Aliveness, also referred to as alive training[1] describes martial arts training methods that are spontaneous, non-scripted, and dynamic. Alive training is performed with the intent to win, rather than for mastery or demonstration purposes as in regular sparring, where victory is not an option. Aliveness has also been defined in relation to martial arts techniques as an evaluation of combat effectiveness.[2] Some trainers, like Cus D'Amato, Kevin Rooney, Floyd Mayweather Sr., resort to the alive training, requesting both their trainees and sparring partners to do their best.[3] Such method became known as the wars in the gym (or sometimes Philly wars by the place they reportedly originated).[4] Others, like Angelo Dundee, prefer rather mild and less extreme methods.[5]
Aliveness often attempts to mimic the level of resistance found in the activity the training is intended to prepare a student for, i.e. hand-to-hand combat or combat sport.[6] According to MMA gym owner Matt Thornton, an Alive training method must incorporate Movement, including spontaneous footwork and the active resistance and intent of all parties during drills or sparring; Timing, in which there is no "predictable rhythm... pattern, [or] repeatable series of sets" which would lead students away from acquiring applicable skill; and Energy, the practice of committing, with intent and realism, a given technique during sparring, "bag work" or drills. Matt goes on to say that "...there are many things we may do that improve [our] bodies that are not 'Alive'. Its just that all of those things fall under the category of conditioning/exercise... Aliveness comes in when you include a partner."[7]
Training benefits
Many believe that incorporating Aliveness into training regimens is important, if not a requisite for producing an effective martial artist. Because Alive training involves resisting opponents, sparring sessions produce situations of continuous, un-choreographed attack, an effect which cannot be replicated through the practice of rehearsed routines. Students also learn to deal with the physical pain and stresses involved in combat situations requiring high levels of exertion.[8] Alive training imparts a sense of fluidity and spontaneity; Alive drills do not follow set patterns, and are designed to seamlessly transition from one drill to the next.[9]
The Judo practice of Randori has been called an alive training method because of its unpredictability and the intense active resistance by both participants.[11]Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pressure-tests its techniques in an alive setting against resisting opponents.[12] Sparring and competitions in Kyokushin Karate and Sanshou in Chinese martial arts are examples of alive practice.[13] "Thai Pad" work in Muay Thai conditioning is an alive drill, focusing on dynamic, spontaneous and hard-contact striking training. In the "internal" Chinese martial arts, the two-person drill Pushing Hands can often be an alive training method that incorporates spontaneous throws and takedowns.[citation needed] In the 1930s, Zhejiang police officer Liu Jinsheng noted a decline in the aliveness of Chinese martial arts practice:
...the practitioners of Shaolin and Wudang styles only pay attention to the beauty of their forms— they lack practical method and spirit... When the ancients practiced any type of martial art, sparring and drilling techniques were one and the same. Once a fight started, techniques flowed in sequence, six or seven at a time, never giving the opponent a chance to win.[14]
As for boxing, it is widely known that daily gym sparrings in Philadelphia, the 'middleweight capital of the world,' were often as tough as most professional fights. The dividends of this approach were that 'Philly warriors' fought with incredible determination and ability to absorb punishment. For that reason some boxers moved to Philadelphia, to spar hard and improve their skills in the toughest way.[15]
References
^Badger Jones (2007). (PDF). Filipino Martial Arts Digest, Steven K. Dowd. pp. 32–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
^Scot Combs (2006). (PDF). Full Circle Martial Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
^. Low Tech Combat 2.0 webzine. January 5, 2010. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
^Charles Wong (2009). . Kissaki Defensive Tactics Academy. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012.
^Ben Bratko (2007). "Traditional Martial Arts". American Martial Arts Movement website.
^Quoted by Liu Jinsheng (translated by Tim Cartmell) in Chin Na Fa: Traditional Chinese Submission Grappling Techniques. (2007).
^Punching from the Shadows: Memoir of a Minor League Professional Boxer, 2018, p. 38.
