Tuesday, October 27, 2009

How Much Martial Arts Do You Need?

By Al Case

Here's a question I shouldn't be asking. After all, as a fellow who sells martial arts DVDs, I should be trying to sell you large amounts of everything, right? Because I prefer happy customers, let me answer this question.

You don't need much, when it comes to martial arts. The truth of the matter is that when a fight starts you only need a few workable techniques. And, sad truth of the matter, most of the martial arts being taught these days are pretty much filler.

Karate, such as Shotokan, Uechi or Shito ryu, has dozens of forms, hundreds of techniques, fancy ways of taking apart an attacker, yet, all you need are the five or six that work. You need to isolate the five or six techniques that suit your mind and body, and then work them until they are second nature. There's where the true discipline of the martial arts is, in spending the long lonely hours working just the important stuff until it works...every time.

Shaolin Kung Fu has amazing routines filled with acrobatics, yet, when was the last time you saw somebody do a somersault in a fight, unless he was the one that got hit? Or, maybe you want the mysterious chi building exercises of Tai Chi or Pa Kua or Hsing I, but, again, how many fights have you seen where people use chi gung to win?

Or, take kenpo, which has over five hundred death dealing techniques, virtually none of which work in the ring. Or Tae Kwon Do, with its amazing arsenal of kicks, but which kicks are of little value once the distance has closed. Or jujitsu, which has so many throws, but who can afford to take the time to roll around on a parking lot with more than one attacker to handle?

These arts that I have mentioned, you see have certain flaws within them. And it would appear that I am just bad mouthing the various martial arts. Actually, there is a madness behind what I am saying.

If you are interested in quick self defense, find a course, maybe even just hang a punching bag and get to work. A few months of sweat, and you are there. This is going to be all you need.

And, if you are like me, however, completely addicted to the martial arts, just cannot get enough of that sweet stuff, then I have removed you from my arena, and given myself less distractions in the pursuit of my art. You see,all of those faults I have mentioned, I study all the arts and figure out ways to correct the flaws, and I am an artist of The True Art. You want quickie stuff like you see in the movies, go away, if you want the real thing, then be willing to go all the way.

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