Cross Training

[Acitic]

It is my personal belief that it is up to the student to train their heart out to become proficient in any martial art system; I like the quote about the practitioner who trained only one kata day in day out. However, I am not a fan of the purist attitude taken on by many martial arts instructors. I refer to the idea that this or that art is better so one should train solely in one.

In my personal experience, and I will use real names; screw the innocent and the not so innocent. I had been teaching Kali in the Calgary Taekwon-Do Academy (WTF School) in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). The owner sold the school to Master Cha a 6th Degree Black Belt in TKD from Korea. Master Cha also teaches "Hae Dong Geum Do" a Korean Sword Art.
Since then he has changed the name to Red Phonenix Taekwon-Do and Martial Arts Centre (I believe you must teach more that one art to be a martial arts centre). Master Cha and his wife disallowed me from teaching the art of Kali at their school any further. I had 3 times slots, a Tuesday and Thursday that was for 45 minutes each, and a Sunday night for 2 hours (the school isn’t even open on Sundays). Their reasoning, they didn't want to confuse the students of who the instructor was, and they didn't want to blend the Korean Weapon art or Taekwon-Do for that matter with a Filipino art, obviously a BS reason. My personal thoughts on the matter, Master Cha wanted to limit his student to no outside influence of other martial arts, that way Master Cha can teach all the BS he wants without his students knowing that there is more than what is given to them. This post may exhibit a bias of my hard feelings considering they gave me and my students a week to find a new school (we ended up training in a local park while it rained that week).

The main point of my Message is Blending and Cross Training of Arts is a must, and should be promoted by instructors! For Example a purist Taekwon-Do practitioner mostly training in a purely stand up empty hand art, would have little or no chance in a weapons fight, or a ground fight. Each system has its strong points, and its weak points. Therefore, my belief is that including one or more systems to your personal tool belt can only strengthen.

Respectfully,

Jonathan Henn

[Scarlet Mist]

Of course you need to cross dress. It is crucial to MA.
Get your cross on, playa.

[Yohan]

I think that cross DABBLING is necessary to be a well-rounded martial artist. I don't think that cross training is necessary. I think it will help alot, but as long as you are comfortable and somewhat effective at all ranges, you are in good shape.

[kmguy8]

this post has nothing to do with cross-training
your just airing your dirty laundry
lame petty laundry at that

your "tone" is something I would not put up with in MY school either. you really think [u]you[u] are to make decisions about what is best for [u]his[u] business... your just renting space and leeching his students and probably pumping them up with confusing info with your belittling attitude... i mean.. do you not see the way you come off... what did you hope to gain from your post other than to open youreself to a lawsuit for slander?

you've got issues man... serious issues

[Acitic]

Originally Posted by kmguy8

what did you hope to gain from your post other than to open yourself to a lawsuit for slander?

Well this being a public forum, I was hoping to get some feed back on the issue.

Originally Posted by kmguy8

This post has nothing to do with cross-training
Your just airing your dirty laundry
lame petty laundry at that

Apparently your reading skills are limited, so I repost my view in simple terms.

I am now quoting myself from my original post; logic would suggest that if you were going to be disrespectful you would at least read through the post more than once.
"However, I am not a fan of the purist attitude taken on by many martial arts instructors. I refer to the idea that this or that art is better so one should train solely in one."

Every art has something to offer, TKD- excellent kicking, Boxing- the best punching, Judo- throws and grappling etc, Kali has good weapon defense. Find the flavor you like but never shut off your mind to what else is out there. If you are training for life, you should not limit yourself to one martial art. "I don't want you to confuse our students" More like "I don't want our students to become free thinking people, because when they realize that your art teaches a different approach they may not like our art....” Martial arts is about exploring and opening new doors, not shutting them.

Once again quoted from myself
"Their reasoning, they didn't want to confuse the students of who the instructor was, and they didn't want to blend the Korean Weapon art or Taekwon-Do for that matter with a Filipino art,"

That is garbage! Anyone can be a teacher. A 5 year old can have more heart than some Grand Masters. Jennifer Lawler wrote in her book "Dojo Wisdom” that "not all wise people sit atop mountains in Tibet". Meaning sometimes you can learn more from a 5 year old girls then some Korea Master; you do not have to travel to a far off land to gain more insight in life. Just because someone has a high rank doesn't mean his methods are always right.

"So many instructors just want you to follow their way only and are fearful of students expanding their horizons. The closed door policy weakens many styles. I will give you an example with TKD tournaments, especially the ones that don't allow any punching. You see people kicking at each other with their hands down and just kind of pushing each other back into kicking range. I mean that is an excellent way to develop kicking skills but if those martial artists were only trained that way and went into open tournament that allowed punching and grappling they would be less then effective. However put a boxer or grappler in their world and their rules and they would be kicked around like a rag doll. So what I am basically saying is understand what your art teaches well, concentrate on that and find some training that will fill in the weak points. But you can only do this with an open mind." writing by my instructor in response to the issue.

Now that that is clear I am going to address your disrespectful manner.

Originally Posted by kmguy8

Your just airing your dirty laundry
lame petty laundry at that

Your "tone" is something I would not put up with in MY school either. you really think you are to make decisions about what is best for his business... your just renting space and leeching his students and probably pumping them up with confusing info with your belittling attitude... I mean.. do you not see the way you come off... what did you hope to gain from your post other than to open youreself to a lawsuit for slander?

you've got issues man... serious issues

"your just airing your dirty laundry
lame petty laundry at that"
This is a forum, you did not have to read my post, or comment on it. By all means you are entitled to do so if you want, and I want as much feed back as possible. However, you are truly showing who is "airing your dirty laundry" and who has "serious issues". Simply by you reading one post, you have judged my teaching methods, and myself.

"your "tone" is something I would not put up with in MY school either"

My tone, what tone is that, I simply told exactly what happened. I am sorry that my "tone" of reality is too much from your wonderful land of lollipops where violence is not an issue. However, in my world, people get stabbed, stomped, and shot for no reason other than for laughs. Master Cha made up some bs reason for me not to be allowed to continue teaching my straight to the point system. I was respectful to them, I gave them the, key and left. I did not say "geez Master Cha, you have issues, I don't like your "tone"".

"you really think you are to make decisions about what is best for his business... "

I am not making decisions on what is best for his business; I make comments on his close door policy.

"leeching his students and probably pumping them up with confusing info with your belittling attitude"

No I had no students of theirs taking classes from me to start with, they didn't even try a class to see what I was all about. I need further explanation of my belittling attitude please, your writing skills seem to be limited, and I do not full understand what you are trying to communicate.

"what did you hope to gain from your post other than to open youreself to a lawsuit for slander?"

I wanted to see what others thought on the issue, not judge me when they clearly know nothing about me, my style or my way of teaching.

"you've got issues man... serious issues"
I don't really know what to say to that. You are entitled to your opinion of me. However, you have never trained with me, never had a conversation with me, you know nothing about me, other than what I have posted. You are deeming me crazy after reading one post. I think that is extremely disrespectful of you. Personally, I am glad you would no put up with my "tone" in your school; I wouldn't want to associate myself with a Martial Artist such as yourself that is disrespectful to a stranger because of a post, and closes possibilities to his students.

Thank you very much for your thoughts,

Respectfully,

Jonathan