is the style you practice the right one for you?

[theneuhauser]

how many of you are studying your number one choice for a martial art style?
meaning if every possible artform was offered near you, would you still be practicing what you do now?
or does a better instructor happen to be teaching in a less desirable system, so you go with that?
or do cost limitations keep you from pursuing what you would like?
or is the type of school not important to you.

[warder]

Currently I studay TKD. There are many other styles that I would love to train in. This school happens to be the only one within 20 minutes with highly qualified instruction. I dont stay fo the style, but because of my confidence im my instructor. He is very knowlegeable and has amazing technical skills. My personal growth under him has been signifigant over the past year. Sometimes the person who teaches you is more important than the style itself. Especially if your training in a more tradional setting.

[jfarnsworth]

I am 100% kenpo satisfied as a martial art.
Jason Farnsworth

[kenposcum]

The quality of my instructor is why I started...
The quality of the art is why I stayed.
:asian:

[Master of Blades]

I feel 100% confident in Kali at the moment, but when I feel I am ready or when my teacher tells me to move on I wish to start Wing Chun and BJJ.

[Richard S.]

Hapkido was my first love, but apparently im not supposed to study it (for various reasons) now its Wing Chun and im feeling right at home with it. .......respects.

[7starmantis]

I am completely happy in my system. I searched out my school because I had studied kung fu before. There happened to be only one kung fu school in my area, but it just so happens I would train anywhere or with anyone else! Don't get me wrong I started because it was the only one, but also because of the instructor, it wasn't until I had been there quite a while that I realized that I wouldn't train with anyone else. I'm 100% happy!


7sm

[tshadowchaser]

Because I have traveled greatly in the last 30 years I have studied many styles (what ever was available in the area )
but I have retained my "core" system and now teach /study it.
There have been many school that I did not study in because of the instructor( his knowledge-or lack there of-,his attitude,etc.)
If i didnt like or feel the instructor could advance my knowledge i didnt study.
The results, well I have some standing in the system I teach and I hold teaching credentials in several others. Most training is beneficial if the instructor is any good.
As to the original question would I change schools NO would I study another system YES I study 3 at the moment

[karatekid1975]

warder wrote:

"Currently I studay TKD. There are many other styles that I would love to train in. This school happens to be the only one within 20 minutes with highly qualified instruction. I dont stay fo the style, but because of my confidence im my instructor. He is very knowlegeable and has amazing technical skills. My personal growth under him has been signifigant over the past year. Sometimes the person who teaches you is more important than the style itself. Especially if your training in a more tradional setting."

I agree with Warder. I go to the same school as him. I gripe that our school is expensive (Warder heard me gripe also LOL), but the instruction is worth it. It took me a while to realize that, but our master instructor is the s**t! He is awsome. Oh, Fred. Brian enjoyed working Chin Na with you the other day. You helped him a lot :)

Anyways, if there was a Hapkido school here, I would join. But I wouldn't stop TKD. I would use Hapkido to cross train and make my TKD better.

[Angus]

My school isn't right for me, and I'm pretty sure of it. However, I've been there long enough that I'll finish it through to black belt and pursue other options. However, I know I don't want to pursue most of the arts we do and I'd like to do a more traditional system.

[theneuhauser]

that's honest.

i personally threw this thread out because i was curious how many other folks, like myself are finding it hard to do what they really want to be doing for whatever reason. it seems like alot have found their niche, though. that's a good thing. im also fairly confident that a sizable fraction of the community doesnt really know what the heck they want, imo. im guessing that the instructor him/herself is really the factor that has the greatest real bearing over everything else.

[Shinzu]

coming from a school that i thought was right for me but wasn't and moving to the one i am at now... i am positive i am in the right spot for my training.

[Angus]

Neuhauser, that would be exactly correct. A lot of it likely has to do with either the instructor or how the instructor presents the arts. The attitude of the instructor is the current problem for me, but I also know that we don't do enough of what I'd like to be learning and too much of stuff I don't. I'm learning, though, which is what's important. If I wasn't, I'd be gone REALLY fast.

[Yari]

I don't know.

Every art availble? Sounds like a kids dream come true....

