isshinryuronin
Senior Master
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2019
- Messages
- 2,348
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Depends on how you define "styles." To me, a style has identifiable elements, i.e. the type of techniques and the way they're executed as well as the fighting doctrine, and moves can be integrated together, not using opposing principles. According to these criteria the following are true:So in Karate alone there are virtually an infinate varity of styles and the number of styles is growing every time a Sensi decides to "improve the Karate" they are teaching?
A guy who wants to be a "master" and "invents" a "style" in name only just so he can promote himself has not created a style. A guy who take a few boxing moves and adds them to his existing style has not created a new style. A guy who doesn't like his organization and starts his own has not created a new style - just a new organization.Some are branched from other styles.....combinations, some are due to differences in beliefs or politics.
Looking at styles thru this prism one can greatly limit their number, as well as giving validity and more accurate definition of "style." I'll pursue this issue further in a new thread after my workout.