What are we?

[47MartialMan]

When in the heat of battle don't instincts just take over. How do you control the style your using.

You don't. You make the style 'part' of you. What you learn, at the beginning, is just a bunch of actions and ideas. However, if you practice diligently, they become ingrained... a part of you. It is then that when you act, it is not you attempting to implement a technique, or choosing which style to apply. It is you, and your morphed interpretation of all that you have learned.

 

Examine, for instance, the way you eat. Do you control whether you use a fork or a spoon to eat your soup, or does it come naturally, through repeated action and an ingrained understanding of what works, and what doesn't? When you consider that dedicated practitioners study diligently for extended periods of their life, sometimes extending to decades, it is not unreasonable to assume that what they learn becomes a part of who they are.

 

I agree. Methods and techniques are to improve/stimulate reflexive responses. So in the time of need, these reflexive responses are stimulated. In other words, a technique is to enhance a reflex, therefore a good reflex, is a good technique (when applied). In a analogy, it is like your back is turned, you know a freind has a ball, he throws it at you and yells "Look Out". Instead of the reflexive response to cover your head and crunch, a different method (technique) is practiced, say, turning and catching or side stepping. But, there is a catch, it depends ON the methods/techniques, and whom is doing the coaching/instruction.

[White Warlock]

Well, after considerable thought, i've opted to label myself a 'retired' MMAist. I might be considered one of the earliest 'modern' MMAists, since i was at it in such a fashion before MMA was trendy, but I no longer work out as i used to, therefore don't quite fit into 7Star's definition of an MMA.

 

I don't feel, as i did earlier, that i'm a forms collecter, especially not after receiving 7Star's clarification. I don't 'collect' forms, as i can't recall most any technique name i've ever studied... no matter how many times they tried to shove foreign words into my vocabulary. It's all blurred into motion, not snapshots, and when i teach... i teach principle and practice, not theory, history, dance or table manners.

 

The rest, are just not me. Formal Training Street get's close, but i've never considered myself a street fighter, nor do i relish in such things. I just occasionally like to play Batman, and come running to someone's rescue.

[47MartialMan]

Batman....rescue this thread.

[Red J]

I picked Dual.

 

I incorporate Kempo with a moderate dose of grappling into one system.

[delta1]

It's all blurred into motion, not snapshots, and when i teach... i teach principle and practice, not theory, history, dance or table manners.

 

Warning- you are sounding a lot like that delta1 character!

 

I just talked with a senior kenpoist, who gave a term to this type of thinking. He asked me to explain my philosophy to the martial arts. Among other things, I told him about training with other stylists, then looking for similarities, differences, how Kenpo aproached similar situations, how we countered, and for similar motions and points of confluence in the systems. With this aproach, you are not learning a few more cool techniques, rather you are getting a better feel for your base. His reply was "You aren't cross training, you are cross referencing." I thought that summed it up nicely.

 

Pretty impressive that you've come up with a similar thinking, especially for a non-Kenpoist!

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I chose Dual Style/System. However, I consider what I do a single system..technically, karate and kobudo are two seperate systems with rank for each.

[47MartialMan]

Cross referencing.......Hmmnnn

[Master Jules]

Over the years I have trained in Kyokushin, Jujitsu, Aikijujitsu, Aikido, Judo, USA/Urban Goju, Okinawan Goju, Combat Jujitsu, and absolutely ANYTHING i could sponge up, not to mention weapons of all kinds. Training is more than just a passion, it is my life, my love, my way....me.......

[47MartialMan]

I wont get too carried away with the love thing MJ........it wont keep you "warm" in bed....unless you have trained your "wrists".......

[Drunken Monkey]

what am i?

 

not sure.

 

i'm just a guy who stumbled across something and is trying to find out what i can do with it.

 

along the way i've learnt other bits and pieces but i still use them in the way i've learnt originally.

 

so while my base hasn't really changed, the new things have been 'modified' to fit with my base.

 

what does that make me?

 

also, i have trained quite comprehensively in two styles.

 

but not at the same time.

 

as i was learning, i was learning that one thing by itself.

 

but during sparring, i do whatever works best.

 

(which normally turns out o be wing chun or things turned into wing chun.....)

 

am i a dual or single style guy?

 

or none of the above?