Teras Kasi Archive
Thread: Extreme Martial Arts...
Following that will be "Martial Arts: Way of The Warrior" which shows many Japanese arts, and explores the Master/Student relationship.
Which brings up a question, what do you think of "extreme martial arts?" or Combastics, or Demonstration arts (it has a lot of names...)
Personally, I think they look cool, but serve no real purpose than to win trophies and movie contracts. The sad part is that some kids go to schools for this and are mistakenly taught to believe they are learning a viable method of self defense.
TravonLepen wrote:
Is on Discovery right now for everyone stateside. It's an intresting program for anyone who hasn't saw it before.
Following that will be "Martial Arts: Way of The Warrior" which shows many Japanese arts, and explores the Master/Student relationship.
Which brings up a question, what do you think of "extreme martial arts?" or Combastics, or Demonstration arts (it has a lot of names...)
Personally, I think they look cool, but serve no real purpose than to win trophies and movie contracts. The sad part is that some kids go to schools for this and are mistakenly taught to believe they are learning a viable method of self defense.
I got no problem with people learning this stuff. You can look at it like dance or figure skating. Its an art.
However, I think the instructors need to be perfectly clear that what is being taught won't necessarily have much self defense value.
I have a friend who is a navy seal. He's mastered several forms of martial arts on his own time.
The military unarmed training he recieved was of no specific art, but basically taught him how to kill people.
Right now martial arts is more for keeping in shape.
But it really depends on the practitioner how effective it really is.
I was one of the first generation of young blackbelts on the open tournament circuit to start adding bigger tricks into forms competitions. We did it to stand out from the "other guys." Most of us started out by doing gymnastics tumbling from there it just grew as we combined gymnastics and karate. A judge at a large tournament can only see and remember so many good basics before it all begins to blur...
If you ever watch Wushu (which is an official sport in the 2008 olympics btw!!!) you will see alot of high flying action. Some of what we do now we borrowed from Wushu, and sometimes take it a step further. It is performance martial arts.
As someone already posted, it is an art. With my friends it is our way to show off and modivate each other. We can compete this way without having to beat on each other... when we get something new, just send the video clip to em and a
Now the thing is that some people are coming into martial arts just for "extreme martial arts" not for martial arts. And there are 'instructors' out there who are happy to make money and just teach tricks instead of the whole package. I don't agree with this personally, but in the end it doesn't matter much.
The kids (and parents) who are being sold extreme martial arts... well... it may not be what all the older traditionalists like, but it is still better than kids sitting at home in front of the TV and video games doing nothing. It is still better than kids running the streets in gangs, getting into trouble, etc. Hopefully it is still making a difference. A positive influence on the life of a young person, and therefore a positive contribution to society. It all depends on the instructors here. Even if they are making money off it it we can only hope they are also instilling martial arts values.
Now I sometimes teach the "fun stuff" to my students. Sometimes as a reward for working hard. Sometimes as modivation to have them improve a more basic skill; because if you can't do a good kick on the ground you won't be doing a good kick while spinning in the air. Sometimes I teach them in workouts as physical preparation. Sometimes just to tire them out near the beginning of the class so that I get good attention.
They have value, but are not a replacement for basics. As for practical applications, well there are few. These maneuvers are too high risk to use for the most part and too dynamic to be performed in most environments. But some people used to, and I'm sure some still do feel the same way about kicking to the head. We have our traditional forms, but we don't fight like that. We have our extremem martial arts, but we don't fight like that either (except for hopefully as a TKA in SWG).
Tong-Fei Kasamatsu
"""kids!!, dont try that at home!!!""" hehe
steelp.enis/steelhands
TerasP.enis for life
FireMedic86 wrote:
the SEALs as well as force recon learn a basic form of akiedo comdined with judo and ju jit su (spelled wrong?)...akiedo teached throws and killing strikes (throat, crotch, etc) judo for takedowns and grappling....the third im not sure about....
but yea would be cool
Rev Neva...PvPer
Rey C. dancing 12 point AS
Akidio - basically thisart is using your opponets momentum agaisnt you. Purely defensive.
Judo - the art of holds and throws...
Ju-Juitsu - ground fighting.....all moves revolve around being on the ground. EXTERMELY effective.
TravonLepen wrote:
Is on Discovery right now for everyone stateside. It's an intresting program for anyone who hasn't saw it before.
Following that will be "Martial Arts: Way of The Warrior" which shows many Japanese arts, and explores the Master/Student relationship.
Which brings up a question, what do you think of "extreme martial arts?" or Combastics, or Demonstration arts (it has a lot of names...)
Personally, I think they look cool, but serve no real purpose than to win trophies and movie contracts. The sad part is that some kids go to schools for this and are mistakenly taught to believe they are learning a viable method of self defense.
/disagree
I personally have trained in several of the listed "extreme" martial arts that were on the show... I also fight professionally in extreme fighting, mixed martial arts, and cage fights. Like alot of the posters that responded, its all about the basics when it comes to defending ones' self outside or inside of a ring/cage. All forms can be deadly in their own rights and serve more purpose than for trophies (I personally started training because of bullies and the areas i lived in... I have also worked in personal security as well as some night clubs with not so friendly patrons and my training as saved my @$$ as well as many friends, patrons, and even my agressor... I got into fighting professionally because i was good at it 
...
/agree
alot of the commercialism of martial arts now has turned it into a sport without the customer being completely aware... too many times have I studied with blackbelts of many styles to find that they do not train in self defense but in the ability to "score a point".... Plus like was staed above in an earlier post, it is completely cerebral... cerebral to the extent that everything must be instinct... in todays classes they teach you point sparring in many places... most even teach attacks, not defense... very sad imho... I train others in several ways (all private training)... those that fight on my team learn just that- to fight in a cage, to be the aggressor or the defender depending on their demeanor, mentality, skill level.... those that work in my clubs- to subdue, attack without violence... womens'defense- defend, strike, run when possible... too many schools teach in a cookie cutter fashion which is what traditional martial arts has become...
i know the original post is older, just ran across it and felt like adding...
Kaishodan