The Way Alone: Your Path To Excellence In The Martial Arts by Loren W. Christensen
The Way Alone – Your Path To Excellence In The Martial Arts was written by Loren W. Christensen. He has earned advanced black belt rating in karate from the Oregon Karate Association, a black belt in arnis from Professor Remy Presas, is a teacher and prolific writer of the martial arts, and was also a police officer. He teaches an eclectic style which is based in the arts of karate, kung fu, jujutsu, and arnis.
When I first started my martial arts journey in 1983, I ended up within the next year or so spending a lot of time doing various forms of solo training. My Kenju Karate instructor, Sensei Ted Luker, had given me permission to go and train in our dojo (which was on the second floor of a big barn out behind his house) whenever I wanted to practice. I only wish I had a copy of this book during that time, as it would have definitely helped me take my solo training to another level. I actually came across my copy of The Way Alone many years later, and this is without a doubt one of my favorite books in my little collection.
The Way Alone totals 108 pages, divided into 8 chapters, and has photos throughout to illustrate some main points of the text.
Here’s a look at the Contents:
Foreward
Preface
About the Author
Chapter 1 – Mental Training
Chapter 2 – Reps
Chapter 3 – Environmental Training
Chapter 4 – Kata
Chapter 5 – Cardiovascular Training
Chapter 6 – Weight Training
Chapter 7 – Bag Work
Chapter 8 – The Final Punch
From the back cover:
You’re working out at the dojo, putting everything you’ve got into your classes, sure you’re doing all you can to excel in the martial arts. But if you could find a way to further develop your strength, speed, explosiveness, endurance, timing and discipline, would you go for it?
In the first chapter, which is on mental training, the focus is on visualization and the power and effectiveness of this technique.
“Visualization is a process of using mental imagery to help develop physical skill, improve self-image, reach goals, and prepare for high-risk situations. The process is not a mystical oriental concept with deep roots in Zen Buddhism or Confucianism. Visualization is a relatively simple training method that emphasizes attaining physical and mental goals within short periods of time.”
He goes on to write about:
Creating a Better Self-image
Affirmative Visualization
Visualizing High-Risk Situations
Fear Of Failure
Keeping Motivated
This chapter ends with a quote by Sir Winston Churchill – Never, never, never, never, never give up!
Next, in Chapter 2 “Reps”, the importance of repetition training is discussed.
“Whether you are working on a singular technique, a combination of movements, or a kata, complete understanding will come only after thousands of reps.” (I personally agree with this statement and have seen it in my own experience.)
The major points covered in this chapter are Entrenching The Technique Into The Subconscious Mind, Developing Smooth Application Of Movement, Developing Speed, Developing Power, Developing Explosiveness, Developing Endurance, and Developing Discipline/Goal Setting. Suggested routines for practice in these areas are also given.
Chapter 3 “Environmental Training” seeks to help with breaking up the monotony of dojo-only training as well as give unconventional ways to augment your skills.
“There are black belts who have trained for years but have never ventured outside their school doors. They are good at what they do, but do they have a complete understanding of how well, or how poorly, their art functions in other environments?”
Topics covered in this section include training in the dark, with music, while watching television, in cramped quarters, on stairs, outdoors, in the rain, or in water. Christensen makes an important point in this exploration of environmental training:
“Out of the confines of your school, you can experiment with your techniques in various settings that are completely remote from your normal training. Through experimentation, you will increase your understanding of your art’s limitations and strengths; by challenging yourself in a variety of environments, you will discover much about your own strengths and weaknesses.”
In Chapter 4 “Kata”, we are first given the good advice to make sure that we completely understand the kata (or sayaw/anyo) we will be practicing and make sure that our basic techniques are correct. A thorough explanation of proper mindset and attitude toward forms practice is given along with suggestions of how to approach filling our performance of the form with emotion and fighting spirit.
“Practicing kata alone provides you with a time for physical refinement of the movements and for enhancing your understanding of each technique and its relationship to the entire form. It is also a time when you can let your creative juices flow and apply your own personal style and interpretation.”
