Picture vs Visualize in Martial Arts Training
Most people that train in martial arts have a specific goal. Some people train martial arts to become in better shape, and have more confidence. Some people train martial arts to be able to protect themselves in the family from harm, and a small percentage of people who train martial arts want actually to win a UFC title.
Whatever their goal is, just going through the motions of the techniques in the air, with a partner, or on some type of punching bag in and of itself is not very effective. If you're hitting a punching bag for instance and you're thinking of your technique and hitting a leather bag, it's not gonna give you much of a motivation to hit that bag with power. If you are drilling techniques with your partner, and all you're thinking about is getting the technique better on your partner, who might happen to be a friend of yours, and if not a friend is at least a training partner, there's not much motivation there. The best way to get the most out of your training whatever your goal is, is to picture the scenario, and visualize your target.
What I mean by that is the picture is your scenario, it could be a Walmart parking lot where your attacker is attacking you, or could be in the octagon where you are fighting for a world UFC title. While you are in the picture, whether it is a UFC title, or protecting your life or the life of your family. Either way you are in the scenario, in fact, you are the star of the scenario. Think of being in the "picture" like you were watching yourself on the screen, but you are in the screen at the same time.
Now while you are in the picture, being attacked, or fighting for a world title do you want to focus and visualize how are you going to win. It could be a left hook to the chin, or could be a double leg, takedown, or even a roundhouse kick to the head. Whatever you are visualizing, while you are practicing with your partner, in the air, or on a punching bag that is your focus. When you're throwing that punch, or kick, or doing that double leg, take down, you are visualizing the target, and attacking it. When you are hitting the bag, you don't think of hitting the bag, harder, every time you hit that bag think of it, as landing right on the chin, in other words, visualize the chin. Do this in your training, and that will make it much more effective, when you are facing an opponent or an assailant.
A big difference with picturing and visualizing is when the scenario is real and somebody really attacks you in a Walmart parking lot, or if you are really fighting for a UFC title, you don't have to picture it anymore, because it is happening in real time, but visualizing, or focusing, or zeroing in on the chin is done in training, as well as in the real situation. In other words, when you're fighting for your life in a street attack, you don't have to picture it in real time because it is happening, but you still want to visualize hitting the chin, because that will help you be successful.
This might be a difficult concept for some people to perceive. The best way I can explain it is when you're training in martial arts always picture the situation that you are practicing your techniques for. Think of it like you're watching yourself in a movie. That will make you Train, harder, and with more purpose. And visualize your target whether that be somebody's chin, throat, or legs for a takedown, and you're going to visualize while you're training, and during the actual fight. You always wanna visualize what you're going to attack. So basically Picture the scenario, visualize the target.
I hope you guys got some thing out of that. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, or click the link below, and get more explanation to these techniques, concepts, and philosophies. Or get some of my courses and learn the techniques better and even earn your black belt.
John Hackleman
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