Learn from your own practice
Published: Tue, 04/16/19
Key Principles of getting good at anything. Part 3: Learn from your own practice
A key principle of Stav training is developing an awareness of the lines of the web of Orlog. The idea being that the universe is based on a very simple structure which can be depicted as a diagram of nine interlocking lines. One of my early lessons in Stav involved discovering that trees grow according to the web. If you are going to cut wood then you can split it along the lines of the grain, or cut across the grain using a specific angle along which to chop. I had long been familiar with working with tools but when I discovered the lines of the web I realised that cutting on the correct line would slice straight through a branch. Hitting on a different line might break the stick but not cut through with a clean slice. It also became clear that the human body is constructed according to the web as well. It thus seemed probable that, just as a piece of wood could be cut along the line of the web, then a human body could be
dismantled the same way. Obviously the body could be cut and dismembered with a sword or axe, but could the structure of posture be disrupted without necessarily causing physical damage? Would it be possible to work with the lines within the body and practice close quarter combat without physical injury? In a self-defence situation could an opponent be controlled without actual harm? With a bit of experimentation it became clear that the Hagl lines through the head and through the body can be used to collapse structure without physical harm. Two people can train together rolling the head and manipulating the body until taking control of balance becomes intuitive. If on the receiving end your body becomes used to moving with the web and protecting yourself from harm also becomes intuitive. Training should become a process of not just imitating another person’s movements, but an exploration of how the body actually works and how
to exploit that knowledge.
Solo weapon training will also teach you how to move and flow from one posture to another. If you do a sufficient number of repetitions you body will intuitively discover the most efficient way to move. It just gets too tiring to do anything else. All successful training comes down to repetition without looking for external feedback. External confirmation of effort is resistance and if you are experiencing resistance then you are blocking your power. When you are really working with the lines of the web every movement actually feels effortless.
So, what are you actually learning from your own practice? That is really up to you to discover, if someone else tells you what you should be learning then you are not learning from your own practice. All I can tell you is this: Be prepared to be your own master and take responsibility for your training. Simplify your practice so that you can practice regularly and confidently. Then just tune in and you will find yourself learning something. I am prepared to state that whatever you learn will be what you most need to know.
You still need teachers and training partners but only you can learn for yourself, no one else can do it for you.
regards
Graham
PS If you are in East Yorkshire or in reach of the area then there will be a seminar on the 2nd of November here in Beverly. Two well regarded HEMA teachers are coming over from York and I will be teaching too. There seems to be very little or no current interest in European Martial arts in this area, I am going to see what I can do about that. Put the date in your diary if you are interested and more details soon.