Making your Techniques “Lean” --- Chief Instructor's Blog November 2023

 

More is not always better.  Sometimes, less is better.  I am sure most of you are aware of the Lean Principles of the Toyota Production System (TPS) that were created to eliminate waste and be as efficient as possible. So, one might wonder, how these same principles could be applied to make our martial arts techniques as efficient as possible.  

The three terms associated that are used in the TPS to describe wasteful practices to be eliminated are Muda, Mura, Muri [Ref. 1].  Let’s looks at each of these and how they may apply to martial arts techniques.

Muda is any activity that consumes resources without creating value [Ref. 1].  So, you have “muda” in executing your techniques if you have any additional movements or actions that are taking away from the speed or force of your technique or even putting yourself more at risk.   Some examples include:

• Slight backwards hitch before throwing your forward punch. That slight backward is taking more time and expending energy in the wrong direction.
• Moving your front foot first in jump kicks.  This is taking time to plant the foot and puts that front foot at risk.
• Tensing your shoulders or raising your shoulders in high block or knife hand.
• Any technique that is not linear.  As, we have discussed many times, liner techniques are the shortest path to your target, so takes less time and results in most forceful.

Mura is an unevenness in an operation [Ref.1]. So, you have “mura” in your techniques (1) if you are not moving from one technique to another in a smooth, even way or (2) if you are not keeping your energy constant versus going up and down.  Going up and down is inefficient and does not ensure all your energy is being able to be focused in a singular way and forces you to constantly redirect it which expends energy that does not go towards your technique. In addition, you may have “mura” in your techniques if you are not balanced or have improper posture.  Some examples include:

• Uneven weight between your feet in horse stance.  Horse stance is most effective when have weight evenly on both feet.
• Shoulders not over hips in attack stance. 

Muri is overburdening the equipment or operator [Ref. 1]. So, you have “muri” in your techniques (1) if you ae going faster than your physical body can handle at this time and you are not in control, (2) if you are throwing more force than your body can handle at this time and you are off-balance, (3) if you are trying to blend techniques and not performing them one then the other, or (4) you are only using internal energy and not external energy.

To make your techniques leaner, think about each of these principles and systematically apply them one by one to each of your techniques, incorporating them into your hyung, sparring, and self-defense.  Making your techniques lean will result in more effective techniques, and more effective techniques will keep you safe.   

Regards,

Kelly

“It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.” ~ Bruce Lee (1940 –1973), American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do

 

Reference:

1. Muda, Mura, Muri - Get a Quick Introduction | Lean Enterprise Institute, retrieved 10/21/23