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The Greatest Martial Art Style
What do you think...is it Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, Wing Chun, Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, or Thai Boxing? I say none of them. As a matter of fact, no martial art that has existed since the beginning of time can claim the title of the "greatest martial art." The reality is that it's not the style that makes the martial artist, but rather the martial artist that makes the style. Please also understand that when I say "great martial artist," I don't necessarily mean great fighter. I am looking at the qualities that make one a master of the art, not street fighting.
Regardless of the style you've chosen to practice, it all begins with the student. Success in the martial arts requires you to start with some basic "raw materials." Natural talent and athletic ability helps. A great martial artist has to be physically fit. This doesn't mean that they all may have started that way, but coordination, the ability to follow instruction and building a good physical foundation is crucial.
A great martial artist learns the history and philosophy of his chosen style. The origin of the art gives the practitioner great insight into the workings of the style. Wing Chun, for example, was taught to a woman, who then carried on the lineage. The art is very well suited for close quarter fighting and with less emphasis on brute force. This is important to know if you intend to master the art in that every move makes sense in light of the art's history.
A great martial artist has to be ready to invest a lot of time and effort in learning and practicing his chosen art. Becoming proficient in anything takes practice. Sometimes, the repetitive practice it takes to become "great" can be "boring" and not very exciting.
As a martial arts instructor, I get many students who can barely throw a side kick, but will tell me that they are bored and constantly want to learn something new. The student that has the potential to be a great martial artist will practice that kick so many times until he has mastered it. That's the difference between greatness and mediocrity. Unfortunately, in the age of instant gratification, dedication like this is getting harder and harder to find.
A great martial artist understands the reasons behind the movements in his forms or katas and how they apply in real life. The kata or form is a fight against imaginary opponents attacking you from different directions and angles. Some forms are performed empty handed while others use weapons. The application of a form is known as "bunkai" and the longer a martial artist delves into the form, more and more applications are revealed.
I watch too many students perform kata or forms with no heart or imagination. Some students will even complain and say, "I don't know why we have to do forms any way, and they're boring!"
Humility also makes a great martial artist. Arrogance in your abilities and the attitude that your style is the best out there is the biggest obstacle to achieving greatness. A closed-mind will limit your ability to grow and expand your martial arts education. It will also give you a false sense of security.
A great martial artist doesn't act on impulse, but has the ability to assess a situation and act wisely. Fighting or reacting angrily doesn't always solve things. A great martial artist knows when to walk away or soften his approach to life and martial arts with grace and dignity.
Realize that there are individuals out there that could make any style work. Regardless of whether you've chosen mixed martial arts or a traditional karate style, it is up to you to make it great.
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