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LMA stands for Liberation Martial Arts and is an experiment in a radically new approach to martial arts (as well as physical movement) training and pedagogy. It's inspired by Marxism, Taoism, and wayfinding.
Initially, LMA started out as a strictly online program. The conditions create the results, and Liberation Martial Arts was influenced by the need for a non-reactionary, non-traditional, and liberatory martial arts pedagogy that was flexible enough for the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and other contagious infections (e.g., RSV) became the new reality, and we adapted to that new context. Open-ended, play-based, and exploratory striking made the most sense in this new environment.
During the summer of 2023, it felt safe enough to start in-person practices, but still with masks on. All but one person in the LMA highlight video had ever thrown a punch. Everyone else came to us as blank slates with almost no general physical preparedness. Perfect. This is who LMA is for.
In-person LMA began five months ago with Practitioner A (white gloves). He's in his late forties, has chronic pain, and had always wanted to try martial arts but was afraid to. He went from training twice a week to now three times a week.
Practice runs an hour other than on Saturdays. Time is also a condition. No one is a full-time young athlete who trains once or twice daily. We also don't hit pads. It's a new approach built from the ground up.
A month later came New Guy (black and red RDX gloves). He's an organizer in his late twenties. He started once a month but now comes twice a week.
Then came T (grey shirt with black and gold headgear), who's in his early thirties and can only come once a week, as he lives over an hour away. He makes that drive because he enjoys it that much. He's one of our smallest practitioners.
Then came H (in all black), who's in her mid-thirties and is our smallest practitioner. She's the only one with traditional training experience but also deals with chronic pain, much of it from the way she used to train. (Traditional as in non-radical pedagogy, not "traditional" martial arts. As far as pedagogy, they're all traditional.) Her schedule fluctuates from twice a week to once a month.
Five months, two to three times a week is not a lot of hours. Everyone other than A has accumulated even fewer hours. But we've done a lot with a little. The above video is from our most recent Saturday practice, and it's incredible to see how far everyone has come, from not knowing how to punch or kick and lacking hip mobility to setting traps, misdirections, and throwing high kicks.
Now, we feel comfortable enough to move onto clinch and close proximity contact, eventually leading to grappling. The more our training encompasses, the more flexible it can be and the more things it can be for every practitioner. It allows for training under various rule sets and practitioners to compete across multiple combat sports or participate in various non-combat-related physical activities. Martial arts should live in the body rather than exist as an idea in our heads, which is often the case for self-defense and fitness.
Since Liberation Martial Arts is an experiment, we didn't know what the results would be by the end of 2023, but it didn't matter so long as people were safe, nurtured, and happy. Since it's only been five or so months, we still don't know what the results will be after an entire year, but we're excited to see what blossoms from the environment we've fostered. Still, what matters most is finding joy in training, which not only requires a care-informed environment but also one that encourages growth. Our growth seems to be exponential.
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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(I write daily about martial arts and other topics from a liberatory perspective. If you like my work, upgrade your subscription. You can also support me on Patreon or make a one-time donation on Ko-fi. Find Southpaw at its website. Get the swag on Spring. Also check out Liberation Martial Arts Online.)
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