We recently welcomed a visitor to the Liberation Martial Arts (LMA) Learning Lab. O, an academic and amateur boxer, already has a home gym and coach. Rather than teaching him how to box, we introduced him to the LMA approach. Since it's an approach rather than a style or discipline, it can be applied to any style, level, and context.
O visited us for a week (the longest we've had a visitor) but didn't have any of his gear. He brought 12 oz. bag gloves he picked up from a store near his lodging. Limited time and equipment and having to return to a gym to develop under his primary coach were the context of our training and gameplay. It's mutual adaptation; we adapted to O, and O adapted to our approach—which included O unlearning and us learning about O. This led to a rich learning experience for all parties.
The Learning Lab isn't an open gym with classes or private lessons. It's neither direct instruction nor open sparring. It's radically different; rather than drawing from gym settings, our approach is inspired by concepts like mutual aid, reciprocity, and political organizing. While it's not how we'd implement the Learning Lab in a socialist society, it's the best solution within the context of capitalism, where rent, expenses, and debt exist. Consequently, training isn't free, as this is my sole source of income.
Everyone should approach the Learning Lab with an open mind, avoiding evaluations or judgments based on preexisting models. Instead, focus on how much you improve and enjoy your time here. In other words, come with an empty stomach, and I'll set the table. It's simple yet challenging.
In O's own words:
I've been training martial arts on and off for nearly two decades. I can confidently say that I've made more progress in the past week of training than in any single year of that time. The LMA training style is personalized to the individual and uses a different method than I've experienced from any other gym that emphasizes live practice and teaches you to control your attention where it's most needed in any fighting situation (competitive or otherwise).
Things to keep in mind if you plan on visiting the Lab: You can't just show up or jump in. We're not a cookie-cutter commercial gym or a PE class. O, perhaps as an educator, quickly grasped our Way and, like many of our practitioners, found LMA to be the only training approach that made sense to him.
