Root of the Tree.

 It is amusing when people talk about ‘this’ style versus ‘that’ style, how much emphasis is placed on ‘how we do things’ versus ‘how they do things.’

‘Ours is the correct way’ so it goes, but what constitutes correct? Is the art being taught as ‘self defense’ (an ambiguous term unto itself)? Is it being taught as a Cultural Art Form? How is it being presented?

It is human nature to believe what we have put our time into has merit, value, and it seems to puff up the ego in small talk at social gatherings.

It hurts the ego when this is challenged, another example of human nature, a natural response... Further exacerbated when it is proven through an on the spot test to the challenge presented.

(Most don’t heed this and improve, they lick their wounds and just go on believing the delusion).

Arguments over ‘this point’ or ‘that detail’ are not very productive or useful in the long run, at least without context.

If something proves useful then, fine, it is a keeper and worth noting. If not, why keep it? Why train a bad habit? Why are you training? What is being taught? How is it presented?

Are you training for actual conflict or are you just learning an art form?

Getting the fine points so that something looks right is okay, but this is not training for conflict, it is learning a form, for presentation; a glorified dance.

Some principle based approaches fall into this as well when people begin to obsess over the proper way to perform a movement via principles rather than applying something to see it if works or if you get your ass handed to you.

This is function versus form.

It is not about the style, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, everything has a weakness, everything has a strength.

If a person is so focused on form then they have no means of knowing where something is lacking or where it is truly strong.

I would say that the first point should be to note that the weakness is in the over emphasis on form and performance with no real context in conflict or testing things out.

If you learn something then it is up to you to attempt to break it, see where it is lacking, see where it is strong, once the strength is found, try to break that as well.

Don’t get hung up on one style versus another, don’t be a style loyalist or purist because when the rubber hits the road the only thing that matters is what worked and what didn’t.

What didn’t may very well get you killed or, at the very least, fuck your world up for years to come after it leaves you eating from a tube.

Are these things being packaged as self defense when they are clearly a performance art?

That is a huge red flag. Take note. It is likely best to thank the Instructor for their time and move on to greener pastures.

Often what works is not pretty to look at; it is not flashy, not fancy, but it also does not take years to master.

Those are the things that are truly worthy of attention and, ironically, years of dedication.

If something requires you to close your mind to learning and seeks to convince you that it has all the answers then RUN!

A black belt is just a piece of cloth and those who feel they have nothing left to learn have nothing worthy of being learned.

Always seek to learn, always seek to grow, never get stuck in one thing unless that one thing is to grow yourself, your way, in the way that works for you.

Passing this on should never be a practice of preserving something just as it is either, it should be an exercise of seeking to help others find their way, what works for them.

I am not a Karateka, I have not been for a long time.

Though I train, I am a Budoka, I seek what works, I seek to learn and grow, to pass on what I know in order to help others do the same.

I respect my roots, but roots only serve as support for the whole tree.

Are you a dead tree?