Proprietary Issue

[sensei8]

Do you think that one of the biggest reasons as to why the MA styles around the world don't get along with one another is a proprietary issue?

If not; why?

 

If so; what can be done so that the issue in question can be returned to the path of resolution?

I think that the proprietary issue(s) is one of the biggest reasons because no style wants to share their "secret" methodologies/ideologies. Why? They're in direct competition over one thing or another; namely...students.

In order for the MA styles of the world to walk side by side on the path of resolving our differences, we must begin to trust one another. I feel this is the key to bridge the valley that separates us.

The totality of our MA betterment must be reached somehow/someway; us being united begs us to do so, if not for the good common, but for our students.

Your thoughts?!

Edited December 9, 2012 by sensei8

[ninjanurse]

I think you hit the nail on the head here! It is all about competition for students these days and the industry drives this through it's affirmation of the almighty dollar as the pinnacle of success. If you take your eyes off yourself and focus on helping others get what they want ( in this case a solid martial arts education) then potential students will seek you out because of the reputation you build, not the one you boast. No one owns a technique or a system for that matter-you can own the rights to a particular song but not the notes or the theory behind music!!!!

[yamesu]

Maybe for some.

I dont think this rings true for Kyokushin.

No secrets there, just "Hard Training" to forge a "Hard Spirit". Its a case of you get out what you put in.

[bushido_man96]

Maybe for some.

I dont think this rings true for Kyokushin.

No secrets there, just "Hard Training" to forge a "Hard Spirit". Its a case of you get out what you put in.

But do you see the issue from school to school? Even within styles, its easy to see this kind of competition for students with the lure of a "tournament champion" instructor, or some such proclamation.

Many times we only see the style vs style version of student competition, but it does happen within styles, as well.

Like so many issues within the Martial Arts, this is part of the ego thing, in my opinion. If someone comes to me, and asks why my school is better than someone else's school, I'm not going to give some answer to inflate what it is I have over someone else. I will only tell them what they can hope to learn from me as my student.

[Dobbersky]

Maybe for some.

I dont think this rings true for Kyokushin.

No secrets there, just "Hard Training" to forge a "Hard Spirit". Its a case of you get out what you put in.

Not too sure. This is a good example, there's at least 16 different Kyokushin organisations in the world and many of them dictate to their Branch chiefs that to remain at the Honbu, listed are an authorised Blackbelt, then you are not allowed to train with/at specified Organisations or allow anyone from specified organisations to train at their Dojo's or attend non-sanctioned events competitions.

I know this as one of the local Kyokushin Dojo's the branch chief told me I was ok to train as I was Ashihara but if I was Kyokushin and a member of XYZ, then he can't let me train with him etc.

[bushido_man96]

Maybe for some.

I dont think this rings true for Kyokushin.

No secrets there, just "Hard Training" to forge a "Hard Spirit". Its a case of you get out what you put in.

Not too sure. This is a good example, there's at least 16 different Kyokushin organisations in the world and many of them dictate to their Branch chiefs that to remain at the Honbu, listed are an authorised Blackbelt, then you are not allowed to train with/at specified Organisations or allow anyone from specified organisations to train at their Dojo's or attend non-sanctioned events competitions.

I know this as one of the local Kyokushin Dojo's the branch chief told me I was ok to train as I was Ashihara but if I was Kyokushin and a member of XYZ, then he can't let me train with him etc.

Yep, that's the inter-style stuff I was thinking of.

[Lupin1]

My Isshinryu class is a free school and we have no monetary motivation for keeping students, but I still see this from my head instructor all time. He's always saying stuff like "you'll never get what we do here anywhere else" and comparing us to other schools with the obvious implication being we're better and he tells us all the time never to show certain things to anyone else. It's all pride with him. Not that it's entirely a bad thing-- it's part of the culture. Our other instructors aren't like that as much, though. One is an instructor at a for-profit TKD school the next town over and he teaches us whenever he can make it and he teaches us kicks just the same as he would teach his TKD students. Then again, I doubt they see our little Boys and Girls Club program as much of a threat to their business-- most of our kids couldn't afford their school.

[yamesu]

But do you see the issue from school to school? Even within styles, its easy to see this kind of competition for students with the lure of a "tournament champion" instructor, or some such proclamation.

Many times we only see the style vs style version of student competition, but it does happen within styles, as well.

Like so many issues within the Martial Arts, this is part of the ego thing, in my opinion. If someone comes to me, and asks why my school is better than someone else's school, I'm not going to give some answer to inflate what it is I have over someone else. I will only tell them what they can hope to learn from me as my student.

Not too sure. This is a good example, there's at least 16 different Kyokushin organisations in the world and many of them dictate to their Branch chiefs that to remain at the Honbu, listed are an authorised Blackbelt, then you are not allowed to train with/at specified Organisations or allow anyone from specified organisations to train at their Dojo's or attend non-sanctioned events competitions.

I know this as one of the local Kyokushin Dojo's the branch chief told me I was ok to train as I was Ashihara but if I was Kyokushin and a member of XYZ, then he can't let me train with him etc.

Ah, I was not thinking intra-style comparisons!

Good points both of you.

Though, irrespective of the sect, I still think most Kyokushin retains its concepts.

Nothing mystical here - just hard training!

[evergrey]

Hard training, and hard politics, lol!

Thankfully most of the STUDENTS aren't so hard with the politics. The internet gives me hope!

Another thought- maybe sometimes people are secretive because, deep down, they are insecure?

[Zaine]

Hard training, and hard politics, lol!

Thankfully most of the STUDENTS aren't so hard with the politics. The internet gives me hope!

Another thought- maybe sometimes people are secretive because, deep down, they are insecure?

Solid observation!

I find that it's pretty pointless to be secretive about certain things. An instructor told me that something was a secret of the system once and I showed him where someone had already posted a YouTube video.