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REALITY
AND THE MARTIAL SCIENCES
What
is real in the Martial Arts / Sciences?
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These
days many, many beautifully unique systems of Martial Science
are available to the individual seeking instruction. Anyone
regardless
of age, weight, social position, etc. can benefit from learning
one or more of the
Martial Systems available to them. What to Study? A better
way to phrase the question
would be:
What do you want to learn?
If
your intention is to learn a martial sport then you may
want to look into Judo, or Brazilian Jiujitsu, Wrestling,
Sambo or Sport Karate. There are many, many more martial
arts that fall into the sporting category which are designed
to be used in a competition and to win trophies, medals,
money or fame!
Now having said that, can they be used for self defense?
Yes, but were they designed with that in mind? When training,
is one primarily learning to deal with a very specific concentrated
area of study such as Throwing in Judo, or Ground Grappling
in Brazilian Jiujitsu, Point Fighting or Kickboxing in Karate,
Muay Thai etc.?
If the martial system that you study only focuses on a very
specific area of the Martial Sciences, and it is primarily
geared towards competition, then it is safe to say that
it is a sport martial art!
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Can you use it for Self Defense? Yes, if the circumstances of
the violent encounter replicate something similar to the sporting
variation of martial art that you study! If you are serious and
interested in personal protection and self defense, do you want
to take that chance?
If your interest lies in culturally traditional and historically
preserved martial traditions then you may be interested in learning
a system that has been around for a long time and has a verifiable
origin. Many, many of these systems are out there and they are
both beautiful and rich in technique and culture. One might want
to check out some of the ancient Japanese Koryu systems such as
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, or Muso Chokuden Esshin Ryu
Iaido, or Budo Taijutsu of the Bujinkan, or some Chinese forms
of Tai Chi Chuan or the Shaolin Arts.
There are traditional arts in India such as Kalarippayattu or
the Philippines such as various forms of Arnis, Escrima, and Kali.
One could also look to Vietnam for Vovinam or many other arts
that are ancient in origin. These traditional arts have a tremendous
amount of beautiful technique, theory, and culture to offer, on
top of that, many of their techniques and theories were put to
the battlefield test during the course of their initial founding.
Is there Self Defense and Personal Protection skills to be found
in the Classical Arts? You Bet!!!
Some of these arts have changed throughout the years and grown
with a more modern approach and self defense applications for
our current time frame and still maintained the link to tradition
and correct application and knowledge of ancient techniques. However,
sometimes it is harder to find legitimate people teaching these
arts, particularly the Koryu arts of Japan, as many of them still
only have students and teachers living in Japan!
If
you are interested in learning a system that is specifically geared
towards Self Defense and Personal Protection then some of the
modern systems such as Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, Chu Fen Do, Instinctive
Response Training™, Ed Parker's American Kenpo, and Modern Arnis
to list a few, may be what you are looking for! Now, all of these
systems have a link to the traditional martial arts, and with
that they generally have a Physical, Mental and Spiritual aspect
to them, but some do not! These systems are primarily geared towards
learning how to defend oneself and one's loved ones and a heavy
emphasis or total
emphasis is placed just on that within these systems.
Now
some of the above arts, sciences, or theories of martial movement
fall into all or more
than one of the above categories! Judo for instance has a link
to classical Japanese Jiujutsu,
can be very effective in Self Defense, and yet is a competitive
sport!
Budo Taijutsu,
one of the broadest martial arts I have ever come across, has
a direct link back to the
feudal era of Japan and is a classical Japanese Martial Art. Yet,
through Soke Massaki
Hatsummi's application of technique and theories, it's Taijutsu
or body movement
skills have a direct application in today's modern world, so it
would fall into Traditional
and Modern Self Defense.
Modern Arnis has incorporated in recent years a competitive
stickfighting element, has a direct link to the ancient techniques
used by the Filipinos
and is a brutally effective Modern Self Defense system.
So some arts have movement
within two or three areas: Traditional, Modern, and Sporting aspects
of the martial arts!
The key for anyone looking to find a Martial System is to identify
what they wish
to learn and then find a proficient teacher to show them the way!
My personal opinion
is that true Martial Sciences always include Physical, Mental
and Spiritual Training
and are always taught with clear Moral Guidance!
So what is Reality in the Martial
Arts/Sciences? Reality is exactly what that system, art, theory
was designed for! Meaning
that a student that learns Judo, Jiujitsu, or Brazilian Jiujitsu
has primarily a sporting
reality in the martial arts!
While someone that learns Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto
Ryu, Penjak Silat, Classical Okinawan Karate or the Shaolin Arts
has a very traditional
and ancient reality to the method that they are learning!
Remember, you as the student
are the one that decides your future and who shall be your teacher
and the art you shall learn.
Whether it be Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Silat, Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu),
Instinctive
Response Training™, Modern Arnis, Escrima, Kali, Brazilian Jiujitsu,
etc.
Follow your heart and good luck on your Martial Quest in the Reality
that you choose!
Brian VanCise
Founder / Chief Instructor
Instinctive Response Training™
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