown). Why not do all three at the same time with an explosion on energy off of the rear foot. Three step at one time....think of it as cheating for someone who can't count. Not something to teach beginners, but for the advanced guys it's a must.
Solution: Stop doing it.
5. Slicing the opponent: We have to hack and cleave more. You have to use pressure to cut a piece of bread, or when removing a limb. We need to sink the punch much more than we need to snap the punches. We need to drive with the stick, cleave with the blade, and attack with the gun. Watch Mark Lynne when he works with his hands, stick and Tom with a knife...they are two cats that get this one done right.
Solution: Stop doing it.
4. Being too strong: GM Ernesto Presas harrassed me for a couple of years over this one....and I finally understood what he meant. Don't overextend your power past the place that you want it to pain to reside. For Thai kicks: Drive them into the opponent rather than through them. Punch through the opponents sternum and stop at their kidneys. Once you are too stong, you have to use to much strength to recover from the attack to defend yourself, or re-attack.
Solution: Stop doing it.
3. Too tense: Strength is good, power is good, speed is good, explosive tension is good, but you have to relax. The "Flow" is good. The very good martial artist/fighter etc. that we can name are relaxed and ready to counter.
Solution: Stop doing it.
2. Not ready: Many, many times I watch students at seminars be surprised by an attack. You should have at least three or four counters in your backpack (your 99% techniques) ready to go for when the Shite hit the fan. You can't stand their and try to figure out the next move. #2 is the number one criteria for me when I'm asked if someone is ready to test.....many times, I've said no based on this one alone.
Solution: Stop doing it.
10. Poor balance: You know this one had to be listed on the top ten list as #1 by me. Your #1 job is to have your balance 110% of the time. You don't have balance, and you'll take a dirt nap. This is true for hand, stick, knife and gun. This is the number one difference between the people that do very good martial arts and the people that are magicians.
Solution: Stop doing it.
Ok, I'll be proactive and say that the poor grammar, misspellings, etc. are just for color and are the fault of the computer keyboard.
I understand that I didn't detail solutions
This should be interesting....