Now, I know there are a lot of technique lovers out there. You know, who you are. The ones that keep saying to their instructors (or in their heads), 'Show me more techniques!!! I've mastered these ones!!'

To make a confession, I used to be one of those people too! But as I travel though the martial arts, I've come to find that techniques are useless - except on one condition: that you use them to master the concepts and principles behind them.

I know in the beginning, we all just want to learn that really cool technique, you know the one - the 'Wham, Bam, and Good Night Buddy Boy' technique. You learn: put hand here, move feet here, step forward, and poke here, touch there, and punch this way, and you're done.

Over time you may learn to master that one technique. But how would you like to take that technique and transform it into 1000 variations?

To do this, you need to ask 'Can I break down the technique to a set of concepts or principles?'

What exactly are concepts and principles?

A concept is defined as:

1. A general idea derived or inferred from specific instances or occurrences.
2. Something formed in the mind; a thought or notion.

A principle is defined as:

1. An important underlying law or assumption required in a system of thought.

2. The basic way in which something works
3. The primary source of something.

Many martial arts do have principles and concepts. I know of a couple of arts that do teach concepts and principles, and Wing Chun is one of the best examples of this.

To name a few:

1. Centerline Theory
2. Angling
3. Distance
4. Facing

Now let's look at a technique where you end up using a wrist lock on your partner. What have you done?

If you say, 'I've done a wrist lock technique', then you haven't looked deep enough.

Look for a principle or root law that you may be able to use in other techniques. What you've really done is limit his range of motion. Ever notice that all joint locks work on this principle?

Look at the way you're facing him. What angles do you need to help complete a proper lock? If you know the range of motion in a joint and what angles are 'lock friendly', you can make up any lock you want.

So the next time you learn a new technique from someone, break it down. Try to find some principles and concepts that you can play with. Find some friends that you can work with on your assumptions.

By doing this you won't be limited in the number of techniques you have nor the circumstances in which to use them. That's the real way to get the most from your martial art!

Keep Training, Keep Praying, Keep thinking.

Chuck O'Neill is an evangelical Christian and martial artist. Over his 12 years of experience in martial arts he as had formal martial arts training in Judo, Tae Kwon Do, and Kosho Ryu Kenpo Karate. He also has had training in elements of Western Boxing, grappling, Tai Chi, and Wushu. He is currently learning Wing Chun from Sifu Nelson Chan of the Christian Wushu Fellowship, located in Toronto, Ontario.

The opinions of this article are solely those of the writer and are not the expressed opinions of the Christian Wushu Fellowship. Copyright 2004 Charles G. O'Neill

To read other articles by Chuck O'Neill check out "Modern Martial Artist"