Let's take an example from Wing Chun. There are three main hand forms in the art. The first form is the most boring, with no leg movement whatsoever. New students do not enjoy repeating that form. And why should they?

Well, you can take one of these new students and match them with an expert, and let the new student attack in any manner they like. And the expert will be able to counter 90% of those attacks using the boring old first form of Wing Chun.

Not all teachers can do that, only the experts. And not so much because they drilled the basics for years, but because they were improving that entire time. It is easy to repeat a simple movement for years (and call it “discipline” of course!), but very difficult to continuously improve on it!

Great post. I definitely agree with you when it comes to MMA. I help train a number of young MMA fighters and the last thing most of them want to do is to drill the basics. Instead they would much rather roll and scrap with their mates. These are the same guys that have already had their backsides handed to them in competition!

I've even had teachers who seemed to be bored with the basics of their own systems, so much so that they were rushing their students onto more complex material before they had had the chance to come to grips with the fundamentals.

Any thoughts on why the basics are being neglected? Is it our 'instant gratification' society?

best regards

Avril