Simplicity vs. Complexity

Simplicity defines as being simple. Why all of us would have simplest life that we could ever be? Peace of mind, easiness that a quality of complication is nil. Complexity on the other hand is the condition of being difficult to understand, or being made up of many interrelated things. The intricacy of complicated nature comes only when one person doesn’t understand thus the increasing of complicated matter.

In martial arts for example, that once you learn the basic pattern it’s just a beginning or a step up to a complex steps of patterns. A Filipino Martial Artist should never be piled up with complicated understandings… the beauty of the art sorted out from different people, background, race, religion and ethnicity that truly they understand complex ideas. Let’s site some examples:

“In a lot of FMA systems I've seen, the techniques are a lot simpler than most MAs. FMA techniques usually (though not always) have the following characteristics:

1. Natural Body Movement - Other MA practitioners have to condition and adapt their bodies to perform techniques. FMA techniques draw upon natural movement such that the techniques adapt to the practitioner rather than the practitioner adapting to the techniques.

2. Economy of Movement - The purpose of the technique is to achieve maximum output with as little energy expenditure as possible.

3. Simultaneous Offense/Defense - Instead of a two-step defense/counter-attack, you have a single move that does both at the same time.

4. Generic - A technique can be applied different ways.

This makes FMA intuitive and easy to learn. Note that 'simple' doesn't always mean 'simplified'. The latter usually means a dumbing-down or watering down of a concept.

Simple also doesn't mean lack of complexity. The basic moves in chess are simple yet the strategies involved are complex. FMA is simple enough to learn, but complex enough to make it difficult to master.” Another way to look at it in terms of progressive training is that complex is made of simple stuff blended together. Some may argue to keep it simple in combat- very true but learning to make something considered complex into something simple can be attained through proper and constant training.

A very important insight about chess, what's the difference in a simple angle 1 strike from a beginner and one from a master? When the beginner does it , it's done like this when the master does it it looks the same but. other things may be going on in the masters head (Timing, delivery, intent, strategically use,. did I leave the iron on at home, let's see it's 14 days from day of last menstrual period and that would make her ovulate and fertile...uh oh!).

I think that this is a system that should be addressed system by system. Unfortunately this could open a whole new can of worms, but not necessarily so.

Are some systems too complex? Do you need to memorize a double digit striking system to be competent with the stick? How many "templates" do you need to memorize to use a knife? Are some systems too complex, over engineered so that they break down in the rough and tumble of real battle? Are some systems so simple (simplistic) that they can't adapt to new situations.

From what I've seen here in the Philippines in comparison to what I've seen overseas, I think the Philippine based systems tend to follow the "simple" is better rule. They do a few things really well. The training methodology tends to lean towards lots of repetitions with a focus on strikes. We had the pleasure of having Ned Nepangue visit our club and he said that you can divide styles into 2 types: striking styles that focus only on strikes; and styles that also incorporate locking, disarms, grappling, etc along with the striking. From what I remember, overseas FMAers tend to do more complex drills and have more variety in their practice those locals. I don't think it has to do with the thinking that there's not litigation here in the Philippines and overseas players practice to avoid lawsuits. I know a lot of clubs that practice as hard as or harder than any club here in the Philippines. I also know of a number of martial arts players here who've had lawsuits slapped against them. (The Philippines has far too many lawyers who don't have enough work to do.)