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Simple Isn’t Necessarily Easy
There are a number of reasons why it’s important to make that distinction.
A great deal of the backward-looking conservatives in the world have a desire to return us to a simpler, happier time. They have this nostalgia for a life that was slower, less complicated, and in their minds easier.
Never mind the rampant racism and sexism of the age they have in mind; or the other major social injustices of that era. Oh, and also never mind the fact that this period in history NEVER ACTUALLY EXISTED.
This is part of the overall notion that simple is easy. But the reality of this is that simple is not necessarily easy. Simple just means uncomplicated.
I have experience with this. When I teach fencing, the first thing I do is begin to show the en guard position. The stance, how to hold the blade, where to balance, and so on. It’s pretty simple overall to get into guard and position yourself correctly. Basic movement from this position is also relatively simple, advancing and retreating isn’t difficult to understand.
Yes, this is simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. The way you hold a sword, a rapier, in this case, is generally unfamiliar nowadays. The stance puts you at an angle and balance point that most people wouldn’t think of for any other martial art. Then the movement itself, though simple…
