More or Less?

Discussion in 'General Martial Arts Discussion' started by Guy Preston, Aug 14, 2015.

  1. Guy Preston

    Guy Preston Valued Member

    In the past I have trained in a number of different forms of Martial Arts, and I loved the variety, the different approaches of different ryu or styles, and the techniques I learned - it was all great.

    For example within Genbukan/KJJR there is a wealth of different Ryu to learn, within Bujinkan there are the 9 schools, but then also other schools that feature in the training not officially a part of the 9, a Kung Fu school I attended in China taught a number of different systems...

    Now I'm a bit older, I am completely focused on just 1 Ryu - and I'm finding that when you peel back the layers, and look at application of kata, counters, mindset, etc, there is easily enough to keep me busy for the rest of my life.

    So my question is, do you think it is better to train in a wide variety of systems, or to focus your efforts on 1?

    I'm not really talking about cross training different things here, like crossing BJJ with a striking art or vica versa, or learning a weapon art alongside hand to hand - I'm talking about multiple arts that deal with similar things.

    For me personally, I'd love to master a number of Jujutsu Ryu, but in reality I'd be lucky to fully master the one I study in my lifetime, so there's not a hope in hell I could train lots and master them all, I simply wont live long enough. The best I could hope for would be a kind of 'Jack of all Trades' - plus, my training focus being small means that concepts of movement and strategy are becoming more natural to me - if I was also learning something else, I could mess that element up for myself, or never get it in the first place.

    But having said that, without my previous training in different things, I don't think I would understand what's on offer anywhere near as much, or have grasped some of the concepts in the same way.

    In a Kung Fu school I visited in China, a number of things were taught, Tai Chi, Shaolin Lohan Fist, Praying Mantis, Wing Chun, to name a few - each Sifu in the school was basically proficient at all of them, but each then specialised in one that they taught, and their skill level in that one was way above their ability in the others.

    What is your opinion on the above? what's your approach?

    This isn't a this art is better than this one conversation, or this org is better than that one, but more just what do you think about doing more or less?
     
  2. YouKnowWho

    YouKnowWho Valued Member

    When you

    - were young, you tried to look at MA from as many different angles as possible. You were more interested in the MA "micro view". You would pay more attention on individual "tree".
    - are older, you try to look at MA from your personal angle. You are more interested in the MA "macro view". You will pay more attention on the whole "forest".

    The MA micro view can be:

    - generate power,
    - body unification,
    - side kick,
    - shoulder lock,
    - ...

    The MA macro view can be:

    - move in, clinch, take down, finish,
    - kick, punch, lock, throw, ground game integration,
    - deal with multiple opponents,
    - deal with weapons,
    - ...
     
  3. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    Both approaches have merit. I prefer the do a lot of arts approach I find it helps me to understand what i am doing, but that's just me. I learn best from the overview. Others learn best from a narrow focus.
     

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