When you switch styles, what do you do with the other style?

[Kenpo man]

I am sorry if this has been asked already.

I mean if you switch styles, do you just forget all the other training you had in your original style, and learn the new one right over the original one in your brain?

How could you possibly have two or more styles ingrained in your head to the point they are both reflexes?

I am ONLY talking about your traditional styles, NOT about kickboxing/Mui Tie/Krav Maga/ Brazilian Ju Jitsu, and all that combat/sport fighting stuff... As we all know that these styles compliment eachother, and do not take away, or get in the way of the others when combined. As far as I know anyway... LOl!

Thank you for your time.

[ysc87]

learn with an open mind, but don't forget what you've already learned.

as for the "complementing" part, no, that's not true. they seemingly "complement" each other because they teach how to use very different methods of attack, no different than learning different trad. styles.

example:

muay thai + bjj is the equivalent of karate + judo. learning a striking art, then a grappling art. the idea behind doing that is simple. i don't recall where i saw this before, but "learn how to strike a grappler and how to grapple a striker." i doesn't matter what style you're using.

[Pacificshore]

I have 2 versions of Kenpo that I've learned. Mostly similiar to one another, and at the sametime very different. In similarity would be the self defense techniques, and the difference would be the katas. I find that I am able to remember most of my "old" Kenpo training as I study my "new" Kempo system. I tend to incorporate some of the drill work from my old system into my new system, and when working on my former material, execute the techniques/drills like I've learned from my new system. So far what has helped me separate the two when needed are my written or visual aides that I have of both systems.

[CapitalKarate]

You practice both arts, you do NOT just forget the previous art you learned. If you are quitting lessons from one art and taking up only lessons from the next, just frequently practice what you learned from the previous art. For the most part in arts, a kick is a kick and a punch is a punch, so just change around a little your kicks/punches (and most other striking objects) to fit the style you're currently practicing. The main stuff you'd need to practice from the previous style would be katas, one steps or whatever makes your style unique from the style you just took up.

[ninjanurse]

You don't forget, you just learn a different way to do each technique....and somehow you just keep them separate.

[karatekid1975]

I agree. I came from Tang Soo Do to TKD (after a move to NY). It's hard to explain my situation, but here goes. Like CapitalKarate said, you just don't forget. When I first made the switch, I had to make a few adjustments on how techniques were executed, but the techniques themselves were pretty much the same.

As far as forms go, they were different. BUT I still remember them. I haven't done TSD officially since 12/2001. But when I go back to visit my old dojang, it's like I never left. I remember everything as soon as I walk onto the training floor. But yet, I can't do those forms (Pyung Ahn's) at home to save my life LOL. It is so weird.

[JusticeZero]

In my case, I quit practicing the old style completely. Intellectually, I remember the movements. If I want, I can still do the movements cleanly. But I have to consciously call on them, they aren't in my normal reactions anymore.

[Shorin Ryuu]

You have to remember styles aren't merely compilations of techniques. If they were, then no one would ever practice the same "style" as everyone would be slightly different. (there is some validity to this argument)

Instead, styles are (should be) integrated systems of principles expressed through certain techniques. There are certain characteristic techniques within the style, and then there is a lot of room for personal interpretation (style).

You can either try and distinctly manage and maintain both styles, go for a merger, or put one on the back burner. Most people choose the latter two options although it isn't impossible to do the first.

In my case, when I switched from a Korean style to Shorin Ryu, I did so completely. I felt my previous style was lacking in many principles and concepts, so I didn't bother maintaining the techniques through which they were expressed.

Even when I practice some of my Matsumura Shorin Ryu stuff I took for a year last year (I do Kobayashi Shorin Ryu but was in between teachers), some of it has a Kobayashi feel to it. That isn't necessarily a terrible thing. The reason why we have so many styles in the first place is because we are practicing individual interpretations of karate (or fill in your martial art here). As you progress, you'll start to have your own interpretation of your own style anyway. My Kobayashi Shorin Ryu is different from Skeptic2004's Kobayashi Shorin Ryu, even when we were back under the same instructor in college.

Long story short, there's only so much you can keep when you switch styles. It's better to maintain any extra principles you've gained rather than specific techniques (other than maybe a few kata or drills here and there). There's only so much time you can spend training. To borrow a phrase from my college days, you'll be so well-rounded there's no point.

[unknown]

I guess the only thing most people would forget is katas and stuff like that.

[Straight Blast]

keep what you think is useful,throw away the other crap.