learning multiple styles

[opr1945]

I am a novice at this (karate, not posting). I am overwhelmed at the details, move this foot 2" in this direction, form hand this way, move leg like this. And for most people it takes year to earn a black belt which is the beginning of learning. Overwhelmed.

Not intended to be critical of another (who I have purposefully not identified), but I come across this: "I have trained long fist, praying mantis, Baji, Taiji, XingYi, White ape, Zimen, WC. "

If done sequentially, each for 5+ years, that is over 40 years and only reaching the starting point and moving on to the next style, a lifetime for many people. A jack of many skills, a master of none.

If done simultaneously, how does one keep them straight? As a novice keeping motions in place is difficult for me. Maybe, it's just me. Others may find this easy to do. After all, we all have different talents.

Thoughts/reactions?

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I'll share what an older martial artist told me when I asked this question as a beginner:
"When you were at school, you learned mathematics and English at the same time. You didn't start trying to add letters or spell numbers, did you?"

 

[Senpuu Ryu]

I started with Shotokan (4th Kyu) and now in Goju Ryu (5th Kyu). Learning each style is really tricky especially that both have different thought process on stances, but you will get there eventually. It goes the same thing if you want to add Boxing, Muay Thai or Lethwei. These three will surely not affect you on learning new things or adding things on your martial arts arsenal. But the best thing to do is to at least attain a black belt in Karate before you transition to something else. Don't be a dabbler.

Also, if a person becomes a black belt in Karate in one year as you just mentioned, they are not exactly black belts and has enrolled in a legitimate mcdojo

To become a black belt in karate, a real black belt, is at least 4-5 years.

 

[opr1945]

sorry about the typo.

"And for most people it takes year to earn a black belt ..." I inteneded it to say years.

I did write
"If done sequentially, each for 5+ years, that is over 40 years... "

It is hard to confuse English and Math as they are dissimilar. However, the differences between styles may be small. A closed fist here versus an open hand there. Upright stance in one, lower stance in another. When I was in high scool I took classes in English and Spanish. I became so fond of some Spanish nouns that people caught me using them when I was speaking English. And the verb "es" (pronounced "ace" in english) which means "is" in spanish became part of my regular vocabulary for several years. LOL

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I am a novice at this (karate, not posting). I am overwhelmed at the details, move this foot 2" in this direction, form hand this way, move leg like this. And for most people it takes year to earn a black belt which is the beginning of learning. Overwhelmed.

Not intended to be critical of another (who I have purposefully not identified), but I come across this: "I have trained long fist, praying mantis, Baji, Taiji, XingYi, White ape, Zimen, WC. "

If done sequentially, each for 5+ years, that is over 40 years and only reaching the starting point and moving on to the next style, a lifetime for many people. A jack of many skills, a master of none.

If done simultaneously, how does one keep them straight? As a novice keeping motions in place is difficult for me. Maybe, it's just me. Others may find this easy to do. After all, we all have different talents.

Thoughts/reactions?

Ok first off, basic foundations in CMA lend themselves ( not always ) to each other. Many commonalities exist from one CMA to another. The individual in question is pushing 80 years old. It is certainly possible to get a black belt in more than one style of karate because foundations from one karate style to another will share many similarities.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

sorry about the typo.

"And for most people it takes year to earn a black belt ..." I inteneded it to say years.

I did write
"If done sequentially, each for 5+ years, that is over 40 years... "

It is hard to confuse English and Math as they are dissimilar. However, the differences between styles may be small. A closed fist here versus an open hand there. Upright stance in one, lower stance in another. When I was in high scool I took classes in English and Spanish. I became so fond of some Spanish nouns that people caught me using them when I was speaking English. And the verb "es" (pronounced "ace" in english) which means "is" in spanish became part of my regular vocabulary for several years. LOL

I learned Yang Tai Chi Chuan and Wing Woo Gar Gung fu at the same time, it’s two sides of a coin. Wing Woo Gar is based on integration of the two. Now after almost 30 years of training with 10 of those years spent teaching as well, I also train in Chin na and Shaolin white crane. I will say some things from white crane I don’t use and don’t like, but I can integrate the useful things that fit with my other tools. Chin na is not a style unto itself, rather a useful set of additional tools that nearly anyone can integrate with their main style. I would recommend studying your main art until fluency is achieved, then you can explore how other concepts do or do not fit with how you express yourself in martial arts or movement in general. Best wishes to you in your training.