What do you class youself as? [Archive]

Freeform

08-May-2003, 11:38 AM

A thought I've had from the recent TMA/MMA and Kata debates over in Gen Discussion, what do you class yourself as and why.

Do you think of yourself as a traditionalist, training in an art?
An MMAist training for the ring/SD?
A cross trainer looking to make yourself complete?
A dabbler. Hey, its just for fun right? ;)

Freeform

08-May-2003, 11:44 AM

I view myself as a Cross-trainer because I train in 4 different styles, although I do dabble in a few others. I learn the style and the philosiphies behind it and then incorparate it into myself.

I view the difference between a cross trainer and an MMAist is that a X-trainer learns each style, keeps what they want and rejects what they feel isn't suitable for them. Am MMAist finds a weak spot and then fills it with an aspect from an art.

Cheers

Col

Freeform

08-May-2003, 12:29 PM

Come on guys, I'm seeing votes but not posts. Let us know why you class yourself the way you have!

Col

waya

08-May-2003, 12:45 PM

Other
I cross train in entire systems, but I also dabble in systems for more combative uses rather than an entire syllabus, so I don't really fit totally into any catagories I guess.

KickChick

08-May-2003, 01:48 PM

Traditionalist ...
in traditional Taekwon-Do, the goal in training is to strengthen the mind and body and to promote creativity through self-expression with emphasis placed on your own self-improvement rather than on competition with others.
When a martial art becomes a sport involving audiences and money-making events, it becomes something it was not intended to be. (IMO)
Traditional ma offer more than training in combat skills: you develop a personal philosophy, a code of ethics, a "way" of life that in turn enhances your ability to defend yourself.

khafra

08-May-2003, 02:07 PM

I'm a dabbler who intends to fit into either cross trainer or MMA when I have the time/money/priority on either of those.

KarateKid1975

08-May-2003, 04:06 PM

I'm a cross between tradition and cross-trainer. I do Traditional TKD, but my instructor mixes it with Judo, and a few other arts he has studied. In my opinion, it's the most well-rounded version of TKD that I have ever seen. We do everything from TKD sparring, and forms, to Judo throws, take-downs, and grappling, to joint locks and counter grappling, ect.

I got into martial arts for self defense, so my school is perfect for me :)

Freeform

08-May-2003, 04:09 PM

Hey Rob,

by your definition I'd have to class myself as 'Other' as well!

YODA

08-May-2003, 06:25 PM

MMA-ist - definately.

Cross training by definition means to train in other systems to benefot your main system. If all you are is a cross trainer then you have no "core" - what are you cross training FOR?

Joe karate

08-May-2003, 06:47 PM

I don't know. I practice Kempo as my art(i love it) for fighting use. And yes i will do some of the "fun" stuff once in a while (jumping spinning kicks and point sparring) but focus on fighting.

I incorporate other things through books or seminars and practice it with my brother. I only attend my kempo school and use that as my core, building around its weak points.

Joe karate

08-May-2003, 06:53 PM

whats the difference between classical/traditional/contemporary??

TkdWarrior

09-May-2003, 12:22 AM

Don't know, don't care, this is a stupid question!

i m not saying that this is stupid question but to me MAist or all these classes doesn't qualifies me...
i used to think wat i am? where i m going? but now these questions seems stupid to me...
-TkdWarrior-

Freeform

09-May-2003, 03:59 PM

I always believed that to be a cross-trainer, you must have a core style, normally the first one that you started in, but not necessarily.

wayofthedragon

09-May-2003, 04:00 PM

Do you think of yourself as a traditionalist, training in an art? For this question I guess you can say sort of. Because I've trained in traditional arts, but I don't like to dwell on traditon so....no...kind of....:confused:
An MMAist training for the ring/SD? As for this one, I never competed, so......however, I would love to compete If I can ever find the time or get the chance and other factors. however I don't actually train to compete
A cross trainer looking to make yourself complete? As for this question....most definatly...no explaination.
A dabbler. Hey, its just for fun right? Ya that too:D

Brad Ellin

09-May-2003, 10:02 PM

I would have to say "Other". Although I practice/train in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, I won't pigeonhole myself by selecting a category to fit into. I practice/train/live as a martial artsit for too many reasons to be anything other than "A Martial Artist" without having to or needing to say "tradionalist" or " contemparary" or whatever. More powe to those that select a class, but for me I feel that by doing so you place limitations on yourself. Me, I'm trying to free`myself from any limitations/confines. To be able to operate in total freedom, of thought, movement, action.

