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Some martial artists operate on the premise that the more complicated and impressive a technique is the better it must be. Is this premise correct? To defend yourself, do you really need a vast arsenal, or just need to be highly proficient with a few weapons? How many techniques do you actually use in free-sparring competition? In no-holds-barred type competitions where almost any technique may be used, how many techniques are actually used?

When teaching self-defense techniques, many instructors teach numerous techniques from their art or from other arts. Many of these techniques are only useful in specific types of situation. Every time these instructors see a new "cool" technique, they teach it to their students or at some seminar or clinic. However, when training their students for competition, these same instructors concentrate on teaching their students to perfect a few, basic, highly effective techniques. So, from this, may we draw the conclusion that for life or death self-defense situations we should strive to be familiar with a vast collection of techniques, any one of which may get us killed; while for competition we should strive to perfect a few effective techniques that will help us win.

One of Bruce Lee's often quoted sayings is "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own." I also advocate absorbing what is useful; that which is useful in most situations that are likely to occur, not what is useful in a specific situation that may never occur. Most people will live their entire lives and never have to defend themselves in any type of situation. If a self-defense situation does by chance occur, it will probably be the last time it or any other occurs. So, does it make sense for students to spend their training time learning techniques that are only good for specific situations that may never occur, or should they be perfecting a few techniques that may be adapted for use in many different situations that may occur. Unless you have a desire or particular need to learn as many techniques as you may find, then you should reject techniques that, although not useless, are not useful for you in your life. There is nothing wrong with trying a new technique. It may prove to be useful, or it may be useless as is but you may be able to add something to it to make useful for you.

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