How can a person develop a new style of martial arts?

Question

How can a person develop a new style of martial arts?

Answer 1

I have my own style. I created it the same way many others have, i.e. I studied many styles and found moves that suited me. Then, I added some original moves and improvements of existing ones to them. Hung Gar is basically a combination of Hung Sifu's Shaolin Tiger with his wife's Shaolin Crane, but it also has some moves from the 3 other Shaolin Animal styles and the Taoist 5 Element Fist.

Answer 2

Hmm, i don't really know, but if i was creating one I would look at other martial arts and see what they consist of.

I take tae kwon do, and I know we do things like paterns, kicks, standing positions, we have belts, belt tests, weapons, rules, and all kinds of stuff.

Answer 3

ummm im sorry but its almost impossible to create your own style of matial arts b/c it takes years and years of devoloping and praticing and stuff

Answer 4

Do as Bruce Lee did, mix together a bunch of styles however you see fit.

Answer 5

When Bruce Lee developed Jeet Kune Do he did not set out to develop a new martial art.  What he sought was to create a better philosophy on the training of any and all martial arts.  He felt that the methods and means used were outdated and focused too much on tradition.  

When Morihei Uyeshiba began to investigate and synthesize his many styles he did not initially intend to "develop a new style"  Instead he sought a path to harmony both internally and externally and from this the art of what is now known as Aikido was born.

Gichin Funakoshi learned 2 other martial arts before developing Shotokan Karate.  He did so out of a belief that kata was sufficient as a means of learning useful technique simplifying and systemizing the art.

Kano Jigoro studied many forms of jujutsu as well as investigated sumo, western wrestling and more to improve his skills, seeking to perfect his forms in throwing and overcoming opponents larger than himself.  This led eventually to the style of Judo.

In short, if you desire to learn a new style of martial art, first learn one.  Or better yet, learn several.

Each of these masters did not develop new styles from nothing.  They combined, refined, redesigned, reformed and rethought the method by which martial arts were trained.

Answer 6

Here are just a few of the requirements that one organization uses to screen martial artists before accrediting their "New" martial art.

1) Applicant must be at least 36 years old. (assumes a minimum age requirement of 16 for Black belt + no less than 20 years to master one existing martial art.)

2) Applicant must hold at least two other black belts in legitimate martial arts.

3) Must pass a background investigation.

4) Must pass a criminal investigation.

5) Must supply proof of all ranks, titles, etc. for investigation.

NOTE: this is only the beginning. There are many more requirements to be met also.

From 1987 to 1999 over 3,200 applicants had applied to this organization to have their "New martial art" recognized as being legitimate. Less than 20 of them met the requirements. To think that someone less qualified even comes close to having the knowledge, ability, background, ...etc. is ridiculous.

NOTE: In the 1970's there were known to be only three Americans that had inherited an existing martial art, making them the legitimate Soke.

Due to egos and the misunderstanding of what it takes to found a new martial art (Shodai-Soke), many so called Soke Boards sprang up. Now there are tens of thousands of so called new Soke (Shodai-Soke) in America alone. However, 99% of these do not fit the traditional Japanese/Okinawan definition of what is considered legitimate. The first issue concerns the fact that only the Soke of a pre-existing martial art has the power to recognize another martial arts as being a "New" martial art. A Founder (Shodai-Soke) does not have that power. Even a group of New Founders can't legitimately recognize a new martial art. Unfortunately that is what is being done. Another issue is Rank fo a new founder. Many believe that the founder of a new martial art is automatically 10th dan. That simply is not true and is not supported by any historical evidence.

Answer 7

Sounds like you are looking for Neo-Bartitsu!

Bartitsu uses:

Judo,

Japanese Jujitsu,

Boxing,

Savate and

Vigny's La Canne

Each person designs an eclectic method for him/herself which is best suited to their own personal strengths and weaknesses. For a well rounded system there should be SOME methods from each discipline (i.e.; HITTING, GRAPPLING, UP-CLOSE, DISTANCE and a LEGAL STICK WEAPON) but the discipline which is most heavily relied upon depends on your personal talents and aptitudes.

According to my interpretation, the difference between Bartitsu and Neo-Bartitsu is that with Neo-Bartitsu the applications are not limited to these 5 lineage-disciplines. I also use Shotokan Karate, Taekwon-Do, walking stick methods from Taiji, Jo and multiple stick/cane techniques. This is basically due to the fact that I was aware of these techniques and they had become a part of my "core methodology" before I discovered Bartitsu. I am a novice at Bartitsu and am just learning the martial art myself.

