Maybe this topic should not be in the news section.
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allen73,
Those kinds of questions or comments your buddy made are good topics for debate, but they don't generally lead to anything but to agree to disagree.
Yes, long scripted sequences are very difficult to pull off outside of movies and demos. IMO, the sequences are more for learning purposes to keep the body and mind open to all the details of techniques and in combining separate movements in a fluid flow. In a real situation, maybe most would only use a piece of the total technique to get the job done.
To blindly follow scripted sequences, however, is a bit like being a robot. Robot type fighters can fight, but they are not necessarily good fighters. In fact they are predictable and often have very little imagination.
Your buddy, IMHO, is looking at scripted sequences from the point of view of a robot. Monkey see, monkey do, but the reality of it is that you can't "SEE" it all. There is nothing that truly replaces experience. An experienced eye will "SEE" things that a less experienced eye can easily miss.
One of the points of view that I like when talking about long sequences is that of facing a very strong opponent. There are times when the opponent is so strong that you cannot hurt them effectively without systematically breaking them down first. Many long scripted sequences are a systematic breakdown of the enemy, basically all the things put together to destroy an enemy. Are they realistic, that really depends on how well trained and experienced you are I suppose.
I think the closest analogy I can think of is that of escapes in grappling. Ordinarily if someone grabs a hold of you, you want to counter the threat immediately while protecting yourself. However, let's say they get a good RNC, bearhug, or other hold on you. Now to escape is not a simple one movement anymore because you are in a very bad situation. If it was easy to get out, it would not be called an escape, would it? No, grapplers learn a sequence of moves and principles/strategies to use that MAY work to escape. It may not work, but anyway, it is often very important that this sequence is followed exactly by the numbers. Doing things out of order or skipping parts often means the escape is doomed to fail.
Now if I said, "I will teach you an ESCAPE from a rear naked choke but it might take several minutes for you to get out", I am sure someone will say, that's too long, you will be choked out in 3-7 seconds. So basically my escape can NEVER work or be of any use. To me, to disregard the technique as being useless because it takes too long is an example of a lack of imagination and probably a lack of experience too. I will say that yes, a RNC escape that can take minutes is not my first choice for self-defense or competition, however, if you ever have been in a RNC that you cannot get out of, at least learning this technique for possible long term escape can give you a fighting chance.
Just my opinion.