February 01, 2023
aliveness, also, referred, alive, training, describes, martial, arts, training, methods, that, spontaneous, scripted, dynamic, alive, training, performed, with, intent, rather, than, mastery, demonstration, purposes, regular, sparring, where, victory, option, . Aliveness also referred to as alive training 1 describes martial arts training methods that are spontaneous non scripted and dynamic Alive training is performed with the intent to win rather than for mastery or demonstration purposes as in regular sparring where victory is not an option Aliveness has also been defined in relation to martial arts techniques as an evaluation of combat effectiveness 2 Some trainers like Cus D Amato Kevin Rooney Floyd Mayweather Sr resort to the alive training requesting both their trainees and sparring partners to do their best 3 Such method became known as the wars in the gym or sometimes Philly wars by the place they reportedly originated 4 Others like Angelo Dundee prefer rather mild and less extreme methods 5 Sparring with Aliveness All Navy Boxing Team Contents 1 Components of aliveness 2 Training benefits 3 Training methods 4 ReferencesComponents of aliveness EditAliveness often attempts to mimic the level of resistance found in the activity the training is intended to prepare a student for i e hand to hand combat or combat sport 6 According to MMA gym owner Matt Thornton an Alive training method must incorporate Movement including spontaneous footwork and the active resistance and intent of all parties during drills or sparring Timing in which there is no predictable rhythm pattern or repeatable series of sets which would lead students away from acquiring applicable skill and Energy the practice of committing with intent and realism a given technique during sparring bag work or drills Matt goes on to say that there are many things we may do that improve our bodies that are not Alive Its just that all of those things fall under the category of conditioning exercise Aliveness comes in when you include a partner 7 Training benefits EditMany believe that incorporating Aliveness into training regimens is important if not a requisite for producing an effective martial artist Because Alive training involves resisting opponents sparring sessions produce situations of continuous un choreographed attack an effect which cannot be replicated through the practice of rehearsed routines Students also learn to deal with the physical pain and stresses involved in combat situations requiring high levels of exertion 8 Alive training imparts a sense of fluidity and spontaneity Alive drills do not follow set patterns and are designed to seamlessly transition from one drill to the next 9 Not only Tyson s camp resorted for such extremes in the training as Jesse Ferguson recalled Razor Ruddock trained by George Chuvalo Lennox Lewis and Michael Moorer s camps employed the same philosophy of survival type of fight instead of a regular sparring 10 Training methods EditThe Judo practice of Randori has been called an alive training method because of its unpredictability and the intense active resistance by both participants 11 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pressure tests its techniques in an alive setting against resisting opponents 12 Sparring and competitions in Kyokushin Karate and Sanshou in Chinese martial arts are examples of alive practice 13 Thai Pad work in Muay Thai conditioning is an alive drill focusing on dynamic spontaneous and hard contact striking training In the internal Chinese martial arts the two person drill Pushing Hands can often be an alive training method that incorporates spontaneous throws and takedowns citation needed In the 1930s Zhejiang police officer Liu Jinsheng noted a decline in the aliveness of Chinese martial arts practice the practitioners of Shaolin and Wudang styles only pay attention to the beauty of their forms they lack practical method and spirit When the ancients practiced any type of martial art sparring and drilling techniques were one and the same Once a fight started techniques flowed in sequence six or seven at a time never giving the opponent a chance to win 14 As for boxing it is widely known that daily gym sparrings in Philadelphia the middleweight capital of the world were often as tough as most professional fights The dividends of this approach were that Philly warriors fought with incredible determination and ability to absorb punishment For that reason some boxers moved to Philadelphia to spar hard and improve their skills in the toughest way 15 References Edit Badger Jones 2007 Siling Yabulo Arnis PDF Filipino Martial Arts Digest Steven K Dowd pp 32 35 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 06 Retrieved 2010 04 18 Scot Combs 2006 Aliveness in martial arts training PDF Full Circle Martial Arts Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2010 04 18 Mike Tyson Most Brutal Boxing Sparring Wars No Ordinary Joe p 298 Lessons From Angelo Dundee Training amp Technique Rafael Rosendo Choosing The Right School Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville Archived from the original on 2009 07 22 Retrieved 2010 06 13 Matt Thornton Aliveness 101 Straight Blast Gym International Archived from the original on 2009 01 07 Michael Zimmer November 11 2004 On Aliveness In Training An Analytic Perspective Vorticity Martial Arts Archived from the original on May 8 2006 Adam Williss June 23 2007 Fluidity in Training The Dragon Institute Wing Chun Archived from the original on May 23 2009 Riddick Bowe vs Jesse Ferguson HBO Program Aliveness Common Sense or Controversial Low Tech Combat 2 0 webzine January 5 2010 Archived from the original on October 1 2010 Retrieved June 13 2010 Charles Wong 2009 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques Kissaki Defensive Tactics Academy Archived from the original on April 28 2012 Ben Bratko 2007 Traditional Martial Arts American Martial Arts Movement website Quoted by Liu Jinsheng translated by Tim Cartmell in Chin Na Fa Traditional Chinese Submission Grappling Techniques 2007 Punching from the Shadows Memoir of a Minor League Professional Boxer 2018 p 38 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aliveness amp oldid 1133196535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
