I once agreed with Bruce Lee in saying there is no such thing as a Chinese way of fighting, Korean way of Fighting or whatever. I still agree with him but I see now there is a beauty in sticking to one fighting system. In a society that we are living in, we are forced to play a role. We cannot play every role because your energy will be dissipated all over the place. What I realize now is that when people tell me: "If you learn any type of Martial Art, you have to learn grounfighting too. " That is the most stupidest thing I have ever heard of. First of, I do not even fight on the ground. I fight standing up because I believe that is what a human being should focus on primarily when it comes to fighting. The problem when people think if they go to different schools of self-defense they can get to a high level is they do not learn anything at all and they lack any type of loyalty. You think I am talking crap? Let's take an example for Basketball, why are Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan the best players NBA ever had? Take a wild guess. They stick to one team and decided to move forward with it. That way, they are loyal to the team. Their work ethic is the most impressive ever. There is another sport I want to mention. In boxing, Mayweather is pretty much the greatest in his weight class because he chose to focus on it and became the best at it! I also want to mention soccer also because I play that sport myself. Lionel Messi is pretty much the best soccer player alive right. This year, he will probably earn the best player of the year again because he is just too much. You can google him if you want to but the point that I am making is that part of the science behind becoming the greatest lies in loyalty, and having a specialty. You can never be the best at everything. It is impossible. Even in a game like basketball, soccer, and football you have to focus on playing one position and be the best at it. Sure you can try to play different positions but there will be one that you like the most. Now when it comes to Martial Arts, whatever school you are practicing in right now, keep doing it. Dedicate yourself to make the best out of it. At the end of the day, it is not the style that is the problem, the problem is you. I totally agree when Ip Man said that. When people are saying things like: "Oh you practice Taekwondo? Why don't you do boxing too?" Then you go practice boxing. Another dumb ass said: "Practice BJJ." Then your dumb ass start practicing it too until you realize that I have not even learn about what real Martial Art is. You were just too concerned about what the outsiders think of you so you were trying to fill gaps but actually you got gaps all over your ass! Shit, you really fucked up!! What are you gonna do? Cry to your Taekwondo master to get you back? Why should he even teach you anymore? If he is a profit jackass, he will get you back but a real Master will reject you.
Well, finally all I am saying is stick to a Martial Art teacher that you admire, and I guarantee you; you will be the best human being that you can possibly be. Do not listen to outsiders who tell you to train in this and that. They are leading you astray. Figure out the kind of Martial Art teacher that you want and once you find him, stick to him. Learn his ways, do not give up. Peace.
Nice post Kang. I agree that it is incredibly advantageous to begin ones journey in Martial Art by studying a system under a Sifu/Sabomnim/Sebsei/Instructor of Martial Art. The structured approach to learning the communal expression (stylised system) is generally the best method of introducing the concept of Martial Art to masses of people who historically have no cultural association with what we recognise as Martial Art. However, from personal experience I believe that in many cases, the practitioner reaches a point where the teacher can no longer act as a catalyst for the students progression. This can be for a plethora of reasons but I won't go into them now. The stylised system can become more like a cage for many. When this is the students situation, he/she must recognise that it is a sign. The student of Martial Art can do many things from here. He/She can stay with the instructor and teach the stylised system to new beginners or leave the school for a new teacher promoting another stylised system and experience the beauties of another culture. The student can even go strait to developing learning various techniques and philosophical perspectives from other Martial Art practitioners in all sorts of media (eg; books, internet articles and videos). Once the student has experienced multiple communal expressions of Martial Art, he/she can then work on creating his or her own expression that is unique to the inner self. I see that at this stage, the practitioner has reached the purest level of Martially Artistic expression. I feel it relevant to add that there will always be traits of the system the student originally practiced. I have seen the in many people who are no longer at their original school. I feel that there is something special about this.
ReplyDeleteAnyway! To summerise my comment in a short metaphor: 'All birds must eventually leave the nest, otherwise the nest can turn into cage.' I personally don't see any point in showing the same type of loyalty to something that has become your prison cell. However, I do believe that it would be in the students best interest to show loyalty to the instructor and the school whilst the instructor still has much to teach them. Even when the student has moved on, he/she should in my current opinion, show respect and honour to the institution that was the birth/genesis of his/her journey in Martial Art. A metaphor for this is that it's like every parent must eventually let their children go when they have become adults; it would be cruel for the parent to try to prevent the child from growing up.
Thanks for writing this post Kang. It evoked many thoughts within me and for that I am grateful. Keep up the good work man!
Thank you for the feedback. Good analogy on how the parents let the children go when they have become adults. You definitely cannot stay with the parents forever. But it is also good that you still do not loose respect for them either because if it was not for them, you would have become mature. I am not against learning about other cultures but I would recommend you understand one fully before going to another. That way, you have more of a foundation.
DeleteI feel that your point of view is wise. Oh, and thank you for correcting my mistake; it wasn't a metaphor, it was an analogy! Haha. :)
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