Traditionally, teachers instruct students by showing the students what to do and how to do it. However, in a constraints-led approach (CLA), the teachers design an activity with specific limitations, and then leave it on the students to perform that activity, so that the students can learn on their own via their own individual experiences.
For example, a teacher may create a sparring session where only kicks are allowed. The sparring partners cannot perform any other striking or grappling moves like blocking, punching, clinching, throwing, choking, submission, etc. These are the limitations set by the teacher in the created sparring session.
Limitations can be manipulated, meaning that they can be added, deleted, or modified. For example, the sparring session may be added with another limitation of time, by specifying the duration of the sparring session, say two minutes. Another limitation can be given with respect to the sparring area. For example, the sparring area may be marked, and the sparring partners must remain within that marked area. For example, the sparring area in taekwondo, karate, judo, etc., is normally marked on the floor as a rectangle or a square, and in sumo it is usually a circle, while in MMA it is generally a cage. In this example, two more limitations are added, namely the limitation of time and the limitation of space. Now, the sparring partners have to undertake the sparring session by only executing kicks, remain within the marked sparring area, and complete the session within two minutes.
The setting up of such a sparring session is known as an “environment”, where the sparring partners are known as “performers”, who undertake the act of sparring known as the “task”, by complying to specific limitations known as “constraints”, and this approach of teaching is known as a “constraints-led approach” or CLA.
The benefit of CLA is that the sparring partners are forced to adapt, improvise, and overcome the given constraints, by finding their own solutions, which leads to the emergence of their own skills from their own experiences.
As a method of coaching, CLA is nowadays extensively used in several domains. For greater understanding, let us dive a bit deeper.
What is a constraint?
A constraint is a factor that can limit or restrict something.
WHIZBUSTERS video “CONSTRAINT (noun) meaning with examples in sentences”:
Types of constraints
Usually, constraints are material, biological or psychological. Material constraints may be objects, manpower, geographical, financial, etc. Biological constraints may be any biological inadequacy like absence of a limb or suffering from any disease. Psychological constraint may be mental states like the need to seek praise, approval, etc. Individuals adapt, improvise, and overcome these constraints.
@diegoacademy video “Overcoming Financial Constraints: Unlocking Success”:
@insposiv video “Break free from the constraints of seeking permission or approval to move on, recognizing that the p”:
truly video “Our Incredible Girl With No Arms | BORN DIFFERENT”:
Guinness World Records video “The Fastest Man On Two Hands – Guinness World Records”:
60 Minutes Australia video “Inspiring man born without arms or legs – Nick Vujicic | 60 Minutes Australia”:
Creativity can overcome constraints
Due to the limiting or restricting factors, a person needs to find other ways to accomplish a task. These ways are unique, creative, and innovative. For example, knowing more about the available therapies for trauma can help overcome psychological constraints like mental trauma. Similarly, prosthetic limbs can overcome biological constraints. Likewise, learning a new skill, and employing the learnt skill in a financially productive way, can overcome material constraints like financial poverty. Creativity plays a significant role in overcoming constraints.
Dr. Tracey Marks video “Why You Can’t Just ‘Get Over’ Trauma: The Science Behind Healing”:
ABC News video “One-Legged Gymnast Overcomes the Odds”:
Practical Wisdom – Interesting Ideas video “What It Takes to Escape Poverty”:
Creativity loves constraints
It might seem paradoxical since creativity requires freedom and not limitations, however, it is a well-known fact that creativity loves constraints. This is because, having no constraints is akin to a ship without a rudder that simply drifts aimlessly. Alternatively, having some constraints inspires more creativity, leading to more innovation taking place, and thereby, ultimately giving more creative freedom.
Entrepreneurship.org video “Marissa Mayer-Creativity Loves Constraint”:
Cengage Learning video “Creative Thinkers Learn to Love Constraints”:
TED-Ed video “The power of creative constraints – Brandon Rodriguez”:
Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)
The constraints-led approach is a coaching tool based on the idea that movement is guided by constraints. CLA is used to design motor skill practice. It is based on ecological dynamics, which states that the emergence of functional patterns is from the interactions between the components of a system and its environment. In other words, skill emerges from the interactions of the content with the context, where both can have their own individual and unique constraints.
The contextual constraints can be specified, and the performers have to adapt, improvise, and overcome the specified constraints by their own creative methods. For example, the rules and regulations of a competitive match are the contextual constraints, wherein the performers have to creatively execute such movements that can help them to win the competition.