For Chapter 5 “Cardiovascular Training, we get 9 pages of great information on endurance training for the martial artist, and this section opens with a quote from President John F. Kennedy:
Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative activity. The relationship between the soundness of the body and the activities of mind is subtle and complex. Much is not yet understood. But we do know what the Greeks knew: that intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong; that hearty spirits and tough minds usually inhabit sound bodies.
Throughout this chapter, there are explanations of how to approach your training, the benefits of endurance fitness, and a sample routine using your own drills, forms, etc. as a customized, variety-filled workout.
“When your cardiovascular system is in good shape, you will find that you will be more relaxed and are able to tolerate the stress of not only a karate workout, but of daily living as well. When you are relaxed and calm, you will sleep more soundly and therefore experience greater recuperation from your hard training.”
Following after comes Chapter 6 “Weight Training” - where the author explains how there is a clear difference between students and practitioners who engage in weight lifting and those who do not. Like endurance training, strength training cannot be neglected by the arnisador who desires to reach peak performance. There is a dual benefit to combining strength training with our endurance training, as he writes that “weight training will enhance your techniques and strengthen your cardiovascular system so that you have greater staying power for training and competing.”
This chapter is 10 pages long and is illustrated with 12 photos. One sample routine is given, comprised of 8 different exercises (crunches, bench press, press downs, rowing, curls, lateral raises, leg extensions, and leg curls) to be performed in a circuit fashion and structured with the goal of maintaining an elevated heart rate throughout.
“A standard bodybuilding routine does very little to strengthen the heart and lungs. However, when the routine has been systematically modified to meet the requirements of a cardiovascular exercise, the result is a weight-training method that develops muscular strength and also conditions the heart and lungs. In fact, there is a circular benefit to this method: as your strength increases, your endurance becomes greater, and as your endurance improves, your strength will grow.”
Chapter 7 “Bag Work” begins with a humorous reality check that really made me laugh.
“The first time you punched or kicked a heavy bag, you were probably surprised, if not red-faced with embarrassment. All along you had thought your fists were dangerous weapons, and then you had to ruin your illusion by hitting the bag and discovering you had nothing more than large marshmallows sticking out of your sleeves. Yes, the bag does hit back, but with reality, not fists.”
The following topics are covered:
Developing Correct Form
Developing Intensity Of Effort
Increasing Power
Developing Footwork
Improving Endurance
There are 6 photos in this section. A sample routine for developing power on the heavy bag is given, made up of 7 various strikes and kicks. Also, a list of 10 different combinations is offered for future variations of the routine in your workout.
“It doesn’t matter how you train on the bag as long as you work constantly in order to maintain an elevated heart rate. You can move around the bag shadowboxing, or you can use the listed basic power drill and work the techniques repetitiously. You can use one method for the entire time period or you might mix them: shadowbox for ten minutes and do a set each from the basic power drill for another ten minutes.”
The final paragraph of Chapter 7 mentions training with the double end bag.
The last chapter of the book, Chapter 8 “The Final Punch” summarizes the whole message with an anecdote relating Mr. Christensen’s personal experience with solo training. It’s a great way to end the text, knowing that he has put all of this into practice, and as a result has grown as a martial artist. Here’s the last, and very appropriate quote, as a final punch from “The Final Punch.”
“Solo training is an invaluable training experience that is missed by many martial artists. This is unfortunate, because by convincing themselves that they cannot work out alone, the students are being deprived of training that is beneficial physically, spiritually, and mentally.”
I couldn’t agree more!
If you can only buy one book to help you in your training as an arnisador, to develop and grow in your mental and physical approach, then I would highly recommend that you pickup a copy of The Way Alone – Your Path To Excellence In The Martial Arts. I’m pretty sure you’ll be very satisfied with your choice!
Thanks for checking out the blog. God bless you, have a great day, and remember - whenever you train, train with all your heart!
Comments
Post a Comment