One Minute Martial Artist
Your guide to gaining focus and preparation before, during and after a training session.
part one

A few years ago Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, MD came out with a book titled "The One Minute Manager." Soon after followed more books: "The One Minute Sales Person," "The One Minute for Yourself" and even the "The One Minute Golfer." After reading all these books (except the one on golfing) and understanding the benefits of preparation and focus, I coined the phrase (and more importantly, the training concept), "The One Minute Martial Artist." This article is a brief excerpt of my concepts.

Basically, the One Minute Martial Artist Concept is broken into 3 active parts:

1. Beginning of class
2. During class
3. End of class

I say, "Beginning, During and End of class" because this concept is part of the way we train at Tew Ryu the Martial Science. If your system or instructor does not follow this training concept - you can simply change the formula to the following:

1. Before class
2. Break in class (this may or may not be possible)
3. After class

Since much of the One Minute Martial Artist is mental, you should be able to incorporate the concepts into any training program.

Beginning of Class - Just a Minute

1. Mind, Body, Spirit position.
2. Open Focus
3. MBS questions

Mind, Body Spirit Position - Giddy-Up!
Before we begin a class in the Martial Science, all the students will line up from left to right (left being highest rank). Normally, I don't believe in having too much order or structure because it can lead to a lack of individualism. But, in this case, it is actually beneficial for the student of life to have some form of foundation and order. We fight to break the rules, but we don't fight to remove the guidelines - this strategy is helpful in life, school, religion, health and training.

This line up and stance is actually called the Mind, Body, Spirit, Position.  The idea is to stand in horse stance while focusing on your goals through the triangle you have positioned with your hands. Refer to the Mind Martial Science section on our web site for the meaning behind Mind, Body and Spirit. You want to use the same principles here. 

This Mind, Body, Spirit position and stance is a metaphor for life. Stand strong, keep your focus open and work on your goals using Mind, Body and Spirit.

When you are standing in the Mind, Body, Spirit position and looking through the triangle, you are checking to see that all is in balance. All the while, you do not focus directly on one problem or thought, (you do not dwell), you look through it. You are stable and you endure. This is the way of the "Total Warrior" (practitioner of the Martial Science). You hold this position for at least one minute and until the instructor is ready to begin class.

The concept is to develop your strength and focus, while heading in the direction of your goals. You will begin to understand the endurance part once you have stood in Horse stance for more than 5 minutes. 

This stance or position, is a form of meditation. Your stance symbolizes your life, secure and strong, yet there is enough pain or discomfort to offer a challenge and help you grow. This is felt through the legs and arms and transmitted to the mind.  As you look through the triangle you are looking past it and not actually focusing on any one thing. 

Open Focus
We call this stance the "Focus" stance, but you need to understand that we mean "open focus" with the idea of how to stay focused on your goals. Staying focused means that you don't direct your attention to very small details only to be hit from something you should have seen or been aware of. By looking through and ahead, while keeping your focus open, you are more likely to be aware of your surroundings during your quest. This will leave you open for opportunities and warn you of impending danger.

Try this: Stand about 5 feet from a wall. Hold up your index finger (palm inward) about 6 inches from your face. Now focus in on the finger and look at your fingerprint. This is "closed focus." Now, change your focus to the wall without moving your head or finger, simply adjust your eyes. The finger will move out of focus and the wall (straight ahead) will come into view. Now look in the direction of the wall, but don't focus on any one thing. This is open Focus.

You are still looking in the right direction, but you are more aware of what will come into your view. You can still see your finger. Think of trying to drive a car while looking at the steering wheel or looking only a few feet in front of your car.  You won't be able to see what is going on around you. You wouldn't have time to avoid any obstacles and if you needed gas, you wouldn't see the station or know when to pull off the road.

To maintain open focus, you will need to develop your peripheral vision. This is seeing things out of the corner of your eyes (things that are not in focus) without having to actually look in that direction. When keeping your focus open, this is very easy to do. Often times the instructor will ask questions or give a small speech while you are in the MBS position. You can practice developing your peripheral vision by not looking directly at the instructor - instead, keep your focus straight ahead and open. 

MBS Questions - "Score... I mean Goal!"
Your 1 minute starts once you are in the Mind, Body, Spirit position. First you create your goal and mentally place it inside the triangle. Goals are either long term or short term. Each class, you will pick one to focus on. Long term goals are those that will take time to develop, such as skills for your next rank or even instructor status. Short term goals are those goals that are meant for immediate development in this particular class, such as better rolls and falls or improved kicks. Usually, students are visualizing their next rank as their goal. However, you can use this technique for any goal you create such as increased stamina, increase in performance, more strength, more skill or any other attribute that would be beneficial to your training.

Using Mind-Body-Spirit
Next, once you have your goal mentally placed inside the triangle for focus, you ask yourself the following three questions:

1. What can I do mentally to enhance the realization of this goal?
2. What can I do physically to enhance the realization of this goal?
3. What can I do spiritually to enhance the realization of this goal?

Answer each question in your head. Don't worry about thinking of the perfect answer. The key is to develop a new skill and to apply focus to your goals. The next training session you may use the same mental answer or come up with a new one. 

Visualization
After you have reviewed what you can do to enhance your current focus using mind, body and spirit you will then need to mentally visualize what we call a "positive performance." This entails visualizing yourself performing the skills in class at the level you would like to achieve. When visualizing, be sure and see the images from your own eyes. That is to say, don't see yourself doing things as if you are watching, see yourself doing things as if it were actually happening. This type of training is part of our Creative Mental Training program, but works well in the beginning of class.

The above 4 step plan: Mind, Body, Spirit position, creating a goal, asking MBS questions, and visualizing a positive performance is your one minute as a martial artist prior to training. It will take time in order for you to be able to do all of these things in about one minute, but don't rush your thinking or worry about it if you take time to develop the skill.

In the next issue of Total Warrior (The One Minute Martial Artist - part two) we will talk about what the One Minute Martial Artist can do during a training session to improve his or her overall performance.

Thank you and have a great day!

Sensei Tew
 
RTMS Head Instructor