Perfect MA!?

[sensei8]

Is the style you train in perfect? Is the syllabus perfect? When you're on the floor, are you perfect?

Nothing's perfect! Imperfect beings can't produce anything perfect, and in that, if our heart and passion is into that which we love, just as near perfection isn't really such a bad thing.

Your chosen style of the MA doesn't have to be perfect, just effective!!

Your thoughts please!

[Wastelander]

I agree with you, of course--nothing and no one is perfect, but we can (and should) strive for perfection anyway.

[yamesu]

I agree.

Nothing is perfect, but we can strive for perfection. Perhaps it is an unattainable goal, but it gives a lifelong pursuit.

I personally, after 20 years on and off training in Kyokushin (as well as training to BB levels in other arts such as Arnis, and on/off training in Judo and Muay Thai), think that Kyokushin is as close to "complete an art as any, and effective. But it is by no means perfect.

Similarly, I am by no means perfect. If I was perfect "on the floor" I would not really need to keep learning would I?

This to me is the meaning of Oshi shinobu (OSU), a key part of Kyokushin training - to push oneself to the limit of one's ability and yet to continue, to persevere under pressure, and to endure.

Osu!

[Harkon72]

Perfection of Body? Perfection of Mind? Perfection of Spirit? Perfection of Character?

Very few claim these things, but what we can all have is Perfection of Intention.

[sensei8]

I wholeheartedly agree that we all should strive for perfection, even the intent of perfection. Our intent is fallible as well, imho.

If our MA IS effective, more so than our attacker, than perhaps we're much closer to perfection than we could ever imagine or desire.

[andym]

The style is the starting point. The frame work to build your personal ability, firstly onto. Then out ward, finding and filling your personal gaps.

[CredoTe]

If there was a perfect MA, then there would only be ONE style... because it would be PERFECT; it would work in any situation, in any environment, in any terrain, etc (thus no need for all the varying styles that exist). Also, a perfect MA would suggest only ONE level of bunkai/oyo instead of the unlimited depths we have...because it would be PERFECT.

The perfect MA with perfect bunai/oyo would work at all times, with no mistakes, errors, contingency plans / training, etc...

Just my 2 cents...

[quinteros1963]

There is a perfect MA; however it's relative. What's perfect is not a matter of opinion, but a matter is fact. The perfect MA is the one or ones that work best (most effective) for you.

[bushido_man96]

I agree with striving for perfection in the things we do. But, we typically only strive to perfect what we know. Like in TKD, I constantly strive to get better at the curriculum and techniques I've learned. I think what is also important is to seek information from outside our standard curriculum and work towards improvement in those areas, as well, and not just within our comfort zone.