I really don't know. I love what I do know and the style. Most of the things I don't like esteem from personal differances, and not the art it self. But even if I had the person I wanted, I think at some point that would be an issue too.

/Yari

[7starmantis]

Originally posted by Yari

I don't know.

Every art availble? Sounds like a kids dream come true....

I really don't know. I love what I do know and the style. Most of the things I don't like esteem from personal differances, and not the art it self. But even if I had the person I wanted, I think at some point that would be an issue too.

/Yari

Sounds like your determined to not be happy with your instructor? There has to be the right instructor out there for everyone right?


7sm

[Master of Blades]

The one thing I want everyone to remember is to not let anyones opinion or skill make you change your mind. I recently made a new freind who I later on found out TKD. He was happy with his system and style and everything. One day we sparred and he realised that he was useless on the ground. It changed his mind completly and now hes thinking of stopping TKD completly. I persuaded him to stay on at least until black but I dunno. So dont let anyone change your mind!

:rofl: :shrug: :asian:

[MartialArtist]

Originally posted by Master of Blades

I feel 100% confident in Kali at the moment, but when I feel I am ready or when my teacher tells me to move on I wish to start Wing Chun and BJJ.
It looks like that guy also teaches a Korean art by the Taeguk

[MartialArtist]

Originally posted by Master of Blades

The one thing I want everyone to remember is to not let anyones opinion or skill make you change your mind. I recently made a new freind who I later on found out TKD. He was happy with his system and style and everything. One day we sparred and he realised that he was useless on the ground. It changed his mind completly and now hes thinking of stopping TKD completly. I persuaded him to stay on at least until black but I dunno. So dont let anyone change your mind!

:rofl: :shrug: :asian:
It's his instruction.

He's not used to hitting people on the ground, or being on the ground for that matter.

If he NEEDS to change schools, tell him it's his way of training, not the art. It goes with every art. I'm 100% he has learned some rolling, some locks, and some attacks to do in self-defense situations. Every time I saw someone go to the ground, they don't go down with them to grapple but keep on kicking them. He needs to think further.

The complicated thing in martial arts is that sometimes, you know right away it's not for you. MOST of the time, you think it's not for you until many years later. You may not think one art is for you... That is until you blossom. Some click naturally with other arts, but they may have potential to also blossom in another art. Maximize strength, work on weaknesses

[TkdWarrior]

well i wanted to learn Kungfu(that time dunno which one:D rite now if u ask then i would hav prefered taiji or pakua ) or Kalaripayattu...
no teachers in my area..so i went to meet my current TKD teacher...then i realise style is not big deal for me...i m very happy with my teacher...
and yea my art TKD enables me with the view to fight other arts, i hav found almost every counter to different styles...
:D
-TkdWarrior-

[Master of Blades]

Originally posted by MartialArtist

It looks like that guy also teaches a Korean art by the Taeguk

I dont understand what you mean with that??? But in reply to your other post, I did manage to change his mind, but I think its more his competetive streak then anything. Still he does want to start Jui-Jitsui with me. He's given up on Wing Chun.

:rofl: :shrug: :asian:

[karatekid1975]

MartialArtist wrote:

"It looks like that guy also teaches a Korean art by the Taeguk"

I like to know that, too, Blades. What did you mean by that, "MartalArtist"???

[Master of Blades]

"Blades"..........I like the sound of that..........

[Yari]

Originally posted by 7starmantis

Sounds like your determined to not be happy with your instructor? There has to be the right instructor out there for everyone right?


7sm

No I don't think I'm determined to not be happy with my instructor.

I think that as life has given me many friends, were some where more active in different parts of my life, so is it with teachers/instructors. And if your lucky you can have the same instructor while you evolve (remembering that your instructor also evolves) through life and all it's stages.

/Yari

[karatekid1975]

"Master of Blades wrote:

"Blades"..........I like the sound of that.......... "

I was a little lazy to write your whole screen name. I was hoping you didn't mind :) I'm glad you like it :D

[Master of Blades]

Lol, thanks, its kind cool. Im not sure whether Blades or Bladez sounds better :rolleyes: :rofl: :shrug: :asian:

[brianhunter]

Well my 2 cents (which is probably worth half of that) Is that you can fall in love with an art without an instructor. My first school the instructor was probably the most qualified and senior guys around in my art some would claim there are none better . Several people where happy there I just wasnt one of them. My daughter still trains there and she is perfectly happy so I have no problems with it. I have managed to find someone not too far away (about 2 hours) that I still manage to train in the art I love. So to me it isnt just the instrcutor but what the art has done to me and how I feel. I will stay in it for life one way or another.

