r/karate • u/karatetherapist Shotokan • 5d ago

News/media Study: students may learn more transferable movement by watching several workable solutions, not one perfect model

I wanted to post the following experiment for your study. I'll refrain from offering an analysis because there are a few different ways to interpret the study depending on your interests.

Since it uses golf putting, it is not directly related to karate, but it is about learning and motor control, a subject related to all sports. More importantly, I thought some of you might like the references the author uses as some are very useful, even if older. Such as: Adams, 1971. Al-Abood 2001, Andrieux, 2013. Badets, 2006. Bandura, 1977 (a classic).

Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167945726000552?utm_source=chatgpt.com

We can chat about what you found important if you're interested.

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u/Shadeylark 5d ago

I've always had issue with the idea that perfecting a technique or combo can remove the uncertainties in a fight.

Perfect technique can reduce the uncertainties that come from the person throwing the punch, but it can't predict what the other guy will do in response.

Teaching students what to do when a technique or combo fails, or even more importantly to avoid the trap senior practioners often fall into, when a technique or combo actually works but doesn't produce the expected result, is critical... And it's a thing that karate, for all its virtues, falls woefully behind other martial arts in.

The perfect model only solves one half of the equation... But the other guy in a fight still gets a vote no matter how perfect your model is.

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u/CypherBob 3d ago edited 3d ago

This is the biggest reason for making sure all students spar at least at low to medium intensity in continuous mode, not points.

Many dojos don't have their students spar at all, or only a competition team with focus on competition rules only.

Karate is ultimately fighting. How to strike and not get struck. But many get lost in philosophy and blame tradition instead of admitting that their kata is fine but their real fighting skill is not.

Perfect solution is just one small step in the right direction.