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ARTICLE- Modify, Adapt and Succeed!
By Bill Cogswell
There are a great many students of the Martial Arts who fail at achieving their goals, mostly in my opinion
from not trying to adapt to “their” own biomechanical requirements. You see them in every dojo/school
there is, frustratingly challenged by forcing themselves to follow a specific technique path as set by a
specific “Style’s” curriculum. This is where I see the problem and impediment of advancement within a
student’s growth!
We all know that no two people are alike, correct? Then please tell me why entire classes of students are
learning the exact same “technique set” in exactly the same biomechanical pattern? It doesn’t make sense
for those of us who believe “no two people are alike”. I believe all students should learn the “core
curriculum” first however; they should also be able to take that “core curriculum” and then personalize it for
success.
Don’t force yourself to duplicate what one person does if you are not biomechanically inclined to perform
the exact same action. You need to learn to personalize “your” martial art. Adapt and overcome
biomechanically by utilizing a proper plan of action.
A proper plan of action should begin with understanding the “core” technique. Once you have a grasp of
what exactly the core technique is and what the biomechanical actions of that technique are you then need
to analyze your ability and or limitations within that technique.
If you find you are limited within a technique you need to break it down to pinpoint the specific limitation.
Once you have the limitation pinpointed you then need to figure out whether or not you will be able to
overcome that limitation. Does the technique fail because you can’t apply the technique properly? If so,
what can be done to remedy this? Can you work on your physical limitation within reason to accomplish
the goal? If so, you’ve just solved your own problem and now have a path of action to enable remedy. If
you cannot perform this specific technique due to an actual physical limitation then you will need to modify
the technique so that it fits your capabilities.
For example, let’s take the Double Wrist Lock from side control technique and examine it briefly to make
my point. You attempt to wrap the opponent’s arm from side control in order to setup the DWL, However,
you are not able to wrap his arm properly. Are you not able to wrap his arm because you don’t know the
technique well enough? Or can you not wrap the arm because you just don’t have the reach to do so. If it
is the former then you know that the remedy lies within practice and repetition. If it is the fact that you are
physically not able to wrap that arm because you are a short person compared to your opponent or you
have very short limbs, then you will need to modify and adapt!
To modify in the case of a physical limitation in the example of the DWL attempt from side control you will
need to break down the technique biomechanically to adapt it to your body. If you are much shorter or
have short limbs you can modify the DWL by moving your body closer to the head of your opponent. While
maintaining side control and keeping real tight slowly circle your body towards his head sort of in between
being in side control and being in the north/south position. You will now notice that you are able to wrap
his arm up properly as you have adjusted the biomechanics to make it possible.
So, my point to this whole subject is this, if you cannot perform a specific technique you will need to break
it down and identify where the failure is located. There are only two options for the failure of a technique,
not enough technique understanding/practice or an actual physical limitation. Both of these scenarios can
be remedied through practice and modification! Remember we’re all different and all “built” differently
therefore you need to modify techniques, adapt them to your own physical abilities and then you will find
success.
Bill Cogswell is an RMATA Board Member and the instructor of Progressive Groundfighting Concepts.
By Bill Cogswell
There are a great many students of the Martial Arts who fail at achieving their goals, mostly in my opinion
from not trying to adapt to “their” own biomechanical requirements. You see them in every dojo/school
there is, frustratingly challenged by forcing themselves to follow a specific technique path as set by a
specific “Style’s” curriculum. This is where I see the problem and impediment of advancement within a
student’s growth!
We all know that no two people are alike, correct? Then please tell me why entire classes of students are
learning the exact same “technique set” in exactly the same biomechanical pattern? It doesn’t make sense
for those of us who believe “no two people are alike”. I believe all students should learn the “core
curriculum” first however; they should also be able to take that “core curriculum” and then personalize it for
success.
Don’t force yourself to duplicate what one person does if you are not biomechanically inclined to perform
the exact same action. You need to learn to personalize “your” martial art. Adapt and overcome
biomechanically by utilizing a proper plan of action.
A proper plan of action should begin with understanding the “core” technique. Once you have a grasp of
what exactly the core technique is and what the biomechanical actions of that technique are you then need
to analyze your ability and or limitations within that technique.
If you find you are limited within a technique you need to break it down to pinpoint the specific limitation.
Once you have the limitation pinpointed you then need to figure out whether or not you will be able to
overcome that limitation. Does the technique fail because you can’t apply the technique properly? If so,
what can be done to remedy this? Can you work on your physical limitation within reason to accomplish
the goal? If so, you’ve just solved your own problem and now have a path of action to enable remedy. If
you cannot perform this specific technique due to an actual physical limitation then you will need to modify
the technique so that it fits your capabilities.
For example, let’s take the Double Wrist Lock from side control technique and examine it briefly to make
my point. You attempt to wrap the opponent’s arm from side control in order to setup the DWL, However,
you are not able to wrap his arm properly. Are you not able to wrap his arm because you don’t know the
technique well enough? Or can you not wrap the arm because you just don’t have the reach to do so. If it
is the former then you know that the remedy lies within practice and repetition. If it is the fact that you are
physically not able to wrap that arm because you are a short person compared to your opponent or you
have very short limbs, then you will need to modify and adapt!
To modify in the case of a physical limitation in the example of the DWL attempt from side control you will
need to break down the technique biomechanically to adapt it to your body. If you are much shorter or
have short limbs you can modify the DWL by moving your body closer to the head of your opponent. While
maintaining side control and keeping real tight slowly circle your body towards his head sort of in between
being in side control and being in the north/south position. You will now notice that you are able to wrap
his arm up properly as you have adjusted the biomechanics to make it possible.
So, my point to this whole subject is this, if you cannot perform a specific technique you will need to break
it down and identify where the failure is located. There are only two options for the failure of a technique,
not enough technique understanding/practice or an actual physical limitation. Both of these scenarios can
be remedied through practice and modification! Remember we’re all different and all “built” differently
therefore you need to modify techniques, adapt them to your own physical abilities and then you will find
success.
Bill Cogswell is an RMATA Board Member and the instructor of Progressive Groundfighting Concepts.