There are so many details to each technique.
But how deep should you go with such details?
You could always try to dig deeper and learn more.
Or should you get just good enough for the time being and move on to some other things?
I wanted to bring up this topic because I recently watched this excellent video by Jon Thomas, featuring his coach Lucas Lepri.
Around 10:22 in this video…
Jon explains how small details of a technique can make a massive difference when you use it against skilled opponents.
I agree with him on this point.
Learning details is essential. I believe you should try to sharpen your techniques so that they will become more precise.
But if you’re a beginner or learning a new technique, I wouldn’t recommend you to try learning every single detail.
I’m inclined to think that “just aiming at becoming enough and filling in the details later” would be a better approach.
Of course, we could discuss how good is good enough, but let’s put this discussion for another time.
Thinking about this topic reminded me of a quote from Zen in the Art of Archery. It’s a book written by Eugen Herrigel, who spent some time living in Japan in the 1920s as a philosophy professor.
He learned the Japanese style of archery and wrote a book about his learning experiences of this art.
In one of the book’s early chapters, Eugene talks about his experience of learning how to breathe properly.
The thing is…
His master didn’t tell him from the beginning about the correct breathing method. Naturally, Eugene wonders why that was the case.
So, he asks his friend about it.
According to this friend..
Eugene wouldn’t have understood the importance of breathing if his master had taught him about it from the beginning.
Then he says this to Eugene:
“You had to suffer shipwreck through your own efforts before you were ready to seize the lifebelt he threw you.”
That’s a pretty powerful line here.
I understand it’s natural for many of us to want to find shortcuts and try to avoid suffering as much as possible.
But learning enough to make your own efforts and suffering “shipwreck” might be more beneficial to you in the long run after all.
Does this sound counterintuitive?
Or do you agree with this “suffer first” approach?
Or is this something you had never thought about?