:asian:

[arnisador]

I wish I could study iaido again! I practice FMA and I really like it but it's wrong for me in many ways--I'm strong and slow, not quick-handed and fast on my feet. I like it despite the fact that I don't feel I'm objectively the best fit for it.

There are a number of arts I wish were nearer to me, though I'm lucky that there's BJJ here.

[Zujitsuka]

I truly love the martial arts. As long as I live, I'll always look into other styles. There is sooooo very much to learn. Woe is me....life and money is too short to do it all.:)

[cali_tkdbruin]

For me personally, I was motivated to train in my martial art, Taekwondo, principally because it's the preferred art in my family. My nephew and brother in-law are both black belts in TKD, and my daughter has been training in it for some years now. I have been studying TKD for a few years too, and I know now that this is definitely the best art for me. If I had to start over again I would still chose Taekwondo, however, as soon as I earn my black belt I am going to begin cross training in another martial art. I would like to enhance my TKD skills with techniques from another MA. TKD will always be my base and I'd like to continue training in my art for as long as I can. :cool:

[karatekid1975]

I was seriously thinking about this. I say yes, TKD is the right art for me. Because I'm a kicker. I really suck at some stuff we do, but the kicking part I think I'm fairly good at (besides forms). I kinda suck at self defense and step sparring, because I came from a different art, and I often confuse the two.

[TkdWarrior]

"I kinda suck at self defense and step sparring, because I came from a different art, and I often confuse the two."

lol no big deal laurie step sparring get's me confused too...u know we wer doin 3 step sparrin with partner i was supposed to the blocking but i went in there blocked n hit him like we do in First step sparring... n then later i get him in arm lock :D
phew...
but that's not the way i sparr or practice SD ...
-TkdWarrior-

[c2kenpo]

I trained in TKD for a few years when I was younger and when I decided to take the arts back up I was introduced to Kenpo and over the last two years of my training I really feel blessed to have "stumbled" into the school I am in. With over 120 year of combined experince from my daily instructors and then access to train with some of the "Seniors" in Kenpo.

I would not have it any other way.

Thank you Mitchell's Martial Arts for Changing my life, heart and mind.

David "C2" Gunzburg

[karatekid1975]

TkdWarrior wrote:

"lol no big deal laurie step sparring get's me confused too...u know we wer doin 3 step sparrin with partner i was supposed to the blocking but i went in there blocked n hit him like we do in First step sparring... n then later i get him in arm lock :D
phew...
but that's not the way i sparr or practice SD ... "

Well, I came from Tang Soo Do. TSD and TKD step sparring are REALLY similar. Some of them are the same, just in different order, so I get it backwards or I'd do a TSD step sparring tech instead of TKD ..... ggggrrrrrrr LOL.

We do Chin Na for self defense. That is also similar to what I learned (Hapkido self defense). So, I would do a self defense tech the Hapkido way instead of the Chin Na way LOL.

The funny thing is, I don't realize I did it wrong till someone tells me LOL. I have to really pay attention to what I'm doing to do it right.

[cdhall]

Originally posted by theneuhauser

how many of you are studying your number one choice for a martial art style?
meaning if every possible artform was offered near you, would you still be practicing what you do now?
or does a better instructor happen to be teaching in a less desirable system, so you go with that?
or do cost limitations keep you from pursuing what you would like?
or is the type of school not important to you.

I am lucky to have found a way to study Ed Parker's American Kenpo. There is some other stuff I want to look into later, but I am going to wait until after I make it to Black Belt. After 1st Black there is a mandatory 2-3 year time in grade requirement before going to 2nd so during that period I expect to go study some Okinawan weapons via Kobudo and then after about 1year of that I will go look into Tai Chi and some internal stuff. That is what I'm thinking right now.