Hierarchy of Pattern Performance

When first learning a new pattern, students perform the movements as a person walking over rocky ground—sudden, jerky movements while avoiding rocks. As students practice the pattern hundreds of times, they gain an understanding of the movements and the pattern flows as water flows over rocky ground—smooth movements that flow from one rock to another. This transition from jerky to smooth movements, while still maintaining power, transitions through five levels of performance.

Basic. Learning the basic movements in technically proper manner. Students struggle to learn each movement and technique and are unsure about how movements should be performed. They ask many questions and try to do everything the instructor says and does. However, their performance lacks context and purpose.

Imitation. As the basic movements are learned, students tend to watch senior belts and imitate their movements. They may be performing the movements properly, but they do not know why, so their movements are still without context and purpose.

Simulated. Performance is technically correct, but it is unrealistic and impractical. Instead of looking like the real thing, it looks like an imitation of the real thing, such as play that depicts real life while not appearing as real life.

Rehearsed. Performance appears real, but it lacks the enthusiasm and energy of a real combat situation. Performance is similar to a rehearsal for a play. Everything is there except the emotion of the action performance of the play.

Real. A realistic performance that flows naturally with the intensity and power of a real fight. Spectators feel they are watching a small part of a real battle where a true warrior is fighting valiantly and proudly, exhibiting the highest level of training and perfection of technique. The student understands the context and purpose each movement and has practiced the pattern so much that its performance appears as natural a walking.

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