From: Badger_s
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: The Hallmarks of a good Fighting System
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 15:05:44 -0400
Message-ID: <cmrs421kqu8s92eu5haicvke8bsq2qaoad@4ax.com>

I think we've come a long way in understanding unarmed combat and can
probably do a decent job of making a list of qualities that a good system
should include. In no particular order:

 o Non-attribute based
 o Aliveness is emphasized
 o Aims to reduce the high chaos of a fight
 o Has a reply to all the ranges of combat
 o Trains with resisting opponents
 o Has a well-defined and functional delivery system
 o Has a core art that allows functionalization of any exotic moves
 o Emphasizes learning defense first so that there's always a refuge
 o Trains the flow from range to range. 
 o Built upon a good endurance base but uses interval/burst training (Trav)
 o Intelligent use of training gear emphasizing movement, intent and timing
 o Is fun and largely non-injurious
 o 75% of success is based on conditioning and aggression
 o recognizes the venues of fighting.(*)

To get there from here I think it's important to:

1. have a good coach. Can even be a training partner. Feedback and going
out of your comfort zone is crucial to make advances.
2. make use  technology such as the heart rate monitor
3. recognize and work to improve the ODOA loop and other
psycho-neurological concepts.
4. train the range with the people that do that range best, be it bjj,
wrestling, MT, boxing. Don't try to stay within your 'style' and make
'anti-' techniques work.
5. go outside your style, be open to 'what works'.
6. test and retest and work to failure. Even the best stuff has failure
points.
7. work with a variety of opponents, some better than you, some not as good
(teaching teaches!)
8. enter competitions

This is just off the top of my head. I'm sure folks here can think of other
hallmarks and important concepts.

Hope this is of interest

-B

(*)1. Freestyle MMA, most anything goes, in controlled sport environment.
2. Street Confrontations done from a realtively standing start
3. Sport Competition, rules and safety based, purposefully limited.
4. Demonstration Art
5. Mass/Group Combat, many against one.
6. Mass Conflict/War.  Mob violence and actual mechanized war.

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