Technique Versus Tactic

Beyond the gun, beyond the bow, the knife, a bat, there are tactics. The weapon is not the tactic; it simply carries out the tactic. The hundreds of techniques that you might learn in martial arts are the collection of weapons. But they are rendered useless without the tactics to lead them and support them into battle.

Baseball has its gear; so does football; and tennis. While they do not share the equipment, they do share the guiding mind behind their use — tactics!

Train hard. Be serious. Study your opponent; study yourself; make a plan; then follow the plan. It is the tactics that count in the end. If two people meet with similar skill, it is the one who has smart, clever tactics that will prevail.

Spend time training techniques. But don’t shy away from pondering tactics — ones that YOU can use based on your personality, size, strength, and tenacity.

Maria Baird Interview

LOCAL STORIES PUBLICATIONAUGUST 26, 2022 Rising Stars: Meet Maria Baird Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Baird. Q: Hi Maria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. A:…

Structure

Structure is the hose that water pours through. Without the hose, there is no possible way of transporting water in such a focused way. If the hose is weak, it breaks; if the hose is too stiff, it’s lack of pliability impedes its full use. Our bodies are similar to the hose. They are the…

There is Nothing Like Playing Push-Hands for Exercise!

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Sincerity

Sincerity is a primary ingredient in achieving greater kung fu success. However, often absolutely sincere students do not seem to improve. This is a matter of perception and individual differences. Improvement is difficult to notice sometimes. And yet, there are times when one notices right away they have improved their skills, their confidence, and all….

Ignore Result – Follow Process

“Ignore result” was a common mantra of Grandmaster Suh. He constantly reminded us not to “try too hard for power”; power will come from excellent training that follows principles — if you try for power, you will lose it. This is such an important point that I should post it every day for a decade!…

Some Interesting History

Mr. Suh’s teacher was Park Chull-hee, the man in the center of the photo below. To the right of Mr. Park is Grandmaster Kim Soo, a friend and training partner of Mr. Suh back in Korea. They were part of the bodyguard team together. Grandmaster Kim Soo continues to teach in Texas, Chayon-ryu style —…

Inch by Inch

  When training a martial art, it is important to keep in mind that you are involved with an “inch by inch” endeavor — that it takes time to do something well; and, more particularly, it takes time to undo what time has done! You could be 15; you could be 50: but those are…

Emerson Church — Pursuing Your Self

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Just Keep Training – It Will Come: Part 3

(In response to a interesting post on Facebook) “To illustrate my point, slightly, a story: when you are playing push hands (any style or version), you are implementing the basics you have been taught. Over and over you play, improving your “game.” Soon, you become difficult to defeat. One day an advanced player asks to…