Classification of constraints in CLA
In CLA, constraints are classified as:
—performer constraints
—environment constraints
—task constraints
Performer constraints
These are constraints unique to the athletes who are the performers. They can be physical like weight, height, fitness level, or genetic make-up. They can be functional like emotional maturity, motivations, or affective behaviors. They can also be competency levels like prior level of skill achieved in the same discipline or other disciplines. All these constraints are different with different performers, and thus, the coach has to devise individualized coaching plans for each performer, according to the individual performer’s constraints.
Environment constraints
These are the immediate surroundings where the performer is being coached. It includes the location of the coaching center, the general safety of the area, availability of local transport, car parking facilities, and normal traffic conditions. The environmental constraints of the coaching centre also includes the availability of toilets and changing rooms, and conditions regarding the floor surface, light, air-flow, temperature, humidity, noise, cleanliness, altitude, and other environmental features. It may also include peer groups, socio-cultural norms and expectations, parental support, financial support via bank loans or scholarships, etc.
Task constraints
These are the constraints related to tasks designed by the coaches and given to the performers. They include rules and regulations, materials and equipment, aims and objectives, procedures and methods, performing alone or as a part of a team, and other task-specific constraints.
Generally, coaches cannot make many changes in the environment constraints, as it remains the same, for example a stadium, ring, training hall, etc. Similarly, a coach also cannot make significant changes in the performer constraints as they are unique to the performer. Therefore, usually, coaches employ CLA by making changes in the task constraints.
Australian Sports Commission video “What is the Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching?”:
Active Kent video “A Constraints-Led Approach to PE & Games”:
Ecological Dynamics for Submission Grappling video “Ecopalooza Spring 2024: Constraints-Led Approach to “Just Stand Up” w/ Coach Rob Cole”:
The CLA framework
The CLA framework consists of:
—intention. The goal of the task should be clear as to what is being achieved. The performer should understand the goal and perform the task accordingly.
—constrain to afford. Affordances are opportunities for movement or action. The coach has to design the task constraints in such a manner that amplifies more functional affordances, without prescribing or suggesting any solutions to the performer.
—information/perception is key. In CLA, the performer is motivated to get as much information as possible via perception. The idea is that one has to first perceive and then act on it; accordingly, perception comes first and then action takes place.
—repetition without repetition. On one hand, this means to repeat the same technique, without repeating the same environment. For example, a performer can repeat a single type of kick but on different surfaces like indoors on a mat, or outdoors on grass, rocks, sand, water, etc. So, the same technique is repeated but the environment/ contexts are changed. On the other hand, this also means to go on repeating success without repeating the techniques that brought earlier successes. So, the outcome is repeated but how that outcome is reached is not repeated. Again, this can also mean to include some variability in a fixed technique. For example, a performer has to kick, but which type of kick is to be performed is not specified. So, the performer repeats the act of kicking, but no one type of kick is repeated.
Coach Dave Love | NBA Shooting Coach video “Repetition without Repetition in basketball shooting development | NBA Shooting Coach Dave Love”:
Role of the coach in CLA
The role of the coach is to manipulate these constraints in the CLA framework, so that the performer can creatively find solutions within those constraints. Manipulation of constraints in a range of different contexts leads to the performer creatively improving skills and capabilities to perform in those different contexts. In CLA, the coach manipulates constraints and thus sets up a task, and then leaves it to the performer to overcome the constraints of that task, so that creative solutions can emerge. The performer has to explore, exploit, and execute solutions in a creative manner, so that skill can successfully emerge by overcoming the constraints.
SPORT SCIENCE ps video “HOW TO MANIPULATE TASKS AND ENVIRONMENT TO TRAIN TACTICS IN THE CONSTRAINTS LED APPROACH?”:
Combat Learning video “What are constraints? How do you manipulate them? (🔺Constraints-led Approach to Martial Arts)”:
Rob Gray video “The Art & Science of Constraints-Based Coaching”:
CLA in martial arts coaching
In martial arts coaching, CLA is employed by designing different kinds of activities or mini games, based on the principles of ecological dynamics and non-linear pedagogy.
Ecological dynamics is a multi-disciplinary framework based on complex systems approach in neurobiology, ecological psychology, and the dynamical systems theory. Non-linear pedagogy is based on the idea that learning is not in a linear fashion, as different people learn the same thing in different ways, and what is learnt impacts current and future learning.
