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CREATING A MARTIAL ART
By Soke Daniel Verkerke
Having been
training in martial arts for many years, I have seen and heard of many
new styles. There are actually thousands of new martial arts students
founding their own styles and opening their own schools yearly.
If you are joining a martial art school for the first time,
how can you tell
how good your instructor is?
Who knows, your instructor may just be making up the lessons as he goes
along. Your instructor could be telling you anything and you would not
know any better.
On the other hand, the founders of the most popular martial arts of
today started out the same way. They had studied various ideas,
formulated them together and started teaching to those who wished to
learn. One of the mistakes some of the founders student's made was
instead of following their instructors insight into learning and
creating more, they limited themselves to what they have been taught,
and let the idea of expanding themselves die with their teacher.
There are many types of instructors teaching all sorts of philosophy,
beliefs and ideals. If I were to describe all of them I would be writing
a novel. The main concern of this article are the instructors who claim
to teach their own style. I have met many of them, so I know the
problems that do arise.
I know anyone can open a martial art school and say they teach their own
style. You could have one months training, open your own school and have
those young and impressionable believe you are a martial arts superstar,
and it does happen. You could come out of jail with no martial arts
background and open a martial arts school using your survival in jail as
your credentials. Some instructors read a few books, copy the ideas they
believe and open a school with little or no physical experience. On the
other hand look at the late great Bruce Lee. His formal training was
very little. He read allot of books and wrote down many ideas. He
studied many western concepts from fencing to boxing, wrestling and
various philosophies.
It is possible for an artist to create. There are some painters who were
never taught to paint, but can still paint beautiful paintings. Dancers
who were never taught to dance, but show the greatest grace and
originality. Some have never been taught to sing or play instruments,
but send chills down your spine when you hear them. These are natural
artists, the same holds true in martial arts. All an artist needs is
inspiration and the ability to express themselves through their medium.
Mind you, there are some forgeries out there. Those are the ones who
claim to teach their own style, but are only teaching what they have
been taught. They learn a style of Kung Fu and Karate then combine them.
It does not matter how many styles you combine, they still are not
yours. Others use the names of popular styles even when they have not
trained in them.
If you trained here and there, and teach whatever you learned here and
there, that's what you should claim to teach. There is nothing wrong
with telling the truth. In the end you earn respect through interaction,
not through lies or bogus certificates.
I was once asked, "what styles did I learn?" I replied, "Judo, Karate,
and Tae Kwon Do, among others." I was then asked in a statement, "So if
I studied Judo, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do I would know your style?" I
replied, "No, I know Judo but I don't teach it. I studied Judo to
analyze and find the positive and weaknesses. I used the techniques as
an inspiration to see how they can be reversed, or to reverse a
reversal. I use my imagination and creativity to find different
applications to a simple technique. I enjoy the exploration of a new
technique, that is what my art is all about. I don't look at a
technique, copy it and say, I know that technique. (I'm not saying there
is anything wrong with that approach.") Each new technique you learn
should be an inspiration, an exploration for creativity and imagination.
The same goes for any technique from Karate, Tae Kwon Do, or any other
form and style. I don't claim to teach other styles even though I
studied them. You see the end result in my art is different from what
inspired me to create it."
One of the greatest accomplishments a founder of a martial art could
attain would be recognition and acceptance by peers and senior
Grandmasters. There are various Grandmaster boards which will review
your martial arts background and proposed style. You may think, how can
anyone judge someone else's style? Well, there are senior masters with
over forty years experience who have just about seen everything. Some of
these masters who have nothing to gain or loose can make an educated
decision. Actually,
any master who is
not trying to gain control or power, who is not governed by greed and
has an open mind will be quite capable of recognizing, accepting and
respecting a fellow martial artist who has demonstrated his physical
skill, mental and philosophical insights.
Your first step should be respecting other masters and their styles,
then you may begin to earn their respect and acceptance.
Since anyone can open a martial arts school, I would recommend that if
you have created or inherited a style you should have your system
reviewed by a Grandmaster board or Sokeship council. This should
separate you from all the fakes and forgeries that are instructing with
little or no experience. A legitimate Grandmaster board should not
charge a membership fee. Your membership should be based on
authenticity, skill, and experience. If you manage to pass the
requirements of a Sokeship council not only will you gain acceptance
from your peers, but also respect and recognition.
To all the Grandmasters who earned their experience through self
sacrifice and dedication, "Os" and for those who have not yet proven
themselves, keep training and instructing with true devotion and
dedication.
By Soke Daniel Verkerke |
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