Can one 'create' or 'invent' a martial art? How would you start?

Question

Where did the founders of the different styles create them? how? What would someone need? If the answer to my first question is 'no' then how were the martials arts we know today created?

Im not going to ask about time for many reasons such as these are just questions. Its obvious it would take an unimaginably amount of time, and of course everything worth while takes a long time.

But any details such as what would you need to do what would you need, etc. are welcome :)

Once again im in no way even considering to 'invent' a martial art. Its purely questions created from curiousity.

Answer 1

Mas oyama(karate) was trained in 8 other forms in korea before going to japan, and forming karate with his deciples.

Answer 2

So you think you can learn some techniques from here and a few techniques from there, give it some stupid made up name and create your own martial art? That's like re-inventing the wheel..."IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE" The martial arts have been around for thousands of years you think you can actually discover something that hasn't been done already? Borrowing techniques from here and there doesn't make it new. All your doing is rearraigning them into what you like and changing the name. That's why there are a million different 10th degree grand masters of garbage out there now of guys thinking they discovered something new. Right or wrong it's just my opinion.

Answer 3

Of course you can create new martial arts, and you dont really need to be an expert to create one, all you need to get is good idea.

Of course if youre really good at martial arts, then you can proapbly create something better.

and about tthe time.

Well, it doesnt necessarily take even much time.

Jackie Chan have created couple of Martial arts technics for hes Movies in one day, and those are even thought today by some people.

For example the Snake technic, he went in front of mirror put his arms like snake, and started thinking what would look like sake techninc and started doing things and wonder how would he use that snake looking hand to do some things hew would normally do with his fists.

Then we take Bruce lee.

He of course had been thinking of his technics and ways for years already, but when he got hospitalised, thats when he finally started making his martial arts technic book.

Then there are many huys even today inventing their own technics.

Some take the approach of how someone without any prior knowledge of marital arts nor any physical condition can beat the rest (Grab some sand from street, if available, and throw to enemies eyes, then start running and shouting for Police)

And then there are those who have started to invent their own martial art technics for street figthing with Guns and knifes etc.

You need to get your head first out of the traditional thought of master of 7 dan belt only being able to know anything. Anyone can figure out something if they think.

Theres no martial arts yet that would teach you how to fight against gang of guys with car for example.

You could start thinking of ways how to quickest think which parked car is easiest to get inside to, ways to broke the window wihtout hurting, ways to open door quickes,t, ways to find the wires, get car ignited, and wys to target the gang best with cars, and ways to fool them think you are turingn the other way you actually are and that way hit them.

And then there can be things like, how to jump on moving car, or best grab the current driver out and continue yourself etc.

Whole bunch of technincs for that one too.

See, i just created basis for new martial art technic and it took me less than 10 minutes.

Just use your imagination and you can imagine whole new martial arts techics, both traditioanl and totally new ones.

Oh, and forgot to mention one obvious one. There are also those who concentrate on figuring out whole new technic by concentraring on fighting against oled technics. That for example they just concentrate on thinking which way to defend against other technics, kicks and hits, and how to free yourself from those locks and so on.

Bruce lee had loads of technics to get freed from locks of those times and get the other guy locked due to doing that.

Answer 4

You can if you have the expertise, there really are no legal requirements.  Many martial arts instructors informally do this already by cross training and incorporating techniques into their primary art.

For example Karate is my primary art, but I also have significant experience in Muay Thai and Jujitsu (bb).  I incorporate alot of the Muay Thai elbows into my teaching as well as some of the differences in low kicks and also prefer Muay Thai type sparring rules.   At the intermediate rank I incorporate alot of Jujitsu type take downs, throws, sweeps,  grappling and the sparring becomes more like MMA.  

I have also read many of Bruce Lee's books, including the "Tao of Jeet Kune Do"  I respect and agree with most of his philosophy and also try to use it in teaching, even though some of it conflicts with Karate curriculumn.

So am I teaching Karate or my own combination?  Well I tell my students it is primarily Karate with a strong Jujitsu & Muay Thai influence.  That is what they are earning rank in, but Informally I do have my own style.  Many schools do this sort of thing today.  

At my rank I could create my own formal style, but don't really see the value in doing that since I would have a hard time getting various organisations to recognize my style and student ranks.  So I teach all that I have learned and feel has value and also cover all the Karate curriculumn for rank recognition for my students.

Answer 5

I'd get a black belt in a strking style and a black belt in a grappling style first.  During your learning, keep a journal and meditate on what is and is not working for you and why.   Think about how different body types, personalities, ages and genders do different techniques.  Add in some Dim Mak/Pressure Point training and there you go.

Answer 6

As I understand it, you need to reach at least a 5th Dan black belt before "inventing" a martial art, This was 20 years ago, so it may have changed.

Answer 7

If you're lucky enough to find one, some martial art schools are hundreds of years old, and while some argue that they are not 'modern' enough, the human body is still works the same way and these guys have had the time to refine the basics to an art.

Interestingly enough, anyone can open a martial art school and claim to teach their own style, weither it's any good or not.

Don't worry about inventing anything, just practice the basics.

Answer 8

A good thought provoking question !

READER and Mito Sensei's answers sum it up for me.

I've often wondered about this myself as all martial arts styles had an originator/founder at some point even if it was 2000yrs ago without rank and only their use of imagination ,curiosty and trial and error approach to find what works.

As Mito sensei points out the main barrier in present times would be to get some organization to officially recognise their skills and I'd suggest  formulating their methods into a logical syllabus if they wanted to be legit and there is of course acquiring proper insurance cover for their style and future students.

Food for thought I'd love to know how Bruce lee got past all the legal requirments even though it was over 40+ yrs ago.