While it has been found that through scientific training we can improve the body faster and safer than ever before, what about training the combat mindset? Are today's touchy feely methods ( you know the ones that keep parents/students from suing us) better than the focused determined methods of the past?


Thoughts and ideas please?

I wouldn't know, we don't have "touchy feely" training in my clubs. We train hard and go for it. People sign up to insurance and waivers. Perhaps it's different as we have no kids in the club.

I have a great extract here from our interview with Simon Murray:
http://www.martialedge.net/articles/interviews-question-and-answers/martial-edge-meet-simon-murray/

Martial Edge: Do you think that some of the Legionnaires had a hard time dealing with this sort of punishment?

Simon Murray: Well, you get over it. It’s difficult… I think looking back on it, it doesn’t feel so bad. I don’t think they do anything like that today. I believe it’s all running around and jumping over things and keeping very fit, and far less of the brutality.

Legion life is a reflection on what is happening in Europe at the time. So in 1917, after the Russian Revolution, the Legion was full of Cossacks. In my day, the late 50s early 60s, a lot of our regiment were Germans. A lot of them had been Nazis or part of the Hitler Youth. They were pretty brutal, tough guys. And they were very rough on their own kind as well. In the barracks there was a lot of brutality. Soldiers were made to stand to attention and then beaten up, picked up, and then beaten up again. All of that stuff would not go on today.

Does it make good soldiers? I don’t think so, not at all. I think you can train an army without all of that stuff. The British Army is very much a 9 to 5 army, and they’re doing well in Iraq and they didn’t get beaten up. It seemed to be more of a tradition with the Legion. The word ‘discipline’ features in the motto, so it seemed that they had to be very tough. It was an aspect of the Foreign Legion which was very unattractive, but it was there.


Applicable to the modern day M.A. student?

Well I see it in many schools all over the world. Some still work with the hard work and dedication. But when I started my sensei had no problem smacking you with a bokken along the thigh or calf if stance was improper.

I learned to maintain a very strong stance, and I think McCarthy can testify to that stance. Because of the training I endured I have a very good root. Not as good as lets say "O'Sensei" but very hard to move me or dislodge me.

I liked what Simon Murray said about not needing to beat up your army recruits to make an effective army is very interesting and refreshingly relevant.

I think there is a big difference between training hard and instilling discipline and that of brutality. The former produces effective soldiers and the latter brutal soldiers.

I guess it comes back down to what we use a martial art for. Unless you are planning to join the army, it us unlikely you are going to war. Therefore, the martial arts we will use in the modern world (unless you are in the military) are going to be for self defence or competition and that gives the skills a different slant.

Ahhh but if you are training for what may happen as a civillian then you must train relentlessly as well. And you must prepare in advance in the mind what line you are willing to cross and when you will do that. BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

Can the SPARTAN teach us anything today?