How deep is Mary Poppins' bag?
Mary Poppins’ Bag and Martial Arts….I imagine you’re WONDERING what this phrase has to do on the page of someone who teaches Martial Arts…
Well…A LOT, let me explain my point of view and my experience—I believe it could be an interesting insight for anyone in any activity.
Table of Contents
A Magic Bag
First of all, for those who may not be familiar with the movie or the book and don’t have small children (where have you been living!?):
Mary Poppins’ bag is a magical bag from which the character pulls out all sorts of items, even managing to extract a coat rack and other objects that are visibly larger than the bag itself.
The AMAZEMENT comes from the unexpected—how could the contents be larger than the container?
The Program as a GUIDE - NOT as a LIMIT
The Martial Art I teach has an educational program designed for the gradual learning of concepts and the biomechanics of movement—nothing new so far.
All good schools and, in general, all proper physical activities should be structured this way.
But are we REALLY sure that the purpose of a program is ONLY to contain a series of exercises and principles that can be taught progressively?
It has always seemed a bit lacking… an empty explanation, and I have NEVER BEEN SATISFIED with it.
Always Ask Questions
Like Mary Poppins’ bag, every part of a teaching program must contain MUCH MORE than meets the eye. Learning an exercise, memorizing it, knowing how to apply it…
…this is only a portion of what the creator intended to pass down.
Always ask yourself:
Why was it created?
What were they trying to tell me?
Am I sure I’ve reached the bottom of Mary Poppins’ bag?
The Role of the Teacher
When these questions arise, it is the TEACHER’s responsibility to step in: with a detail, an explanation, or sometimes just a single word that opens up a whole new universe of EXPLORATION and discoveries.
Many times, a single word exchanged with my teacher—often unrelated to martial arts—has opened new perspectives on parts of the technical curriculum I had practiced for years without seeing BEYOND.
The Advice I Feel Like Giving You
Here’s some advice I’d like to share:
- Whatever you practice, dive deep into it, explore different teachers or perspectives, and develop CRITICAL thinking.
- Choose an activity with real depth, not one that just offers EMPTY exercises or a pre-packaged program.
- Pick a teacher who has STUDIED deeply what they teach under the guidance of an expert—not someone who has earned their fiftieth weekend certification.
Once you’ve made a good choice, it’s not over yet.
Now it’s up to you to commit, learn, and ENJOY discovering new things.
And you?
Are you sure you’ve reached the bottom of Mary Poppins’ bag?
Stefano Chiappella
Naga Kuning Institute
Technical Board Member