KarateKid1975

10-May-2003, 04:30 PM

My base style is Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan, but it's mixed with others. So I guess "other" would have been a better choice :)

Freeform

12-May-2003, 11:15 AM

Who voted 'stupid'! Grrrrrrr! :woo:

TkdWarrior

12-May-2003, 11:42 AM

Me. :p
-TkdWarrior-

Joe karate

12-May-2003, 07:10 PM

whats the difference between classical/contemporary/traditional?????????

shadow joe

15-May-2003, 09:03 PM

i'd say mixed, but then again the first and foremost thing I train is really Tai Chi so what is that? Traditonal? ... and I incorporate that into the other systems I practice.

Right now I'm pushing myself to pick up Wing Chun, but I already have a ton on my plate.

Shadowchild

20-May-2003, 11:21 AM

What is the difference between traditional and classical?

Knight_Errant

03-Jun-2003, 07:51 AM

I voted stupid on an impulse, because I'm young and foolish, but if I were to go for one it would be MMA. I have a strain of wado in me, but the basis of my training is a kickboxing type affair, mingled with some brutal physical conditioning

YODA

03-Jun-2003, 07:53 AM

a kickboxing type affair, mingled with some brutal physical conditioning

Sounds good to me :D

Learn to grapple & fight with weapons too and you'll have the makings of a martial art :D

Knight_Errant

03-Jun-2003, 12:05 PM

OK, Ok... crazy fool theories... It's just I've given up bothering to train in a style. It's a part of my wider life, i.e. picking up skills that I can actually use

Kwan Jang

08-Jun-2003, 06:32 AM

-For me, it's been kind of an evolution. I started w/ a strong traditional base and part of that is still with me. Many of the values are the same, but the methods have progressed. My instructor was a pioneer of cross training in the US, and striving for a better way IS our tradition. My instructor being a BLACK BELT HALL OF FAME instructor gave us access to sharing w/ a lot of awesome martial artists and we were always encouraged to branch out and grow. Over the years, I've earned either black belts or instructor ranking in 10 systems now. Our schools used to add cross training in other systems at higher ranks.(ex. tkd and arnis for underbelts, hapkido and muay thai for 2nd dan, small circle and BJJ for 3rd, kenpo for 4th, w/ a continous tkd base), but over the last few years has truly went to being MMA. We begin all of our beginners on a MMA cirriculum now, actually starting the MT at white w/ tkd, arnis/escrima at green, JJ at brown and kenpo at red. Each system is comprehensive to at least dan levels in each system by master level. We've also incorperated NHB style fighting for 2nd degrees and up. We also are always evolving the cirriculum further.

jejanim

15-Jun-2003, 03:27 AM

I classify myself as a mixed martial artist. I've taken Kickboxing and am now taking a mix of TKD, Hapkido and J-Jitsu. I feel that if you can handle yourslef on your feet and can be comfortable fighting on the ground or on your back, you are adept at all levels.
I'm new here, but i like it, i'm learning quite a bit.

jeja

stump

25-Jun-2003, 11:59 AM

I think the esteemed Philosopher Popeye said it best......

"I yam wot I yam and that;s all that I yam"

bubba

04-Jul-2003, 02:29 AM

I would class myself as other because I tend to base on tradition mixed with moderen but also create and devolep on my own, if you are looking from a type of martial artist veiw.

Robert_D

21-Jul-2003, 02:06 AM

I judge myself as an MMA because i train in all styles i can get my hands on, now i know that sounds like x-training, but, me and a large group of freinds go to my freinds dojo and just fight. no styles, few rules, and whatever works. we have people from all knids of styles and we exchange info, ideas, and moves. we have muiy tai, shaolin, goju-ryu, wenchi-ryu, hapkido, TKD, and funakashi. anyway, thanks for listening.

Robert_D

inacan

21-Jul-2003, 07:08 AM

I guess I'd be contemporary because I don't adhere to the traditional methods of training (at least some of them) and I'm not the kind who is dabbling in multiple martial arts or training for the sheer purpose of being able to kick somebody's butt or for pure physical reasons.

I train because I feel that in training I can strengthen myself both mentally and physically and maybe understand the deeper things in life and my purpose. Being a good martial artist is as much understanding your surroundings as being able to preform at a physical level.

