Stupid @$$ Questions

It is an old adage in teaching that the only stupid question is the one left unasked. While for the most part this is true, there are always exceptions, and those are the stupid @$$ questions. Keep the following in mind...

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The human capacity for learning is amazing but limited. No one can learn everything at once. You may be shown the jab and cross, a hip toss, or an arm bar. You may "learn" how to do it, but you will refine and re-learn it many times before it becomes yours and before it becomes effective. A few folks out get shown a technique and then keep asking question after question before adding each little answer to their technique. If something is not working, that is OK, ask one question, use the information in the answer and apply it to the technique. Try ten more repetitions, still not working, figure out why, and ask another question. Be aware that at class you will be lucky to learn one new thing that will develop your game, you may be familiarized and shown a lot of material but you won't have learned it. Asking questions is not the way to greatness -- consistency, repetition and training are. This is also true when teaching someone, give them a few simple pieces not the whole complex puzzle at once. They will adapt the small but essential details after they have acquired the big if basic picture.

What if?
The most dreaded question of any senior student is the "what if" question. Why? Because usually it is asked when the senior student is being demonstrated upon by their instructor or another student. Also usually during something painful or annoying like heel hooks or chokes. Another small percentage of students think that by asking the "what if" question, they will poke a hole in the theory of a martial art, like no one has ever thought of their scenario. This is highly doubtful, typically what is being shown is a piece in a larger picture that needs to be practised before moving on to the next technique or concept.

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