Martial Arts "Monogamy"

[brokenswordx]

i agree with your monogamy post. lol my sensei was very upset with me when i mentioned that i wanted to train in a chinese art to balance my karate. he told to stay with karate, maybe he was worried i would leave since most of our regulars stop coming. (this is a long time ago)

[Semaj]

At my dojhang/dojo, we learn a mixure of kung fu, hapkido, aikido, judo, karate, tae kwon do, etc.

My sensei feels that, just like at school you not only learn math, a plethora of other subjects, MA students must have balanced knowledge of katas, style, culture, philosophy, and an overall understanding of all MA's. I highly respect this philosophy, and find it can be more useful to know all these things.

[bushido_man96]

At my dojhang/dojo, we learn a mixure of kung fu, hapkido, aikido, judo, karate, tae kwon do, etc.

My sensei feels that, just like at school you not only learn math, a plethora of other subjects, MA students must have balanced knowledge of katas, style, culture, philosophy, and an overall understanding of all MA's. I highly respect this philosophy, and find it can be more useful to know all these things.

I agree with you here. This is a good philosophy, and you are fortunate to find it all under one roof.

What if you talked to your instructor about studying under another instructor at the same time? That is the focus here.

[James Bullock]

I remember when I decided to admit to my GoJu Sensei that I was training in Jeet Kune Do. I was 17 and about to test for my Shodan in a few weeks. I was terrified to tell him. I absolutely had no reason to be scarred at all. He is the nicest man you could ever meet. But his presence and abilities just made you want to cry...like a little baby..lol.

It was after class and it was just us..(made it even more intimidating). I told him and he said....I can tell you are doing something different. Your fighting skills have improved incredibly. He said that all of the martial arts have allot to offer those with an open mind and to do what I think is best, just don't give up on GoJu. That is exactly what I did...I did what I thought was best for me. Since then he has had me teach JKD seminars at the Dojo to my fellow black belts. Very humbling indeed...lol

[bushido_man96]

That's good stuff, James. You have some good experiences there.

[NinTai]

Good article.

There seems to be one argument missing from the posts.

I don't see my instructor providing a "service" that I pay for.

My dues support the school and instructor do that he can keep teaching.

That being said, I know that when I teach I'm trying to train the student to use certain

principles and concepts. These require that the student move or stand in a particular

way, as well as training their bodies to generate power in a specific manner.

If I have to correct the student every time they come into class because they are also

trying to lean another style at the same time it takes away from his/her progress in class.

(Note I don't see this as a "bad habbit" just something that I am not teaching or contrary to what I need them to do)

Imagine trying to lear two different languages at the same time, let's say Spanish and

Portuguese (something that I did) both are similar but different enough that when you

speak you end up with a mish mash that doesn’t make sense to either native speaker.

Once a student reached shodan things change. They have the basics ingrained in them

and they have some idea of where their going and what they are lacking. More important,

they will know how to integrate what they are learning into their present system so that

it fills in the gaps and does not create extra baggage that they don’t need.

(One style that I studied had 7 different ways to “block” a mid level attack because they

were a combination of 7 different “styles”)

Over all talk to you instructor maybe your striking art has grappling and joint

manipulation built in and you instructor will teach you when you are at the point

that it will benefit you most.

Sorry for the long post.

[bushido_man96]

Over all talk to you instructor maybe your striking art has grappling and joint

manipulation built in and you instructor will teach you when you are at the point

that it will benefit you most.

If the art has built-in grappling and joint manipulation techniques, then why doesn't the instructor just include them when he teaches classes?

I can appreciate your analogy of learning two languages to martial arts. I would link this to being similar to learning TKD and Karate at the same time. What I refer more to is learning striking and grappling, which would be different enough to not confuse.

[NinTai]

If the art has built-in grappling and joint manipulation techniques, then why doesn't the instructor just include them when he teaches classes?

I can appreciate your analogy of learning two languages to martial arts. I would link this to being similar to learning TKD and Karate at the same time. What I refer more to is learning striking and grappling, which would be different enough to not confuse.

I can't speak for every instructor, but for me its about learning to walk before you run.

Concepts that are involved in grappling and joint manipulation are present

in striking but on a more basic level. Learn the basics and then you will have

an easier time applying them to the other levels.

Now when you say "when he teaches class" I have to ask which one?

The yusansha class has all the techniques, the mudansha classes are taugh

what is appropriate for their level.

When my instructor was asked the requrements for earning a BB he said:

"I have to trust you." Not something you can do with someone who just walked

in off the street.

There is a differnt mindset between the two (grappling and striking)

the overall goals are different as well as the methodologies.

You can still use the language analogy:

English: Atlantic Ocean

Portugese: Oceano Atlantico (Ocean Atlantic)

Different way of thinking.

I have to ask what is your "goal".

I met a judo instructor one that only had one "real" technique, the arm bar.

The thing is he could get to it from any situation: holding, striking, guard, mount etc.

Do you (not you personaly) know what your goal is and how this additional

training will help you acieve it?

BTW What does "well rounded" really mean anyway.

[Shorin Ryuu]

I think far too many people delude themselves into thinking they have mastered the basics of their style. These people are so eager to branch out and become so well-rounded that they end up being mediocre in many things instead of just one.

[NinTai]

Hey Shorin,

Its been awile. I've enjoyed your posts.

I think far too many people delude themselves into thinking they have mastered the basics of their style. These people are so eager to branch out and become so well-rounded that they end up being mediocre in many things instead of just one.

Reminds me of the saying:

"Jack of all trades, master of none."