Thoughts from an old man

[patusai]

Martial Arts. There are perhaps thousands of different styles and sub-styles in the world. Many who have learned some form of martial arts do not follow the actual ideals of the style that they learned. Some learn for years in one or more style and then move on and make adjustments to what they learned and then either create a totally different style while some make changes (large or small) and create, what I will call here, off-shoot styles or companion styles. There are some that learn only a short time in a number of different styles learning to the point where they understand the basics and then branch out to develop their own style.

Some do it because they feel that they have a better way, some do it for personal glory and recognition some do it for a combination of both. There are some that do this for a variety of reasons. Frankly there are so many reasons people create or develop styles if all of the reasons were written about fully they could be the length of many Karate – Forum submissions.

I my youth, I thought that all this was a bad thing. I was a traditionalist. I practiced as my teachers taught me and that was the end of it. I practiced a number of different styles and I practiced each one as individual styles and never gave a serious thought about combining any of them. I knew guys who after reaching the rank of San Dan and Yon Dan broke away from the style in which they reached rank in to form their own style. They re-created kata in the beginning by adjusting what they learned so that the kata was different enough to meet their needs based on what they thought was good. They made adjustments to what they thought the technique should have been (considering that some kata were changed a number of times over the years before they learned the kata). Later, as they continued to learn other areas of Martial Arts (such as Judo, Akido, Kobudo and such they incorporated ideas from these styles and made learning portions of these other martial arts as part of the martial arts training. I thought that, although I saw benefit in this from a defense point of view, this was wrong.

After many years my ideas have mellowed with age it appears. I reached a point where I understood what they were trying to accomplish and I understand where they got their ideas from. They were trying to make a “system” that worked better from a self-defense point of view. Unfortunately, in my opinion, some succeeded and some did not. Those that succeeded did so because they used broad techniques that different people could use and be effective with. Others adjusted their system to meet their specific body type, attitude and such. They developed a system that they could be good in but they in many cases this system did not adapt to others who did not match their physical and mental attributes. At first I thought, “ah Ha!” Later, my opinion was, “so what!”

Martial Arts, at least Karate, in its beginnings had many different ways of doing the art. In some cases, each family had their own version of the self-defense. Men tried techniques, often in actual battle, and others, seeing the battle say some things that worked well and others that did not. Of course because one technique worked well in once instance that did not mean it was going to work in a different one by someone else. There were too many factors to consider. Styles developed because of such early techniques and these techniques were passed on from generation to generation, developed and re-developed to meet the need of the day. My point is now I believe that Martial Arts is, and was meant to be an ever-changing document. We should use techniques and practice them that define us, and that we can execute better rather than using a technique that doe not complement us as well. I am not sure that the intent is too far from what was practiced in the old days. Even some of the great masters taught kata differently to different students (perhaps that is one reason for the variety of variations in kata). My point is that some of what people are doing today is no different than what people years ago did.

The one thing that I see is that although these adjustments to the systems has been going on for a while there is the American factor to consider in all of this. We consider ourselves the best in pretty much everything. It’s the top of nothing! Instant gratification! Fast track to the top! It is kind of like the business world. There are too many people that know everything already and have nothing more to learn. They want the easy way to the top and they want to get to the top NOW! We hear comments such as

“If I’m not a VP in 2 years I’m moving on!”

“I don’t have time for this I need to get this promotion now!”

“I don’t want to hear everything! Give me the condensed version!”

This is the way it appears that we Americanized far too much of the martial arts. We don’t have time to wait. We don’t have time to learn. We don’t have time to practice. We don’t have time. We just want whatever it is we want. “I want a dog!” But there are far too man who don’t have time to train it, walk it as often as it needs to be walked, play with it as often is it needs to be played with.” But, they want a dog? “What kind should I get?”, they will ask an expert. Get yourself a stuffed animal for God’s sake (and the dog’s sake too)! If you don’t have time to train and do it right then get yourself a piece of fine paper, stick it in your printer and print yourself off what ever rank you want to give yourself. Whatever rank you feel that you deserve. If you really want to make a difference take classes for a few months and then, after you have a better understanding of what it is that Martial Arts is get your printer fired up!

