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6 Responses to “Why Do Different Martial Arts?”

1. Jim R on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   This is mostly bad advice. An old martial art master once said it this way. "If you chase 3 rabbits at once you will be hungry all day. If you chase one rabbit, you may eat today".
   I had a student once who was in his mid 40s, the same age as I was at the time. He had nearly as many years training as I had, yet he was but an intermediate student, and I was the instructor. I began in goju-ryu, then wado-ryu, and shito-ryu, all for very short periods. Then shotokan, where I stayed from then on. My student had experience in many styles, and a year or two of each. He had more green belts than anybody I ever knew. but he was still a green belt, but in several styles. Catch the first rabbit first, and eat. Then resume hunting.
   J

2. donearguingwithidiots on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   Some of them think that a year or two makes them skilled in an art (or even just watching videos).

   Most people who REALLY have experience in multiple martial arts are older people who spent a lot of time.

   I recomend you have one art that you train in for life…but then keep an open mind and pick up what you can from other arts.

3. travisty on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   mostly they start with one, then after a few years branch out to another that is similar and train in both. then they branch out to another art after spending some time in the 2nd art.

   most people stay in an art until they get a black belt, and then branch to another art,stay until about black belt and branch to another art. most of the time the keep training all three.

4. pugpaws2 on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   I agree with donearguing….., and Jim R. The best way is to ignore the guys that are telling you to study multiple arts. They are not the experienced members here. We older guys know that it is hard enough to learn one martial art. If you can find an instructor that is teaching valid martial arts and is knowledgeable, train with him. It is best to stick to one art for many years. I have no problem with learning a bit from other styles. but jumping around dabbling in one style after another teaches you only different techniques. The problem is that you miss the deeper understanding of the things you study. Unless you spend a long time doing the same art you will develop many loop holes in your techniques that experienced martial artists can easily counter.

   Many times I get some young guy that has studied a bunch of arts come in my class. They think that they are superior to those that have spent their time in one art. It is not long before they get they butt handed to them by someone that has not studied many arts. After that happens they either can’t wait to join, or to leave. Unfortunately, most leave. but that is fine because they don’t have the right attitude or an open mind.

5. Darb D on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   it largely largely depends on what your goals are…

6. The Avatar on August 29th, 2009 8:58 pm

   both. right now i am studying BJJ and Judo and i have done a little boxing in the past. it’s up to the person and it has to flow around your life (in the U.S martial arts aren’t a way of life anymore….sad) while you might have the stamina to take several arts you can’t go to karate, judo, aikido, TKD, and Ba gua and expect to go home, shower and run to work, come home, play with the kids, hit the gym and repeat the next day.
   also, you WILL NOT get full quality by taking multiple arts unless they are so similar like BJJ and Judo are. there is no way i would ever suggest take Karate and TKD at the same time because they both have different bases and you will be "fair" at both but "never" good at any.

   you gotta take other things into account nowadays. if i was you, i would chose the root style i want and go with that.

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