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 Presentation:
I like to define martial arts as "all the activities
teaching fighting techniques" (wide definition). Martial
arts are separated in schools & styles. These styles are
almost impossible to count, and always changing. The differences
between styles are numerous, and the family of martial arts
is divided a lot. Let's try to understand why...
My research:
 Martial
arts & combat sports
Martial arts & combat sports difference is the goal
of practise: if it is about looking for sport competition,
it is a combat sport, else it is martial arts. The explanation
seems to be simple, but categorizing MA&CS is not so easy.
Boxing forms, fencing and wrestling are authentic combat sports,
giving a strong importance to competition. Aikido, krav-maga
or tai ji quan, having no competition form, are martial arts.
But when it comes to what i call "large audience martial
arts" (Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wushu), the separation
is not so clear. These activities propose both competition
and traditional defense techniques which are not linked at
all with competition. Those who defend traditional Karate
or Taekwondo deeply highlight this martial aspect and don't
want their art to become a 100% combat sport.
Martial artsLarge
audience martial artsCombat
sports
("martial sprots")
This array lists some arguments relative
to the move from martial arts to combat sports for judo, karaté,
taekwondo, wushu, that is to say money (large audience &
sponsors). "Smileys" express the personal point
of view of the author.
Why
some martial arts rulers dislike competition?
The examples of Judo & Taekwondo illustrates the
dilemna of competition in martial arts. Historically, a few
grands masters (including Funakoshi Gichin, pionneer of Karate)
did not want any form of competition in their arts. Yet, since
that time, competition has been developed because it is an
interesting exercise for martial artists (to better know your
reactions in stressing environment, non codified techniques
in a dynamic situation, etc.). But the gap between sports
federations which are running after olympism (to get more
practitionners, more money) and authentic "masters"
is bigger and bigger.
Judo for instance followed totally the path
of combat sports, and now most of Judo clubs are competition
oriented, that is to say working on a limited set of techniques
(the one authorized in competition) comparing to the original
arsenal let by Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo). By keeping only
non-dangerous techniques (which is normal in sport competitions),
Judo lose its martial effectiveness that's to say its capacity
for self-defense. Martial artists easily notice the difference
of spirit between judoka and karateka or taekwondoists. Judoka
are often pure sportsmen who have no clue (and no interest)
of self-defense, but see Judo as a game of throwing a partner
on the ground and not of unabling a dangerous adversary. So,
in France, to find a solution to this lost of authenticy,
the federation has re-launched Ju-Jitsu, and it is the same
"sport" instructors who teach defense on knife attacks,
etc. The result is not always convincing and mostly, the nature
of sport-people came back in so far as today Ju-Jitsu has
its own competition form!
Taekwondo taking the same "sportization"
path as Judo thanks or because of its early olympism, also
has a part of its practitioners who see the national korean
sport as a simple game of legs techniques, a bit like football.
But Korean "masters" often trained in the army and
keeping a strong martial spirit, close to defense concept,
try to brake this move to combat game. Self-defense classes
appear everywhere in TKD clubs in order not to deceive those
who are not attracted by competition and not to lose these
techniques that competition has forbidden (open hands techniques,
knee strikes, elbow strikes...). But the struggle between
martial tradition and sport competition is unbalanced because
only competition and olympism can bring fame, large audience,
sponsors, and money.
As a conslusion, most of martial arts looking for a larger
audience enter the vicious circle of sport development wished
by the federation, bringing about more students, more teachers,
need of more money...
Martial
artists families, 7MMA classification (© 2003 Guillaume
Morel)
In order to understand the strong divisions of the martial
arts world, it is important to understand first the strong
divisions among martial artists. I established a classification
of martial artists motivations which helps to see the large
variety of reasons for practising martial arts:
Classification
"7 Motivations for Martial Arts (MMA)"
1/ Looking for a
Sport activity
The martial artist looks for an activity to "sweat",
to do a general physical exercises including cardio,
strech, ... This motivation is the one of the
majority of beginners.
