MatTzu

Does anyone of you ever question why you pay so much. I pay $25 a month $50 a year for membership and absolutely nothing for tests. I have been to many fly by nights in the past and it is in my expierence that not only do these guys intend to rip you off what they sell is junk. My instructor does not make a living teaching and still continues to advance in the art. He even makes trips to Korea. If you make money teaching the martial arts and your happy with your results more power to you however nine time out of ten money does not make a good mix with martial arts.

My favorite forms are the Ki-Chos the basic forms because of their simplicity. It is eay to see a persons level of understanding in the art by watching them do the most basic things.

I would just like to add my "opinion" which is; Cost is not relative in fact it is generally a good sign of the quality. If said instructor makes a decent living teaching TKD find another dojang. The hack who see dollar signs and not potential friends or family are giving the art a bad name. Get a life get a job and teach because you want to.

I am relieved to hear these responses I feel validated in my disdain for this kind of misrepresentation. Calling it xtreme martial arts is an injustice. Calling what they did martial in any aspect is hilarious. Does it matter whether or not Mike Chatt has been in a streetfight. The short answer is no, but that is why tradition is important. Real martial arts are those that have been used in the field of battle, be it the streets of Seoul, or the Boxer rebellion. The techniques and forms that comprise the art were used effectively in combat. So I know when I perform my techniques the proper way they will be effective. There is nothing wrong with sport MA that is the natural evolution but it should never be confused with real martial arts. Shows like these are outrage me until I consider the fact that I know the difference and that is all that matters.

There are differences in the arts that make them stronger and weaker in certain areas. The difference is training. How you train is how you fight. The muay thai fighters defeated the kung fu masters not because of knowledge or secret techniques it was because of conditioning. The thai fighters were in competion form. If you mix traditional training with modern conditioning you will be an effective fighter with almost any traditional art. Another difference to point out is the goal of a sporting artist is to knock out the opponent and gain a win. The goal of a martial artist should be as Sun Tzu says to win without fighting.

No decent MA library exists without the numerous works of Confucius, Tao Te Ching, Art of War and The comprehensive guide to the asian fighting arts. China is where it all began and where a good library should begin. There is a taoist saying which I believe Bruce Lee quoted and it goes; To understand the root is to understand all it's blossoming.