kung fu, karate, tae kwon do. why do ppl stil teach ?

Question

As s martial artist I am shocke d that ppl stil teach these worthless non effective systems...when will the public finally turn its back on such a proven worthless systems like the onese stated above ?

Answer 1

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but as a "martial artist" you have much to learn.

I could go one about how the study of almost any martial arts increases flexibility, stamina, coordination, strength, discipline, focus and so on, but I am sure you are referring to the "Martial" aspects of the "Martial Arts." So I'll address that...

Your question, though understandable, is misguided. The question shouldn't be why do people still teach these martial arts, but why do they teach them the way they do?

Most of the traditional martial arts (Most Chinese Ch'an Fa (Kung-fu); Japanese Karate and Ju-Jutsu and Korean martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, etc...)) have many techniques and combat philosophies at their core that work in the real world. Don't believe me, ask anyone who knows a thing or two about World War 2 or the Korean War. Many western troops fell victim to oriental hand to hand combat techniques. Moat forms of traditional Martial Arts (TMA) teach bone breaking, joint wrenching, body pounding techniques that could, would and can devastate an assailant. (Traditional (Pre 1980) Olympic WTF Tae Kwon Do included.) But this is NOT what most westerners are looking for in Martial Arts and for may different reasons.

1) Most TMA schools would never teach the hardcore street techniques to people right off the street. A student would spend years earning their teachers trust before the instructor would even entertain the idea of teaching these techniques and philosophies. Why? Because a TMA Masters usually had a strong social consciousness or they didn't want the student to learn too much too fast and run off pretending to be masters themselves. So what's the problem, Most westerners wasn’t the street techniques first or at a minimum, quickly. We don’t want to wait three to six years to learn the "Good Stuff."

2) Hardcore street techniques are not in anyway pretty or picturesque. These techniques do not resemble the fancy spinning and dance like techniques seen in the movies, and this is what many Westerners are looking for. They wasn’t to do the things they see in the movies, particularly the children. You and I may want to fight like a real life Navy SeAL, but most younger people want to fight like the power rangers or the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles.

3) Street combat is NOT a sport. (UFC Excepted) You aren't going to get an Olympic gold learning Street fighting.

4) Most parents are not going to send their 6 year old (or permit their 16 year old) to study at a school that teaches bone breaking, joint shattering life taking techniques. Not many parents long to hear their child come home and say, "Hey Mom, Dad! Guess what I learned today? I learned three ways to kill a man. Cool, huh?"

5) Law suits in America and many western countries are just insane. If I teach a person how to break an assailants arm, leg, wrist, etc. and he goes home and practices on his brother, best friend or the school bully and seriously hurts someone, I could get sued, loose my school, my home and possible go to jail. Also, in china, if a teacher tells you to hit a thick wooden plank 1,000 times with your fist, you do it. If your skin rips open and you bleed, (and it will) then you treat your hand and do it again. If you break your hand, you stop until it's healed and you do it again. ~OR~ you quit! In America, you, or your parents, sue the hell out of the school and the teacher.

So what does all of this tell you?

It should tell you that if you are a serious student of the Martial Arts, then you look for a qualified teacher and then you start training. In three to 5 years, or a little longer, you will get a black belt, then, in most schools, about a year or two after that, you will start learning the hard hitting, bone jarring theories and techniques.
-OR-
You can find one of the TMA styles that is less formal, such as Wing Chun Kung Fu, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu jujutsu or a few others and you can start learning street combat now.

Personally, I much prefer the traditional approach. I think it teaches much more in regards to physical, mental and spiritual discipline, but that is just my opinion.

I hope this helps you to understand tradition Martial Arts a little better. Enjoy!

Answer 2

This is a thoughtless and ignorant statement. You either don't know what you are talking about or have said this simply to raise a stir and gain some attention. How have these arts been proven worthless? Who has proven them worthless? You? I can not speak for the other two but for Kung Fu, taught properly and by a teacher who focuses on the practical side of the art then it can be a very effective system. Ours is a three second self defense. We learn to strike at least 3-6 strikes in a second. If an opponent can't touch you, can't hurt you, how much more effective do you need a system to be?

