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The LMA Learning Lab held its first scrimmage, allowing practitioners to gain valuable competition experience without the time and financial burden of a commercial event. Practitioners also got to corner and referee, fostering a holistic understanding of competition, rules, strategy, and practitioner needs.
While the scrimmage portion may be the most visually striking, it was all the activities we did early on to build ease, perception, and LMA's Wayfinding that allowed marginalized radicals and organizers who could never fit in with a commercial gym to participate in a scrimmage, let alone competitions.
We had our regular LMAists who've only done LMA, plus two comrades with years of commercial gym experience in Thai-boxing. Jessica (blue headgear and red chest protector) has competed in the U.S. Muay Thai Open, coming in second in her division. Juju (red headgear and blue chest protector) trains at a successful Thai-boxing gym, rich with competitors. Having Jessica and Juju there provided the Learning Lab regulars the invaluable opportunity to work with new, more experienced training partners. For Jessica and Juju, they got to experience LMA as it is emerging and the progress we've made in a sparse number of sessions. Everyone's been curious about LMA, so what better way to find out more than through first-hand experience? Jessica has already committed to coming weekly to learn LMA despite her hour-long drive.
We matched people roughly by weight. As far as the experience gap is concerned, this is why we begin with ease, perception, breathing, and Wayfinding. Composure can overcome a difference in experience. You can be training in a commercial gym for decades and never develop composure. It's not automatic. In fact, commercial gyms can normalize the startle response. However, in LMA, ease sets the stage for overcoming. It's not that we transformed from our foam noodle days; our foam noodle days planted the seeds for our current spirited training. Plant, Water, Nurture, Grow—that's our curriculum.
Every match consisted of nine two-minute rounds, and the video showcases some of them. Practitioners also got turns cornering and refereeing. According to them, cornering and being cornered by each other was possibly the most valuable experience. Jessica noted how LMA's approach to cornering consisted of de-escalation and ease, which is the opposite of what she's used to. Rather than a list of instructions, LMAists just gave her one or two reads, plus encouragement.
The combination of scrimmaging, cornering, and refereeing fostered a greater bond and kinship. Not only did everyone learn a lot, but we also had a blast. We kept talking about our experiences for several days.
We hope to vet more visitors for future scrimmages.
To access the Liberation Martial Arts curriculum and contribute to the sustainability of this project, consider upgrading your membership. Find other ways to support me here. – Sam
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