Self Perfection Drills Or Self Preservation Drills?

In the JKD world it is said that self perfection training drills gives you attribute development which self preservation drills can not,just how important is it to train in self perfection drills in regard to overall self protection training?

Marc

To be honest, I think that’s probably an old school mentality, and one that certainly the people who I train with in my generation have evolved away from.

There is only really one kind of training, functional training, developing the skills and attributes that are specifically related to the end result. In short – do it the way you’re going to do it. If I want to develop my boxing attributes then I’ll box, if I want to develop my grappling attributes then I’ll grapple, and if I want to develop my attributes when facing a knife or three guys then I’ll train against a knife or three guys.

The notion that there are a separate set of drills that will “perfect” these attributes is a nonsense. If they perfected these attributes then everyone would already be doing them, but they aren’t, because the training they need to be functional is already in the game. A common self perfection concept is that stick work will perfect your body mechanics. How many Boxing gyms around the world employ stick work? None. How many JKD schools have produced world boxing champions? None. The notion of perfecting something that is already functional is a fallacy.

Great answer Michael.

How true!!!

Mick Tully-As a veteran JKD/Kali practitioner of many years,what's your take on this?

Marc

I personally think you have to ask yourself why are we training, what reasons are you involved in martial arts for?
i got involved in martial arts 25 years ago after being gutted like a fish having my liver, lungs and my right ventricle in my heart punctured, aswell as my head,hip and gall bladder stabbed, i wanted functionality and i found the arts that gave me Self preservation, but i also study these arts for self perfection, for fun, for health for friendship and brotherhood, if i was just training for the thug on the street after 25 years training i may aswell quit or buy a gun!!.
Just my take on this.
Best regards to all.
Eddie

If I may Eddie, that's kind of misrepresenting the question into a very broad "is it all about fighting or should it be about wider benefits" type debate. With respect, I don't think that's the question.

The question is about the notion, popularised in JKD, that (to quote Mark) - "self perfection training drills gives you attribute development which self preservation drills can not". I maintain that's nonsense. Functional, activity-specific training will develop far stronger attributes than supplemental routines that bear no resemblance to the end result.

I also believe, to pick up on a very good point you made, that honest, functional, results-driven training is more fun, more healthy, and more rewarding. You don't have to stop being martial to gain wider benefits from martial arts.

I have to agree with both takes..funtional training is spot on...I also agree with eddie and i dont think he was trying to misrepresent the question purposely..Training should be about fun friendship and BROTHERHOOD. I have found some of my greatest friends i the world of martial arts. It is also a fact for me that martial arts saved my life because of this...Great question Healthy debate more please..

Great answers guys!
I can agree with both sides of this discussion,as Mike said earlier
I think Marcs original question and that binary way of looking at training
Methodology has been eschewed for a more progressive style of training.If I am 'r'real' then I train boxing and muay thai......I also enjoy all of Sifu Rick Fayes training drills even the ones we all acknowledge are for attribute training and line familiarization......as Eddie said earlier though I'm into the training for more than the asskicking......plus may I just add that both Mike and Eddie are at the top of their respective games and this question has proved how much training can play a differing role in all of our lives....oh.......my simple answer to your original question?
I do both! Badly I may add lol
Mick x