Cookie Cutter Martial Arts

[YODA]

"doomed to make the mistakes, made before them... "

 

..... and then maybe learn the same lessons by experience rather than by heresay.

 

The only true knowledge is that which you learn by experience - not because Sensei so amd so says so

 

 

[Shaolin]

On 2002-03-20 00:54, YODA wrote:

 

"doomed to make the mistakes, made before them... "

 

..... and then maybe learn the same lessons by experience rather than by heresay.

 

The only true knowledge is that which you learn by experience - not because Sensei so amd so says so

 

 

 

Reinvent the wheel for the sake of the experience? No thank you. But this is very much the current mindset. "All I need is a heavy bag..."

 

The value and understanding of real classical systems have been lost on most of us and the willingness, or in some cases, the perceived need to remove classical study shows that, perhaps the majority of people studying do not understand what these classics offer. Indeed many who are in ‘classical’ schools aren’t learning anything classical or pure. So chances are what you’ve seen suck at classical school isn’t the real thing anyhow.

 

Classical styles were, in some cases developed over not ten, not hundreds, but thousands of years of fighting and dieing during some of the most violent years of human existence. Anyone who declares these systems anything less than a treasure-house of martial knowledge is doomed to reinventing the wheel of combative arts, as it was, perhaps a few thousand years ago.

 

Bruce’s personal challenge, as Dan Inosanto and others, saw it was that he needed a way around the limitation of his half-full cup of Wing Chun, and that he knew he couldn’t beat his Wing Chun seniors, such as WSL at their own game. This is a problem for someone like Bruce who was determined to be the best. JKD was his effort to be shapeless, empty, formless, to think outside the box, to in essence embrace the Tao - a brilliant choice. Bruce never had a chance to test out his JKD on his seniors but perhaps he could have used it to get around the WC wall, perhaps it would have worked for him but from the perspective of some he was “going round to the back door” because he didn’t have “the key” to the front. Indeed Bruce was dynamic enough perhaps to make this work. None the less to many it remains a more difficult path and after all Si Bok did say:

Bruce Lee wrote:

 

 

The easy way is the right way.

 

To me this is the core component in a good system and it is the key in WC.

 

 

 

_________________

 

 

Moy Yat Ving Tsun

 

Rest in peace dear teacher, dear friend, dear brother, and dear father: Moy Yat Sifu

 

[ This Message was edited by: Shaolin on 2002-03-20 04:48 ]

[SBN Doug]

I definately don't believe in abandoning the classical roots. However, as YODA said, not everyone is physically able to do everything the classical styles call for.

[SaiFightsMS]

Thinking is hard. Following is easy.

 

But then following blindly is more difficult than is seems at first. But on a blindfold and follow someone. When the sidewalk is smooth it is one thing. But when you go off the path see what happens. You must remove the blindfold or do a lot of picking yourself up.

 

 

[Iron Arahat]

One must rember that instructions are a guide and not to be followed blindly. Because sensei says when someone punches like this you block like this, does not mean that you have to always do it that way when you fight. People will naturally find what works better for then a develop often within a style, as long as they are given that opportunity. They may also step off the path, sometimes finding their own way, or may return shortly when they learn what they have been shown holds true.

 

I always tell my students go amd learn from someone else if you choose, learn what they want to learn. Some have taken that trip off the path, only to return later.

 

 

[Phantasmatic]

That is a good post YODA and i agree with you fully. There are not many dojos left that think about the individual in my area. Its kinda sad..

 

 

[Taikudo-ka]

So how do you tell if a dojo caters for the individual?

 

How can a beginner seperate cookie cutter from just being shown the right technique, way to stay balanced, striking points, etc?

 

The dojo I train at seems to me to give good attention to everyone. They have two consecutive classes, a beginner and advanced, so the program can be tailored to different needs.

 

In the beginners class the newer students (such as myself) are being trained in basic moves while yellow and more experienced white belts do more advanced moves, spar, etc.

 

We are shown reasons behind moves, and individual attention is given to everyone's stance, effectiveness, accuracy of striking and overall technique.

 

With a few simple adjustments the sensei transformed my front stance from something he could easily push over to being as solid as a mountain. I think this sort of thing is cool and part of the reason I'm studying martial arts, rather than just bashing a heavy bag...