WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ‘TECHNICAL’?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ‘TECHNICAL’?

This is a question that came up last week after class.  We were discussing the compliment–“that person is so technical”, or “you are very technical”.  It’s a very nice compliment and many Jiu Jitsu practitioners aim to be more technical as they see a connection between it and efficiency and economy of movement.  This question got me to thinking.

What really does it mean to be “technical”?

I asked around, and thought about it for a few days.  This is what we came up with:

– Your movements don’t use or require a lot of energy

-You can see things ahead of time; in technical drilling, or live sparring

– You are relaxed, your movement exhibit personal control

– You have offensive sequences of attacking combinations and defensive sequences of survival positions which are relaxed and energy efficient.

– An absence of undue tension in position or movement

– You have an ability to change gears: slow and steady control, quicker and smooth transitions

– How it sounds and looks:  If you listen to someone who is using a great amount of strength, speed, and explosiveness without specific direction they may be grimacing the whole time they are training.  They may be grunting, swinging, banging and crashing in one direction or another.  A technical practitioner usually looks calm, with a zen like approach to the movements, sounding smooth and transitioning between offence and defence with very little friction.

Someone who is technical is calm in all defensive and offensive situations because they have a reasonable, reliable answer.  They also know and understand there is a way out, they know their is a way out of the situation, it may not have yet appeared, but with patience it is inevitable.  They know that a positive solution is available.

In short someone that is technical is skillful.  They do not have any of the markers of energy inefficiency or use of extreme physical qualities like strength, explosiveness, speed, or flexibility without the presence of specific form.  That means their movements have purpose, direction, and produce a positive result.  In Jiu Jitsu that positive result may mean calmly defending certain specific attacks, it may mean effortlessly controlling a wild attacker and applying a hold on them that forces them first to burn out, then to either pass out from a strangle hold or surrender to the control of a joint lock.

One final thought that I would like to add is that being technical is a lifelong pursuit.  Once you find an easier, less labour intensive way to do anything it becomes the only logical way to do something, plus it can be shared, and improved upon throughout your life.

In a nutshell, Jiu Jitsu practitioners that are regarded as technical are both skillful, and efficient.

All the best with your pursuit of efficiency in all areas of life!

OnlytheEfficientSurvive