Bartitsu is also know as "the martial art of Sherlock Holmes."

It was introduced by E.W. Barton-Wright in London in 1899.

Answer 8

i have my own style

or i have mae one

lol

when making your own style

you want it to have a reason

if its like all the others

it wont last

first of all

limited to no kata

kata?

the step by step punching and kicking and all that

the only thing i see it good for

is learning how to fight multiple numbers of ppl

thats why in my style

theres only 1 kata

lol

my style is unique

cuz its gorey

thats what its all about

i can rip someones face off and split there head in half

with my bare hands

rip there throat out

level there shoulder with there head

and rip the other arm clean off

no weapons

just gorey hand to hand combat

your style must be unique

otherwise it wont last

and remember

limited to no kata

its only good for learning how to fight multiple ppl

Answer 9

There's definitely some good answers here. An important part of developing a new art that hasn't been addressed is the reason for developing/need for a new style. Why are you going to develop a new style? Is a new style really necessary? What are you going to bring to the table that will contribute to combat, sport, or personal defense?

Answering that question will start you thinking along the path that will lead you to this new style you want to develop. I believe that fighting styles evolve because they fill a gap, so find a gap and fill it. Then convince the world that you've filled that gap.

If you want to create a new style just to create one and be a leader is dangerous and I wouldn't recommend it.

Sorry to answer a question with another question.

Answer 10

to me there are 2 kinds of style developement

1...naturally developing my own (personal expression) "style" of performance within my chosen art/arts.

2...creating a totally new "system". there is nothing new about any of them. it's just how they are taught, and arranged that really differs.

over time systems became solidified and fixed. therefore when someone changes things...they feel they have to change the name in order to not offend or disrespect the founder's heritage.

method 1: it will just happen over time. it isnt something you would set out specifically to do. even within same "system" ...people have their own style.

Dan Inosanto's jeet kune do is not the same as Bruce Lee's jeet kune do. and Bruce Lee's wing chun was not the same as Willian Cheung's wing chun. My "style" isnt the same as your "style"

again, this will just naturally happen, almost without you knowing it. you will naturally be good at certain things.

method 2: for me...it isnt what you "bring to the table"...Ed Parker didnt bring anything new to the table either...but his art is famous and practiced the world over. ...there is nothing in american kenpo karate that isnt in another system somewhere. infact...quite the opposite...there is alot of stuff in a bunch of other arts..that he left out of american kenpo to a large degree. but..it was his system...that he taught to those who asked him to teach them.

all any instructor does or can do is teach their personal interpretation of what they were taught...which is what their instructor did, and their instructors instructor...etc.

Bruce Lee's whole point was.....there should be no "fixed" system....no limits saying....well thats' not one of our kata...so you can't do it. ...

in other words...yes...you can do whatever you want, and call it whatever you want. and sometimes that is better than saying..."i teach goju ryu okinawan karate" when you clearly do not.

just dont try to spread it throughout the world...do it for personal reasons and teach those who ask.

i see no reason to not be able to teach all that you know. for some...rather than offending this or that established system...they just call it something different.

Answer 11

do like they originated form: the animals. Follow an unusal animal and its movements and then adapt it to your own base of martial arts that  you have. THen u can use more than one animal of course. THen when it is done, you gotta give it a cool japanese or korean name!  Make sure its functional, so that you dont die using it. the names the most important

Answer 12

Here's the thing...

Anybody can develop a "new system" but it will be the same or similar to any one of the thousands already in existance... and/or... it will be an incomplete system because the individual did not spend the years necessary understanding what they needed to for creating this "new system".

There are many pieces that need to be added to the recipe in order to design a quality system, and pretty much these quality systems already exist.

If you want to do something outstanding for the martial world. Look into a system that has lost touch with its roots. Take your time and begin searching for the missing puzzle pieces... put them together and bring back the original essence of the system. There are systems out there that have become purely sport and other restrictions may apply. For example there may be a system out there that at one time incorporated grappling, but due to the watering down of the teaching skills and desires became a striking art only with a very limited pool of resources. Dig into that system and discover the hidden movements bringing back the grappling, the true kyusho aspects, and maybe even find some soft in the mix of hard.

If you want to do something powerful for the martial arts that would be my suggestion, as there are many...many systems that are losing their validity through fraudulent and incomplete instruction. Take your time, as you have your entire life ahead of you, and if you're doing it for the right reasons you will have no need to rush as the spirits will speak to you only when you are patient and your mind and heart think and feel as one.