The futur of martial arts?

Question

So I've been thinking about this for a while...

Even though Martial Arts are going worldwide, and on the rise; I still think the true meaning is dying out.

So each generation is gonna get the meaning slightly lost, and the next generation, and the next...

and after watching movies about the futur, I doint see how martial arts would be as useful (okay, so I did say MOVIE)

But as a very dedicated Martial Artist, I hate to imagine a world without Martial Arts.

What do you guys think?

Answer 1

I agree with you.  I have a friend who did some form of marial arts through the council and within 6 weeks she and her 8 year old son were black belts and within 10 weeks she was a sensei.  I am disgusted.  It sounds like it has just become a money spinner.

Answer 2

martial arts has become more practical. it is increadibly rare for someone to perform a spinning back kick on their opponent in a street fight. the top martial art right now is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because of its practiacality. forget about shoalin kung fu and all that jackie chan bollocks. i you watch the ufc or pride you will notice that it's all about ground fighting.

Answer 3

I think there will alway be a core of people who still practice martial arts in the original spirit.  In the 1950's lots of martial arts produced manuals for their art.  I have the kyudo and naginata manuals.  Martial art went from having almost no literature to being quite well documented.  These manuals push the "perfect yourself" aspect.

I was performing at the Aikido Tournament at Nihon Budo Kan in Tokyo last week and I saw this on the wall.  (I watched Moriteru Ueshiba performing at the end.)

I hope you can read the writing.

http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?image...

So I believe as long and the manuals stick to what you can see in this photo.  Then  Martial Arts will maintain it's *"perfect yourself" philosophy.

*P.S.  I didn't say "original philosophy" because I believe the spiritual aspect is a modern addition.  The founder of Aikido added spirituality mid/later on in his life.  Naginata, kyudo, Iaido all originated on the battlefield but it's difficult to say... As I said before - there's not much literature for early martial arts.

P.P.S  MMA (I hope) will change its name in the future and will sit alongside boxing as a SPORT and not a martial art.

Answer 4

Im very dedicated to martial arts  too. Ancient conditioning methods arent even practiced in america. The shaolin monks and kyokushin karetekas do some crazy conditioning outdoors, they train harder than any MMA fighter. Not saying that MMA fighters arent hardcore , because that would be a lie.

  I just wish people could see the real arts in action and remember the true "tao" of martial arts. I think any MMA guy would benefit from meditation,chi work, and trapping movements learned in southern mantis,wing  chun, and Xing yi, and tai chi would help out there bjj a ton. I know, cause I do both. Err...........what can we do? its life

Answer 5

Martial art means combat system, combat systems will always exist.

The "true" meaning is what's been lost, martial art is not a religion. There is a certain sense of mysticism that goes along with the traditional ones, perhaps that what you mean, but that's not lost.

Answer 6

Depends...everything is that way...culture, history, recipes, stories, you name it...will all be effected with time...

Also I practice BJJ and have a good understanding of it but MMA is not all ground fighting...every champion right now has excellent take down defense...(BJ Penn, anderson Silva, Urijah Faber, GSP, Cung Le) and on and on...so if you cant take someone down you better know how to defend and strike very efficiently or else you will enter the record books as the fastest knockout ever...(less than 8 seconds)

Answer 7

Well I'm coming from a unique angle: I am one of those who has studied a martial arts without any meaning.

I joined a school when I was seven, and achieved my black belt rank when I was 13. At age 14 I began instructing. The style was a mesh of four different styles, as my boss had studied under many, many different teachers. I have since stopped working there, after becoming one of the more senior instructors (I am almost 19 and stopped teaching at 18). Now my cousin (14 y. o.) is an instructor there and what seems to be happening is this:

1) there is little focus on the specifics of each style, and the conglomerate style taught is more of the "power rangers" effect with a bit of day care added in for a parental incentive.

2) the students who are taught this continue teaching this style when they become instructors.

It's not as much MMA as it is Pseudo Martial Arts that glazes over the intricacies and histories of each style. The personal meaning is lost when a studio is run like a business, and not a school.

