Training speeds - Slow / fast

[Dark Luther]

Differant schools teach by differant philosaphy;

Some say to train quick - as that's how a fight is going to be. Thus practice is not slowed down for training purposes and one is conditioned to get used to that speed, specially when sparring.

Others teach slow. It is their belief that training slowly is the only way you will learn an actual feeling and understanding for the basics of the techniques, and thus allow an ability to adjust or improvise a variation. It is thus vital to keep things slow - though continues - in order to truly learn.

So what do you think of either thinking?
What do you practice?

( This is of course black and white, and there are obviously arts that work in the middle - still leaning on one or the other )

[Lancet Jades]

Slow, then fast. Start out slow so you can grasp the fundamentals, and once you have those, start speeding it up to get used to how its actually used.

[Kal]

I would like things to go slow, i'm not a fast learner.

[Aoi Asahina]

We train fast because in many arts it takes years to just do a simple technique correctly and then perfect it.
The only time that it is slow is in the beginning of class, so we can get a better feeling and understanding of our ki energy and dropping our center on certain things.

I personally cannot really learn slowly, for me it needs to be quick and visual.

[Chicken Little]

aye it depends on what is being learnt as to what method is best used, I would say fast tho.

[Baka]

Training slow is good to develop the form but in a realtime battle you aren't going to exactly do those movements. This was something that one of the Shidoshi's had mentioend while I was on my search for a dojo. Like you said it's a black and white subject but I'd say that starting slow to develop form is key but you will have to learn the shortcuts to use the technique with greater speed and efficency.

[Ace of Jades]

Go slow then fast, learn the basics then pound them into your head

[Dark Luther]

I meant more that what I had mentioned was Black and White - and that reality was never such, usually more a blend....

I do stay very well into the slow area though. I have been tought of how Hatsumi has abandoned the need for speed or strength. Though many in the Bujinkan personally disagree, I see his philosaphy as one attained at a lack of both those elements - one thing many critics have not expirienced.

It is thus my conclusion that in our style, speed and strength are simply crutches which keep us from attaining perfection of the true meaning of the art.

Now, this may not obviously be the way for other arts - nor is it the best way combat wise. Also, I only mean a slow approach to training and applying technique - but there is also the factor of attention, and reaction ( one thing that must be kept sharp and sometimes fast when going agaisnt an opponent who uses speed ). This does not mean one has to attack or counter with speed, just realize and react - two things more linked to the mind than the body....