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2/ Looking for Recherche
de Maîtrise de soi
The martial artist looks for masterizing
his moves and his psychological reactions in general,
for a better affirmation. This motivation is for
instance a strong motivation of parents who send
their child to Karate class. |
3/ Looking for Anti-stress
activity or a better Health
The martial artist wishes to learn how to relax,
physically and mentally, by doing moves in harmony
with his physical abilities. This is typically the
motivation of Tai Ji Quan practitioners (millions
of people in China), and also the motivation of
older people. |
4/ Looking for Self-defense
The martial artist wants good reflexes,
to learn how to anticipate dangerous situations,
and to be prepared in case of agression. This
is the motivation of many women and men who fear
agressions in an environment where personal security
is not insured.
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5/ Looking for Competition
To distinguish from the search of Sport Activity,
the search of Competition is characterized by
a run to medals, recognition from others and taste
for challenge. This is often the motivation of
teenagers.
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6/ Looking for Efficiency
The martial artist looks for efficiency
in his way of fighting but also generally. This
motivation often comes after some years of practise. |
7/ Looking for Energy
The martial artist looks for discovering some
of his hidden internal capacities and new sensations.
He is also sometimes attracted by mystic or exotic
aspects. This motivation is often the one of more
or less mature people looking for a deeper knowledge
of themselves, and to find the rational limits
of their body.
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| Note: Motivations
for extreme martial arts |
A/ Artistic, Creative,
Acrobats, Show-business
The martial artist works on martial arts related
techniques in order to do public demonstrations,
looking for spectacular and acrobatics techniques.
This motivation is very strong among young people,
able to do complexe acrobatics techniques, and
attracted by the world of show-business.
B/ Stunts
The martial artist works on martial arts related
techniques to simulate fights for cinema, television
or sometimes in public. This motivation is strong
among young people who think of working in show-business.
C/ Free-fight
The martial artist works on a big variety of martial
arts techniques (strikes, throws, grappling, locks,
chokes, etc.) in order to become more effective
in competitions, the rules of which are very few
and try to approach "real fight". This
motivation is the one of martial arts experts
with many years of practise, wishing to apply
and demonstrate their efficiency in fight.
These 3 motivations are often the ones of
professionals of martial arts.
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©2003 Guillaume Morel |
The motivations listed above are not exclusive, not fixed
(they can change during your practise). For instance in my
case, I started martial arts in a sport approach, then competition
and now my motivation is completely defense and efficiency
quest.
To understand the variety of motivations, ie of martial artists,
allow to better understand martial arts in their diversity,
to see the main debates of the martial arts world in a more
open-minded point of view, and also to better analyze the
martial arts market.
My advices:
For
beginners: looking for a club/style? No, looking for a teacher!
You want to go to a Martial Arts school? But you already think
about : what art I'm gonna chose?
First, you can ask yourself "do I prefer to strike or
to grapple ?" : the answer may orientate you either towards
wrestling systems (judo, brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, sambo)
either towards a atemi (blow) system such as karate, taekwondo,
kung-fu, viet vo dao, ... But actually, NO MATTER! At the
beginning, we don't really know what we want to learn. The
most important thing is to find an interesting, passionated
instructor who will share with you his passion. The atmosphere
of the club and the proximity of it can also have a strong
impact in your decision.
 For
advanced martial artists: to take distance with your original
style
When you reach a certain level and involvement in
a particular style of martial arts, it is necessary to open
your mind to other schools in order to take the best of
each school and to get a better knowledge of fight (blows,
wrestling, throws, grappling, trapping, weapons, locks,
chokes,...). This concept is not new, it has been successfully
applied by many "big names" in the world of martial
arts (Benny Urquidez, Chuck Norris, Dan Inosanto, Richard
Norton, Takayuki Kubota, etc... in France, Patrick Lombardo,
etc.) and has been promoted publically by the legendray
Bruce Lee. I won't say anything more and will just advice
you to read the very famous article written by the little
dragon, "Liberate
yourself from classical karate", Black Belt Magazine,
September 1971.
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Defense spirit
Sclerosed tradition
Limited audience
My Profiles