Open it up
by Matt Barnes - originally posted at www.capecodmartialarts.com
Motor skills - things like kicks or combinations - can be
considered open or closed. A closed skill is like a
basketball free throw, and an open skill is like a layup
against a defender. In a free throw, the line is in the
same place, the hoop is the same height and distance away,
you choose when to throw the ball. In other words, nothing
like combat.
When an athlete learns an open skill, there are actually
two things that need to be learned. First the athlete
learns how to do the skill, and then, when. If the second
part is not learned, the skill is essentially useless. To
help teach the skill, sometimes the skill is taught as if
it were closed. For example, consider the chest pass. To
learn the right mechanics, the skill is taught standing
still. However, if the only way you can perform it is
standing still, it will do you no good in the game,
especially if you don't know when to use it.
For best results, if you learn an open skill as a closed
skill, you should practice it closed for the smallest time
possible before practicing it in context. In the case of
rank material - combinations, kempos, grabs, etc - most
people learn them initially as a closed technique. The
attacker starts in a half moon stance, left foot forward
and performs a right step through lunge punch. Without
context, the skill is essentially useless.
How do we fix it? Open it up. Practice off the jab. Then
the jab-cross. Then hooks. Then moving. And so on. You will
need to adjust things, things may look 'imperfect', but you
will have skills that work.
