Why do Traditional Martial Arts suck?

[ZR440]

If you want to learn some moves or techniques for combat, join the military. If you want to learn how to better yourself as a person traditional martial arts are a great way to do it. But that's your choice.

[aznkarateboi]

first of all i dont want to join the military and cant considering im 13 years old but that is not of relevance

[GreenDragon]

Ok, ok aznkarateboi, sorry I brought it up. You are correct in getting as many opinions as possible, I remember before I settled on a school I posted a lot about different styles, and sought many many opinions. Getting as much information as possible about a school before going to it is very smart. But this post...you are just asking for details of why TMAs are "useless". To me that seemed like just fanning the fires that these style bashers start.

 

But if it's an opinion of what could make someone think a traditional style is useless that involves a negative view of TMAs that you want, here you go: I practice a traditional martial art that is not in the category of other traditional martial arts because it does not do katas and there are absolutely no formalities in class. I like this because I did not enjoy learning katas. I also did not like having to learn bits and pieces of another language just to be proficient in class. I also did not like having to bow at the right times and call my instructor this or that and address him in such a way and on and on. I like learning to fight, toughening myself up and getting in shape and not much else. So the art I chose is perfect for me in that regard. And this is where other people will tell you that because it is right for me, it is also right for you and because I don't like learning katas that they must be a stupid waste of time and any art that teaches them is useless. Sorry, I can't do that. And anyone who will say something like that is so short sighted that you shouldn't be listening to them anyway, so again back to my original point, stop asking for negative opinions and choose what is right for you.

[granmasterchen]

good points on kata kirves,

 

some of the problems people have with TMA is that alot of the applications are out dated, katas, andmany styles are limited in the skills they teach, one school will focus on ground alone, one only on standing fighting, one with just kicks, another with just punches, see what i am getting at? If you find a school that you like with an instrucor that teaches many different tools, ie, kicks, punches, throws, manipulation, grappling then go for it, the major rule of thumb is the more weapons that you possess the better you will be , so don;t limit your self, plus if you are happy then who cares what others think like i think green dragon is trying to say, if later down the road you want to add a different weapon to your arsenal that your school doesn;t offer then pursue it yet, don't be bent b/c of others views, train hard and you will succeed.

[Fenris-wolf]

Thank you for your elaboration on the kata, Kirves.

 

While I have enjoyed learning kata, if I am ever asked "Why?" I end up stumbling through a badly worded explanation and eventually just telling them I don't know enough to help them.

[Kirves]

Here are some interesting books on the subject:

 

http://home.nc.rr.com/ejconsult/karate/t123rev1.html

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1886969884/qid=1056514841/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-7878065-6385755?v=glance&s=books

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Abernethy%2C%20Iain/102-7878065-6385755

 

Also, although I do not completely agree with Dillman's pressure point interpretations, he does have tuite techniques explained in his books, tuite is the grappling of karate (similar to jujutsu), now often forgotten from the bunkai.

[AndrewGreen]

Saying

 

"The training methods of Traditional arts are not that effective for learning to fight"

 

is NOT the same as saying

 

"Traditional arts suck"

[ZR440]

first of all i dont want to join the military and cant considering im 13 years old but that is not of relevance

 

Then choose your words wisely. Combat is not the same as self defense.

[Kyokushin]

Many threads are posted on this forum saying that Traditional Martial Arts, such as Karate, are useless for self defense. I have noticed that most of the reasoning is one of the two: 1) They use forms. 2) They are traditional and therefore outmoded. Anyone care to provide more specific details on why these arts are "useless"?

 

I don't really understand why so many people don't like kata and say it's useless, but I will give you my best explanation on its purpose and why it's so important. When you learn karate there are three aspects: Kihon (basics), Kata (forms), and Kumite (fighting). First you must learn your basics, and practice them until you are fairly proficient. This is like the "alphabet" of karate. Then you will work on kata. This is the next step. By learning kata I don't mean moving around throwing out some moves in a pattern. That would be dancing. You must be fully focused and see your opponent when executing each technique, and when you do this it should be so powerful that in a fight your opponent would have had something broken. Not saying everyone has all their techniques that powerful, but that is what we strive for. You should be able to do the kata so that you no longer have to think about what you are doing. Then like Kirves said you learn to apply b/c each technique has a purpose and you need to know what that is to truely understand the kata. Kata are the "words" of karate. After this you will train Kumite. I have gone to different dojos and some will fight differently based on the instructor, but at my traditional dojo we fight full contact w/ higher ranks. Lower belts you spar easier, which is also good b/c you have to learn speed w/ control. This is like a "conversation" in karate. You need all three to have karate, and they all work together.

 

As far as traditional arts being traditional. Well that seems a little redundant. Obviously that is the case. I find tradition is a nice change from what you normally have in the outside world. I enjoy the language and culture that you get from these styles. That is a personal thing and not everyone will feel that way. You have to decide what type of person you are.

[Treebranch]

To answer the question on this thread, TMA's don't suck. That's a matter of opinion, not a fact. It all depends on what you want out ot MA's.