I know this rant is pretty old, but I think its time to voice some opinions again.
I would like to think that one of the reasons that anyone would want to do a martial art, is to learn how to defend him self in a dangerous situation. Whatever that may be. Some of us want to learn how to fight, and others want to learn how to kick ass (apparently there is a difference). Whatever your reason, it’s probably all the same.
I’ve also always thought that learning martial arts is a personal thing. Doesn’t matter who your sifu is, if you don’t practice and you don’t keep up with training, you’re not going to be very successful in your quest. Being part of a lineage where the founder was a well known fighter, doesn’t make you better, neither does it make you (or your followers) a better fighter.
Along the line we seem to have lost it completely (or maybe we have never caught it in the first place). We make threads where we discuss whether or not there is still hope for “Traditional” martial arts, and we argue that unless you look like an actor from a badly choreographed 1970’s Shaw Brother film, you are only a glorified kickboxer.
We argue about whether or not DFW’s elephant form is as original as his Sifu’s form, or that the buksing charp choy is much more powerful than the hung sing charpchoy. Occasionally we encourage cross training in BJJ, wrestling, or boxing, just so we look like we have some clue when we talk to others (who appears to know more) about fighting, yet we shun so called ‘traditional’ martial artists (or masters) when they cross train within their own styles. Its crazy!
Now I hear that there are even people who go as far as to disrespect legendary diseased masters. Apparently word is that my Grandmaster, Lee Koon Hung, passed away because of incorrect training methods over the years. Regardless of the medical facts (only those really close would know or care about the truth), why does this matter?! Where is the respect? I want to go as far as to say “WTF??!!!”.
I’ve been on this forum a long time. Nearing a decade (I think its actually been a decade now). There are so many people on this forum whom I respect for various reasons. Some I have met in person, others I have only communicated with via the internet. I think there are many level headed, realistic, martial artists one here, but I also think there are allot of very narrow minded, very deluded people on here too. Guess some really belief their own crap. There are people on here, whom I probably wont like in real life, but I respect their views on MA, just because I realise that they might even know what they are talking about. There are others whom I think I would probably get along with well enough, but yet we might never agree with on any MA related topic. Thing is, Martial Arts is all about experience. Plain and simple.
I’m not really so much bothered about style anymore. I’m passed the point where I really care, I’m impressed by SKILL, and nothing else. Skill takes allot of form, unfortunately, I’m not impressed with mouth skill at all.
What is wrong with us?! I’m really curious.