The Acid Test

[gspell68]

Don’t give away your strategy in public! The first rule of fight club is…?

What “fight club”???

 

[HighKick1]

Our loyalty to our martial art(s) is often fanatical just as it is toward our football team; great investment in terms of time support and practise forges this attitude. Some think the principles that laid the foundations of their art are ‘perfect’. ‘Softness against power’, ‘speed overcoming strength’, ‘evasion redirecting force’ are oft-repeated foundational mantra we see on this forum alone.

But with these same arts rarely being put directly to ‘the acid test’ against a uncooperative, fully-resisting, aggressive opponent (MMA) and when they do, not faring so well (Xu Xiaodong) why do we continue to believe and repeat these ideas in the face of overwhelming counterevidence? Why this blind faith? Do we actually believe them or are they just lip service to resolve our cognitive dissonance and support our investment? For those who genuinely do believe these platitudes, why aren’t they challenging, tried and tested fighting arts to prove their principles are ‘true’?

Where do you stand? What are your thoughts?

I feel you are really overthinking this, or just looking for a response.
There was a time when the martial arts were more whole, regardless of style. Slowly, lines were formed and man and marketing got in the way. MMA is the last bastion of the whole, misguided as it is IMHO.
I hope everyone at least feels like they reached for the golden ring, or at least chased the white rabbit. I am fairly certain most hardcore MMA folks feel they have. I certainly do and I have never trained MMA, or any form of Jits.
So, why do I still train after 44-years? Because it is in my DNA. Why do I train in a way that is not carnal day after day (as you aver is incomplete)? So that I can train for 60+ years.
Hopefully, all of us have things we can crow about. A Huge component of what makes a martial art a Martial ART is not feeling like you need to crow about it.

 

[Same Trick48]

I used to…a long time ago and reached shodan…a low grade.

The acid test is pitting one’s art against MMA/boxing. MMA and boxing are the test. I don’t think Kendo would do very well in the ‘acid test’ no

Yes, with bokutō (wooden swords) but bokuto still don’t handle like real sword, being much lighter and having an unrealistic balance, hence the introduction of ZNKR Iaido. I really liked Kendo no kata.

Yes.

Oh, at the Karate school I trained there was(actually still is,(i go to their webpage now and then) )a Kendo section, they did their kata with swords, ok I only saw that during the exhibitions the club held before every new term.

I add- I read up a little, it seem that practice with bamboo sticks called fukurojinai for more realistic combat training was done already back in the 16th century

 

[Gyakuto103]

What “fight club”???

Well done

 

[BorntoRaiseHell]

I think a lot of people want to believe that a Black belt in their system means they´re an expert
sadly some learn the hard way that on the mean streets it might not work as in the Dojo
people need to use common sense when training for self defence
If your Goals are just to enjoy a session in say Kendo..then have at it

 

[skribs101]

There was a time when the martial arts were more whole, regardless of style. Slowly, lines were formed and man and marketing got in the way. MMA is the last bastion of the whole, misguided as it is IMHO.

And yet it's arguably limited, because 99% of the schools focus 0% on anything other than a sanctioned 1-on-1 fight. No discussion of de-escalation or avoidance, no training using or defending against weapons, no discussion what to do against multiple assailants or how to protect your loved ones, no discussion on environment, no discussion on good personal safety habits or online security, no discussion on use-of-force law or things like stand your ground or castle doctrine (as they apply in your area).

In that regard, it's a very incomplete martial art.

 

[HighKick1]

And yet it's arguably limited, because 99% of the schools focus 0% on anything other than a sanctioned 1-on-1 fight. No discussion of de-escalation or avoidance, no training using or defending against weapons, no discussion what to do against multiple assailants or how to protect your loved ones, no discussion on environment, no discussion on good personal safety habits or online security, no discussion on use-of-force law or things like stand your ground or castle doctrine (as they apply in your area).

In that regard, it's a very incomplete martial art.

Sooo, you are making my point?