If you learn by formulas and principles, you will learn faster and learn far more than the person who simply learns techniques. That is the message of this video lesson, where I look at trigonometry and martial arts. It is for students and instructors who want to understand why something works, not just copy it.

Do not worry if maths was never your thing. The point is not to do sums in a fight. The point is that the body follows simple rules, and once you know the rules, you know what to do.

Techniques Versus Principles

Most people learn martial arts one technique at a time. Against this attack, do this. Against that grab, do that. The problem is that real attacks never look exactly like the ones you practised. When something different comes, the person who only knows techniques freezes.

A principle is different. It tells you what will happen in any situation that fits the rule. Take the balance, and a strike lands harder. Close the angle, and the other person cannot reach you. Use the whole body, and a small movement has real weight. Learn a handful of rules like these and you can solve problems you have never seen before.

Why Formulas and Angles Matter

Fighting is full of geometry. Distance, angles, lines of attack and the way the body bends and turns can all be understood as shapes. When you know the shape, you can predict:

  • How far an opponent can reach from where they are standing
  • Which angle takes you out of their line while keeping you in yours
  • Which direction will take their balance with the least effort
  • Where a strike will land with the most effect

That is what I mean by formulas. They take the guesswork out.

How to Train This Way

When you learn a new technique, ask what principle makes it work. Then look for other places where the same principle applies. A lock, a throw and a strike can all use the same angle or the same idea of balance.

Keep a training notebook and write the principles down, not the techniques. Over time you will see that a few rules explain almost everything you do. That is when your learning speeds up, because every new technique becomes another example of something you already understand.

As an instructor, teach the principle first and the technique second. Your students will improve faster and they will be able to adapt when things go wrong.

Take It Further

My courses are built around principles rather than lists of techniques. Start with the Pressure Point Fighting Course, or read Pressure Point Fighting: The Complete Guide to see how the principles fit together.