So, what do I see in the future?

More of these types of studios popping up leading to a NEW type of Martial Arts based on friendship and having fun (two aspects we always tried to influence at my work, which by the way was the most successful martial arts school in the state of Mass, and I would even say the U.S.). Is that a bad thing? Yes and no. It's a horse of a different color, but you can still ride it just as fast and gracefully.

That being said I think very specific schools will still run: Judo, Ju Jitsu, Brazillian Ju Jitsu, these all seem safe to me, they aren't going anywhere.

Answer 8

I agree with you in that with each successive generation the challenge is and has been to keep the standards, expectations and promotion criteria high.  Those that don't end up with a watered down or diluted version of what their instructors were or are in many cases.  Some styles and schools have been more successful with this and I think this is one of the reasons why you sometimes see such a disparity from one student of the same rank from another from a different school.  Quite honestly I personally would be embarrassed if my students were as poor as some of those that I have seen from other schools and this is one of the reasons why the term Black-belt and the ability associated with that has lost some of the respect and prestige associated with it.

Answer 9

I think we already live in those times that you're describing in future tents.  The "bushido Code" and the "Samurai Creed" are just meaningless clochettes in the times in which we live dude.  The ones of us out here actual living by those Japanese Virtues are called "weird" people.  When you tell kids not to do drugs bnecause it poisons their systems they'll just laugh and continue doing drugs any way.  When you guide some one to something decent in life they'll destroy it.  That's the way it works in America.  "Respect" is the very foundation of all martial arts yet bickering between styles and martial arts schools goes on constantly in message boards all over America.  Ego's need food more than their spirits do when it comes to my own contrymen here in America.  We've already lost the true values of the Martial arts when you can sit and watch "super star fighters" talk smack about one another.  My own MMA team has faced verbal shot after verbal shot from opposing teams long before their matches even take place via thing like myspace and other online communications.  Most schools I see these days have $$$ on the brain instead what matters most "The investment into people" in other words giving these new comers to the martial arts true treasures which are the things in their hearts that they'll carry with them for a life time.  None cares in a consumerist nation about the things that matter most- "What you are on the inside".  They're all too busy with the lastest gadgets, sport cars and other worldly possessions to care about the virtues that matter most.  A vain-shallow and self centered people will never be able to grasp the "true meaning of the martial arts". it's too "movie like" or "bible thumping like" for them.  The true meaning has already been lost in this country long ago my friend.

Answer 10

As the worm turns goes tho old saying. I have been around long enough to See the old become new again. I have hope that the martial arts will return to its spiritual roots some day. If there are people of good will and understanding in the world, and there always are a few.

Answer 11

I don't know that much about martial arts but it is an art form; hence the word arts.   And I feel that people such as yourself treat it that way and realize the history behind it.

I'm a jazz musician and you're correct;  the meaning of art forms seems to become slightly lost with each generation and I think its because they just don't have the discipline.

Everyone wants to be a "celebrity," but no one wants to put in the work.

Answer 12

They're here to stay. They still have much to give - even to people who are unlikely ever to have to use the techniques they learn.

There was a sudden surge of popularity with martial arts movies, martial arts games, and now MMA. These are entertainment (as far as the spectators go anyway - I don't mean to disparage the practitioners) and focus on some very specific aspects of the art.

A minority of people remain dedicated to the practice of the arts. I think that has always been the case and will always be the case. Outside of the dojo and the occasional visit to meet other practitioners, it's rare I meet an actual practicing martial artist. One co-worker was in Jiu-Jitsu before and I met one guy studying BJJ through a mutual friend, but these encounters are few and far between.

I think that minority will always be there, with a more personal involvement in the arts and a deeper understanding of what they can mean, but public interest will come and go, as it does with all things.

Answer 13

These last twenty or so years of "new age" fighting sports, and the age of the McDojo will not discount or rid the world of the traditional martial arts that have been around or created with over 2000 years of history.