K
kenpochip
Guest
I have been wanting to post this question for while.
"Is Kenpo scientific?"
People like to throw around the word "scientific" and apply it to a lot of things that are not scientific. I believe that Kenpo, as practiced by the vast majority (including myself), is not scientific.
It may be effective, and have evolved significantly over the years through years of accumulated empirical knowledge, but that doesn't make it scientific.
I think for it to be a science, there needs to be a large amount of experimentation and peer review and a gradually growing consensus on what is most effective (with a willingness to change). I think there is a little of that now, but there could be much more.
Scientists on the edge of discovery disagree all the time, but over time, they tend to agree on the basics.
With a scientific martial art, there would probably have to be the science of the motion and anatomy itself which could be studied.
There would also be various teaching techniques which could be studied and improved upon in order to teach students how to use the old and new martial principles.
If discoverers of new principles would be publicly known for their contributions, perhaps inflated rank would be less common.
( Actually, I doubt it).
KenpoChip
"Is Kenpo scientific?"
People like to throw around the word "scientific" and apply it to a lot of things that are not scientific. I believe that Kenpo, as practiced by the vast majority (including myself), is not scientific.
It may be effective, and have evolved significantly over the years through years of accumulated empirical knowledge, but that doesn't make it scientific.
I think for it to be a science, there needs to be a large amount of experimentation and peer review and a gradually growing consensus on what is most effective (with a willingness to change). I think there is a little of that now, but there could be much more.
Scientists on the edge of discovery disagree all the time, but over time, they tend to agree on the basics.
With a scientific martial art, there would probably have to be the science of the motion and anatomy itself which could be studied.
There would also be various teaching techniques which could be studied and improved upon in order to teach students how to use the old and new martial principles.
If discoverers of new principles would be publicly known for their contributions, perhaps inflated rank would be less common.
( Actually, I doubt it).
KenpoChip