Difference between revisions of "Telegraphing"
YellowHatGuy (talk | contribs) (Created page with "'''Telegraphing''' is the unintentional communication of your intended actions prior to performing them. This term is a carryover from Western boxing, which came of age when t...") |
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| − | '''Telegraphing''' is | + | '''Telegraphing''' is using body language to unintentionally communicate your intended actions. This term is a carryover from Western boxing, which came of age when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_telegraph telegraphs] were the fastest means of communication. |
| − | Telegraphs or “tells” are unintentional, reflexive physical actions | + | Telegraphs or “tells” are unintentional, reflexive physical actions. By definition, premeditated tells are feints or fakes. Tells are dangerous because they are extremely subtle, so people are often unaware they are telegraphing their actions. These tells must be discerned by experienced training partners, or else they will be discerned by experienced opponents. |
| − | Tells are commonly associated with poker players, who must conceal their | + | Tells are commonly associated with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5MZxo8IwrE poker players], who must conceal their reactions to being dealt bad hands so they can bluff their opponents. Martial artists must do the same, and avoid looking at intended targets and/or “winding up” techniques by pulling back before executing them. Likewise, slow techniques are essentially telegraphed, since they offer the opponent the time they need to discern what is happening, and how to counter it. |
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| + | Once identified, telegraphing can be minimized with conscious, deliberate practice in front of a mirror. The ability to suppress telegraphing is a sign of professionalism, because mastery isn’t about doing complicated things; it’s about doing simple things extremely well. | ||
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Revision as of 21:05, 15 November 2019
Telegraphing is using body language to unintentionally communicate your intended actions. This term is a carryover from Western boxing, which came of age when telegraphs were the fastest means of communication.
Telegraphs or “tells” are unintentional, reflexive physical actions. By definition, premeditated tells are feints or fakes. Tells are dangerous because they are extremely subtle, so people are often unaware they are telegraphing their actions. These tells must be discerned by experienced training partners, or else they will be discerned by experienced opponents.
Tells are commonly associated with poker players, who must conceal their reactions to being dealt bad hands so they can bluff their opponents. Martial artists must do the same, and avoid looking at intended targets and/or “winding up” techniques by pulling back before executing them. Likewise, slow techniques are essentially telegraphed, since they offer the opponent the time they need to discern what is happening, and how to counter it.
Once identified, telegraphing can be minimized with conscious, deliberate practice in front of a mirror. The ability to suppress telegraphing is a sign of professionalism, because mastery isn’t about doing complicated things; it’s about doing simple things extremely well.