Master J

21-Jul-2003, 08:25 PM

I am my own martial artist. I have no style and no limitation.

oneil357

08-Aug-2003, 04:09 PM

Mixed martial artist seems right to me since my reactions against an opponent depends soley on his actions, "

"Violence can only be stopped by greater violence" Bruce Lee

beth

13-Oct-2003, 05:07 PM

I have to go with with traditional. Martial arts is so much more for me than being able to beat people up or good cardiovascular exercise. I really enjoy and thrive on the discipline and pushing my mind and body to new places. I don't think that traditional has to mean resistant to change or old-fashioned. It means adherence to a core set of values and traditions but allowing flexibility and adaptation. Tae Kwon Do is a way of life and a moral and ethical code to me. I don't "dabble" in anything.

aikiMac

13-Oct-2003, 05:47 PM

What is the difference between traditional and classical?
I was thinking the same question. I voted "classical."

dmiller575

15-Oct-2003, 01:15 PM

I voted mixed as I have been involved in several martial arts.

I started Tomiki Akido and enjoyed the Traditional aspects of it. When we made contact with Japan again I discovered it was really a Contemporary martial art as the kata and base practice were being changed regularly to accomadate problems found in randori competition. Either the technique was difficult to apply against resistance or it was dangerous in competition.

I had to give up Aikido when I moved away from London as I did not have the energy and time required to start up my own class again. So I took up Tai Chi Chuan which is taught in a Classical sense as it strictly follows all of the original methods of teaching and practice.

I am currently looking to restart Ba Gua & Hsing I but if there are no classes I may try Wing Chung.

I am not really interested in cross training as such. I think that when you are doing one art you ought to be doing that art in its purest form otherwise how can you remember what is Aikido or what is Tai Chi. It is useful and interesting to know what the different arts have in common and in what way they differ.

The bottom line though has to be that I do what I do because it is fun.

Pick the bones out of that Colin.

Kwajman

15-Oct-2003, 01:49 PM

Traditionalist because my instructor says so....

Qasim

20-Oct-2003, 12:48 AM

Originally posted by Freeform
A thought I've had from the recent TMA/MMA and Kata debates over in Gen Discussion, what do you class yourself as and why.

Do you think of yourself as a traditionalist, training in an art?
An MMAist training for the ring/SD?
A cross trainer looking to make yourself complete?
A dabbler. Hey, its just for fun right? ;)

How do you define Classical and Traditional? They sound like the same thing to me. What do you consider Contemporary? Aikido by it's age could be considered contemporary, but it's roots are old and extend into training that might be traditional or classical.

Monty

16-Nov-2003, 10:40 PM

Definately a crosstrainer !

My main style is basic self defense, which is a trimmed down version of JuJitsu (trimmed in such manner that it fits the laws regarding self defense here in Denmark).

But to supply myself with "the missing parts", I took up JuJitsu.
For the inner strenght, I took up Tai Chi.
For weapons, I took up Iaido.
For speed and striking power, I took up Kenpo.

quartermaster

20-Nov-2003, 10:20 PM

other
quick answer is i am myself and am like no other
be proud of who/what you are and dont try to classify in among things that do not fit you
tidings

shuyun3

26-Jan-2004, 05:37 PM

street fighter.

no source to dirty no technique too traditional or too new. what ever the technique what i think is (can i do this in the streets? can i train this to reflex?)

Jewbacca

09-Feb-2004, 08:10 PM

Mixed. I've taken elements from many different styles, and adapted them to my own.

Gryphon Hall

17-Feb-2004, 04:41 PM

Dilettante.

I don't have fixed schedules, I don't belong to a school, don't train consistently.

However, I spar whenever I can (sometimes, everyday, if I can get a sparring partner); I acquire and compare techniques while sparring.

Sonshu

17-Feb-2004, 04:43 PM

I think many should be under cross trainer rather than MMA, still guess a few did not know the difference?

Shaolin Dragon

17-Feb-2004, 04:59 PM

I classed myself as traditional, even though I train in more than one style, as I think of Shaolin Mok ka as my main style.
The idea is not to mould students to the MA, pushing out several "clones" of the same style, but to mould the style to the student. Therefore I would consider many MMA/ cross-trainers to be traditional, they just don't know it.
Or maybe it's just me?