Principle vs. Concept vs. Technique

Is your self-defense training principle, concept, or technique oriented?

To understand the importance of this question, you must first understand the distinction between a Technique, a concept, and a principle.

• A technique is a specific set of moves that work under exact circumstances (this person stands like so, extends his hand in this manner, and you do this). Under these conditions this move works well. However, if the person moves his foot, hand, or body the technique will fail because the conditions have changed.Worse, your attacker may never put himself into that "perfect" position.

• Concepts are simply notions, ideas, thoughts, or opinions. Nothing more, but these ideas once proven are the impetus toward understanding principles

• Principles, however, are the underlying premises and rules of function giving rise to any number of techniques. These elements remain consistent, no matter what is happening. If your training is technique and/or concept oriented, and you are not attacked in the exact way you were taught to, or thought to handle it you will be at a loss. Your self-defense techniques will fail, and you will be hurt. However, with principle based training you can react to the situation and adapt as things change.

I think that most good instructors understand principles. This is why they can make a technique work that doesn't work for you. When things start going wrong, they automatically adjust what they are doing to make it work. You can't do this unless you understand the principles behind the move. It is up to you to badger your instructor to teach you how to do the same thing.

I cannot stress enough the importance of principle-based training for self-defense. In this one concept, everything I have mentioned is rolled up in one package. If the conditions change who cares? He moved his foot? That just means instead of pushing this way, you push that way. He decided to quit punching and charge? So? You know about dealing with momentum. He has a weapon or a few buddies? You simply change your strategy. As for the rest, if you understand the principles, you can make up an effective technique to handle whatever is happening and do it on the spot.

Fighting and self-defense are ever-changing, fluid situations with no set solutions. You need to know that going in, because so much of what is called self-defense training assumes it is self-defense. This is because it is usually taught by people who have never seen the whole elephant. Without the benefit of first hand experience they have no way of knowing what they are leaving out of their instruction.

While this list is by no means complete, I have attempted to show you some factors that have critical influences on real self-defense. If the elements I have addressed are not integral within your training, you are being taught something other than Self-Defense. While there is nothing inherently wrong with Art-style or sport-style martial arts, without addressing these elements you will never make the crossover to effective self-defense.

In closing, train for what happens most, and you will be able to handle most of what happens. Do not take something as vital as you or your loved-ones self-defense on faith. I implore you to challenge the concepts and techniques. Ask questions. Try it out on bigger, stronger people as well as smaller, faster partners.

Good Training will provide good results.