We have more 10th dans then the rest of the world combined probably! We have younger 7th through 9th dans then pretty much any other country too. I don’t think that it is something to be proud of.

[username8517]

Nice post! I agree with the statement that here in the States MA has become Americanized in terms of wanting instant satisfaction. I'm sure every instructor has had students leave after a couple months because of issues with not seeing immediate results.

I reached a point where I understood what they were trying to accomplish and I understand where they got their ideas from. They were trying to make a “system” that worked better from a self-defense point of view. Unfortunately, in my opinion, some succeeded and some did not. Those that succeeded did so because they used broad techniques that different people could use and be effective with. Others adjusted their system to meet their specific body type, attitude and such. They developed a system that they could be good in but they in many cases this system did not adapt to others who did not match their physical and mental attributes.

I think this hits the nail squarely on the head. Well put!

[bushido_man96]

Some of the points I agree with. The MA should be a growing, changing entity. However, I don't agree with the "Americanization" that you talk about. I think that there are many out there who appreciate what doing the MA they study. Athletes in all areas feel this way; football, basketball, wrestling, and martial artists. Sure, there are those that appear to be more "corporate," but please don't overlook all of those that do work hard.

However, I do agree with you about the 7th - 10th dans that we have. There are a lot. However, I don't think it matters that some of them are young.

[ps1]

Many great points. Thanks for the post. It was very interesting.

[Jiffy]

Patsui, what a great post. I agree with you entirely! What a sad degredation of the Martial Arts when the focus is status, not knowledge.

[Brandon Fisher]

This is one thing my instructor and I didn't see eye to eye on towards the end of our relationship. He wanted to make it easier for those to achieve rank and I didn't. I came up through the ranks hard, and took a long time for it. After 22 complete years and having started my 23rd year I have a 5th Dan and only one. This is the purpose of the name of my style Seijitsu Shin Do (way of the honest heart). Only way to achieve something is the straight forward honest way. With hard work and dedication. Though my system is not koryu I am very traditional in my approach. I expect everyone to work hard and focus on the tasks at hand. All in all it is a traditional approach with modern self defense tactics.

I agree there are way to many 10th dans out there, people who have jumped dan grades in particular 9th dan going from 8th to 10th dan. I know of one who was promoted from 3rd Dan to 8th Dan where his original instructor tested him for 4th dan 1 year after he recieved his 8th dan in the same system. That doesn't even make any sense at all to me.

[elbows_and_knees]

Some of the points I agree with. The MA should be a growing, changing entity. However, I don't agree with the "Americanization" that you talk about. I think that there are many out there who appreciate what doing the MA they study. Athletes in all areas feel this way; football, basketball, wrestling, and martial artists. Sure, there are those that appear to be more "corporate," but please don't overlook all of those that do work hard.

However, I do agree with you about the 7th - 10th dans that we have. There are a lot. However, I don't think it matters that some of them are young.

agreed.

[Jiffy]

I was speaking to Hanshi Tino Ceberano a while ago (the man who introduced Karate to Australia) and he said that this is one thing that makes him sad. He has been training since the late 1940's, yet he must bow down to people that train in an art he introduced to the country (and people who started as late as 30 years after him), simply because they are 10th dans etc. He said it's a sad degredation of the arts that they are more interested in gaining rank than learning...

[AT]

I was speaking to Hanshi Tino Ceberano a while ago (the man who introduced Karate to Australia) and he said that this is one thing that makes him sad. He has been training since the late 1940's, yet he must bow down to people that train in an art he introduced to the country (and people who started as late as 30 years after him), simply because they are 10th dans etc. He said it's a sad degredation of the arts that they are more interested in gaining rank than learning...

wth.....that's dumb lol

[bushido_man96]

I was speaking to Hanshi Tino Ceberano a while ago (the man who introduced Karate to Australia) and he said that this is one thing that makes him sad. He has been training since the late 1940's, yet he must bow down to people that train in an art he introduced to the country (and people who started as late as 30 years after him), simply because they are 10th dans etc. He said it's a sad degredation of the arts that they are more interested in gaining rank than learning...

I think if I was him, and knowing where I stand, I would not bow to them. Respect only goes so far if it is superficial.