Answer 3

Obiviously you don't know much about karate. There's still a lot good karates out there such as Kyokushin, Seido, Eshin, etc...

As for Tae Kwon Do, some are decent, but I wouldn't waste my time looking for decent TKD classes. It's so popular because it's easy to find and every where! Plus it's olympic sport.

Kung Fu... beside San Shou and San Da, I'm still scratching my head over this one. I really don't understand what it is with Kung Fu. Ever since I was very little, I've never liked Kung Fu due to their rigid stance and uncomfort akward pose. I guess it must be Hollywood that make people think Kung Fu is great. Also whole spritiual thing make it very easy for instructor to manipulate the students. Well I hate to put it this way, but... the nearest words I can come up with describing Kung Fu is they're a cult.

As for when will public turn their back to those system, I've been wondering that myself as well. Lately I've heard non-martial artists who actually point out which system are phony and effective. With some luck, either those styles will finally have to make some change to keep up with public's demand or fade away so the number of those schools around are much lower.

I'm guessing whole fading of boxing along with more exposure toward MMA are basically driving more fans to watching MMA and kickboxing. Plus with more buIIshit martial arts schools coming into view make public start to really question martial arts. If my theory is correct, I guess public will turn their back to those styles you listed when MMA and kickboxing actually become more of a household words.

Answer 4

First, in order for these "ineffective" systems to have survived through the centuries there must have been something effective about them, period.

Second, when these types of martial arts came into being the potential of using the martial arts in a life and death situation was much, much higher. The training was much, much more intense, and the focus of the training was different than it is today.

Third, the amount of time the average person commits to their martial practice is much less because the number and type of people practicing has increased. Most, I stress most, people practice, what? Maybe 6 hours a week at the high end? People today are busy with other aspects of life.

Martial artists of old, and I mean the very serious martial artists, were often times live-in students, and the bulk of their time was spent practicing in one way or another.

Finally, as society has evolved the reasons for practicing martial arts has also evolved. The emphasis toward self-improvement and self-discipline has increased. A fundamental shift has occurred in the way most martial arts are practiced.

Could a professional UFC fighter kick my ***? Absolutely! They are professional fighters. It's their job. It's what they devote their time too. Am I less of a martial artist because of it? Not at all. My reasons and focus for training are simply different.

Answer 5

What are you talking about?

First off, Kung fu, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do are all valid martial arts. Any of these is just as useful in self-defense or in a fight. Each of these is useful in training your body and mind. Each of these even looks good when performed.

Second off, even if one is not using these for self defense, they are all still sports, and every bit as useful as football, basketball, tennis, etc. All are competition-ready and can be used for tournament sparring. Not only that, but as mentioned above, they double as competition sport and self-defense.

Third off, if you're a martial artist, why are you telling us to abandon some of the fundamental martial arts? What martial art do you practice that is so mighty?

Fourth off, you have no idea what the word "prove" means. For something to be proven, well, there has to be at least some form of evidence to support it.

Answer 6

Style does not matter.
Training matters.
The quality and frequency of your training will far outweigh your style.
To qualify a whole system as worthless seems to be a rather encompassing statement, I cannot say it is logical to agree with it. Your words sound clouded with emotion and ego.

Any true martial artists surely realizes this, yes?

Answer 7

Reflexes vary per individual, and does not have anything to do with the art the practice. A cat has better reflexes than a human.

Answer 8

How true,It's all hokey B.S. I guess it helps weak-minded goons feel like they are tough,but I'll tell you,there's a whole lot more to toughness than being able to kick some poor old man in the head.

Answer 9

Umm, what?, are you serious. your definitly not a martial artist. I took TaeKwonDo for five years which teaches much more than just self defense, it teaches benevolence.

Answer 10

someday a Kung fu or karate student\master will kick your *** and you'll understand.


and calling another martial arts for crap, i don't believe you're a good martial artists, those who practice Kung fu or karate know that they shouldn't insult any other martial arts, do you learn that in 'your' martial art? if not, then yours is worthless and crap.