Techniques vs Principles

What makes an effective self-defense system? Is it the techniques that it teaches? Is it the 'dojo', with all of it's traditions? Is it the uniforms with all the cool patches and colored belts? Or is an effective system one that teaches the principles of combat, not just techniques?

All self-defense systems - including ours - will have specific techniques, of course. But practitioners should never mistake the technique for the truth of combat, which is principles.

For example, say you’re practicing against a hooking punch attack. Instead of trying to block the strike and then deliver a strike of his own, the defender intercepts the forward momentum of the attacker before the strike can reach its peak of extension. This stops the attacker in his tracks, exposing the face, throat, and lower limbs to a variety of strikes, kicks, knees and elbows.

This is an example of the R A I D Principle – Attack by Interception.

There are a number of excellent techniques that can accomplish the same goal…but they are only examples of the principle. Is one technique better than the other? No! The point is that you should not mistake the technique for the principle.

Think of combat training like building a house. Principles are like the blueprints for the house encompassing every aspect of how the house is going to be built, and techniques are the individual skill sets and tools required to get the house built.

If you train the principle as well as the technique, in the heat of battle you will be able to react instinctively.
Principles can be recalled under stress easier than just techniques. This mind-set will make you faster, more accurate and effective. It is impossible to remember one unique defense technique for every possible type of attack. Life just doesn’t work that way...

If you memorize 300 defenses against 300 attacks, as soon as you go outside, you’re going to be assaulted by attack No. 301.

Keep Punching!