TRADITIONAL ARTS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD
Fighting and self defense must be an integral part of Martial Arts training. In other words, when one practices Kung fu they should be able to understand and execute the moves and applications with force, fluidity and timing. The problem with a lot of traditional or sport Martial Arts training nowadays is they do not practice anything but forms, and the forms can sometimes be mediocre. Because of this, there is no power or strength. Sparring, standing practice and intense stretching are often not utilized and so students never learn how to use their art form.
This has given traditional arts a bad name. In addition, the opening of countless sport style schools across the country that are hopping with the next hopeful black belt, has done little to spread the traditional arts. The popularity of MMA due to the widespread fame of the UFC also has many people disparaging the traditional art form. The argument is that you can't use traditional arts to fight, and that an MMA bout is the most real situation one can end up in- anything else is useless. Oddly enough, it was the traditional arts that gave Martial Artist, Georges St. Pierre his work ethic and physical foundation for his future in the sport. In addition, Lyota Machida, Cung Le and Pat Barre have strong backgrounds in traditional Martial Arts. Traditional Arts have self defense, but their main objective is to balance fighting with philosophy, health with application, culture with refinement. Traditional arts when taught properly have intense conditioning and discipline. At the end of the day, we should remember that MMA is a sport. This is the main difference.
As a traditional artist, I have a lot of respect for certain mixed martial artists. I have trained full contact fighting and kung fu at the same time. I know the work it takes to prepare for a bout. But I am most impressed with a Martial Artist who is not arrogant, or who looks to put down others as being inferior. I am most impressed with a Martial Artist who respects other arts and is always striving to improve, regardless of wins and losses. Because whether we win or lose, we are aging every day and our lives go by us quickly. At the end of our life, we cannot take our wins, losses, or money to the grave. We can only hope that we have done our best in life to have a healthy body, peaceful relationships, and a development of wisdom. Sport and competition are great to sharpen the skills, but they are only one aspect of a Martial Artists life.
The mma world is also a big business. Bragging and slandering are part of the hype and build up to the fights. It's entertaining. But now, a host of mma gyms around the U.S. take this attitude as their creed. In traditional arts, a good Teacher will teach his or her students the fighting applications, but only after they have a good attitude and a proper physical foundation. The reason being is that the traditional arts should train the ego, not inflate it. To calm the ego, learn compassion and refinement is the way to wisdom. Without wisdom, where will we be when our body ages and breaks down? Learning fighting techniques is not that hard. But learning an entire art form takes time, and that is why a good Teacher/Student relationship is so important. In sports, you may have a coach you respect, but in traditional arts your Teacher should be a true mentor and spiritual guide in your life. This is another major difference.
This has given traditional arts a bad name. In addition, the opening of countless sport style schools across the country that are hopping with the next hopeful black belt, has done little to spread the traditional arts. The popularity of MMA due to the widespread fame of the UFC also has many people disparaging the traditional art form. The argument is that you can't use traditional arts to fight, and that an MMA bout is the most real situation one can end up in- anything else is useless. Oddly enough, it was the traditional arts that gave Martial Artist, Georges St. Pierre his work ethic and physical foundation for his future in the sport. In addition, Lyota Machida, Cung Le and Pat Barre have strong backgrounds in traditional Martial Arts. Traditional Arts have self defense, but their main objective is to balance fighting with philosophy, health with application, culture with refinement. Traditional arts when taught properly have intense conditioning and discipline. At the end of the day, we should remember that MMA is a sport. This is the main difference.
As a traditional artist, I have a lot of respect for certain mixed martial artists. I have trained full contact fighting and kung fu at the same time. I know the work it takes to prepare for a bout. But I am most impressed with a Martial Artist who is not arrogant, or who looks to put down others as being inferior. I am most impressed with a Martial Artist who respects other arts and is always striving to improve, regardless of wins and losses. Because whether we win or lose, we are aging every day and our lives go by us quickly. At the end of our life, we cannot take our wins, losses, or money to the grave. We can only hope that we have done our best in life to have a healthy body, peaceful relationships, and a development of wisdom. Sport and competition are great to sharpen the skills, but they are only one aspect of a Martial Artists life.
The mma world is also a big business. Bragging and slandering are part of the hype and build up to the fights. It's entertaining. But now, a host of mma gyms around the U.S. take this attitude as their creed. In traditional arts, a good Teacher will teach his or her students the fighting applications, but only after they have a good attitude and a proper physical foundation. The reason being is that the traditional arts should train the ego, not inflate it. To calm the ego, learn compassion and refinement is the way to wisdom. Without wisdom, where will we be when our body ages and breaks down? Learning fighting techniques is not that hard. But learning an entire art form takes time, and that is why a good Teacher/Student relationship is so important. In sports, you may have a coach you respect, but in traditional arts your Teacher should be a true mentor and spiritual guide in your life. This is another major difference.
That being said, the best reason not give up on the traditional Chinese Martial Arts? Longevity! One can train Chinese Martial Arts for a lifetime, and get better with age. The body can become so solid, that a slight looking Martial Arts Master would be difficult for an extremely strong man to lift. The bone density of internal Chinese Martial Arts Masters is exceptional.
Traditional arts demand that you pay attention to all aspects of your being, and that you use discipline and morals in all areas of your life. Clarity of mind, liveliness of spirit, wisdom, and refined skill can be achieved through diligent Chinese Martial Arts training.
But perhaps the most appealing but little known fact, is that Chinese Kung Fu and Tai Chi touch all areas of your life, improving everything. When I was young I had some talents in drawing, writing, singing, dancing etc. But I lacked refined skill. I gave most of it up to train Kung Fu full time. By the time I returned to my talents some 10 years later, they had drastically improved. Even things like ping pong, soccer and other pursuits that I had never tried more than once, had improved so drastically it was like I had been training in them all along.
My students are frequently telling me stories on how they cut off time on their long distance running, or how they have participated in other activities with surprising success after never training them before. These stories come from students who have not done anything different except add Kung Fu to their life.
Traditional arts demand that you pay attention to all aspects of your being, and that you use discipline and morals in all areas of your life. Clarity of mind, liveliness of spirit, wisdom, and refined skill can be achieved through diligent Chinese Martial Arts training.
But perhaps the most appealing but little known fact, is that Chinese Kung Fu and Tai Chi touch all areas of your life, improving everything. When I was young I had some talents in drawing, writing, singing, dancing etc. But I lacked refined skill. I gave most of it up to train Kung Fu full time. By the time I returned to my talents some 10 years later, they had drastically improved. Even things like ping pong, soccer and other pursuits that I had never tried more than once, had improved so drastically it was like I had been training in them all along.
My students are frequently telling me stories on how they cut off time on their long distance running, or how they have participated in other activities with surprising success after never training them before. These stories come from students who have not done anything different except add Kung Fu to their life.