In simple terms, a martial artist has to complete a given task, in any which way he or she possibly can, but within the prevailing limitations.
Christian Gompert video “Cal Jones Constraints-Led Judo Session”:
Josh Beam BJJ video “How to teach BJJ without drilling (ecological approach game design with Craig Hutchison)”:
Devil Dog Martial Arts video “The Bubble Drill: A Constraints Led Approach (CLA) Drill for Passive Leg Kick Response Development”:
7 Jiujitsu video “3 Games to play with the Constraints led Approach [CLA]”:
Dean Reilly video “Constraints Led Approach to striking. Warm up-Round shot/Straight shot”:
Nicholas Santangeli video “Using a CLA to improve the technical ability in martial arts sports such as MMA & BJJ”:
@michigan_larry video “Using Constraint-Led Approach to Develop Standing Skills #bjj #jiujitsu #nogi #wrestling #takedowns”:
@MeerkatsusBJJVideos video “Back attack Games using a constraints-led approach”:
@egjundis video “New Judoka – Constraints Led Approach”:
@producedbypodcast video “Constraints Led Approach in Sports. ❌ #podcast #shorts #reels #bjj #jiujitsu”:
Combat Cognition video “A short intro to constraints led coaching in combat sports.”:
Sub Science video “Using Constraint-Led Approach To Develop No Gi Judo Skills #nogi #judo #bjj #ecologicaldynamics”:
@combatlearning “How to learn a Perfect Heel Hook with the Constraints-led Approach (Ecological) | #bjj #jiujitsu”:
Counter Grappling video “All Levels NoGi using the Constraints Led Approach”:
Conclusion
CLA is nowadays popular; however, martial arts have always experienced constraints and the principles of CLA. In medieval times, soldiers had to conquer castles that were on hilltops. The hill was itself a geographical constraint. Then there were man-made constraints like deep moats infested with crocodiles, impregnable high walls, solid heavy gates, with hundreds of defending soldiers pouring hot liquids like cauldrons of boiling oil or scalding water, shooting fire-tipped arrows, and more. In order to capture these castles, the attacking soldiers faced, adapted, improvised, and overcame all these constraints.
Laetri video “Battle for Chalus Castle (England vs France)”:
Martial artists always knew that constraints love creativity. Every battle was unique and every one of them was won or lost, in a uniquely creative way.
philitimo video “Gladiator – Initial Battle Scene”:
Gareth Ashworth video “Final 300 battle scene, Gareth Ashworth (music)”:
If CLA is used on already existing creative works, then it can lead to still more creativity that is highly imaginative and supernatural.
The Clips video “Eternals Final Fight Ikaris vs. Eternals Full Final Battle”:
Boxoffice Movie Scenes video “Gods of Egypt Full Final Fight 🌀 4K”:
Marvel Universe Entertainment video “Marvel Studios’ Thor (2011) – ‘Destroyer Destroyed’ | Movie Clip HD”:
The term “constraint” generally connotes a negative meaning as something that is restricting or limiting; however, it can also mean something that is allowing. For example, valves in human veins act as a constraint for the flow of blood. In the human body the veins have valves that restrict the blood from flowing backwards. This also means that it allows blood to flow only in one direction. Therefore, constraints can limit or allow something.
AnimatedBiomedical video “Leg Vein Valve – Normal – 3D Medical Animation || ABP ©”:
This allowing feature of constraints makes a martial artist to not continue a fight if an opponent is injured, for it allows a martial artist to show self-control and respect for the opponent.
TNT Sports video “The most respectful moments in UFC history: MMA is all about respect!”:
ONE Championship video “Fighters That Showed Incredible SELF-CONTROL 😱🙏”:
Again, constraints can also allow empathy, hope, love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
Unity video “WiNDUP: Award-winning animated short film | Unity”:
Akiko Izumitani video “Yae: Blind Samurai Woman (Short Film Version) – Directed by Akiko Izumitani”:
In CLA, constraints ensure that the performer’s skill can emerge from more creative, more functional, and more practical experiences in coach-designed tasks set in differing environments. CLA allows the performer to adapt, improvise and overcome the constraints by innovative and creative solutions. For example, in all the fight scenes of the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, one can easily find all the ideas and principles of CLA, and much more.
@evolvemma video “No equipment? No Problem – improvise, adapt, overcome! #Shorts”:
Stay In Step video “SIS: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome”:
KungFuMaster video “Best Fight Scenes: Bruce Lee (HD 1080P)”:
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