RTKDCMB
Senior Master
Some martial artists feel the need to cross train for various reasons, usually its because they want to be as well rounded as they can in order to compensate for the incompleteness of some of the arts. Some arts only focus mainly on grappling (BJJ, Judo etc.) whilst some arts only focus on striking (Kickboxing, Muay Thai etc.) Some arts focus only on hands (e.g. boxing) whilst some arts are predominately kicking (e.g. Olympic TKD). So these martial artists mix and match from these styles in order to develop a complete range of skills. This is more prevalent in the competitive martial arts, especially in the UFC. When doing this fighters will work on a specific set of skills, one at a time, in different parts of their training regimen and then put them all together when they compete.
Other martial artists will study more than one art at a time whilst others will learn one art for a while and then change to something else with the aim to get as many black belts as they can. When studying 2 arts that have similar techniques it is even more difficult as you would have to keep changing the way you do them after each time you change between classes. Each of these approaches carries with them their own set of limitations. The classical approach is to choose one martial art and stick with that for life. The main problem in doing this is it can often be difficult to find a complete martial art. No martial art can be absolutely complete, if they were then there would be no need to evolve the art or improve the techniques.
The problem with mixing and matching different styles instead of concentrating on just one art is that it is much more difficult to develop a reliable set of skills; you just get an average of many skills (jack of all trades, master of none). Just consider this; if you required brain surgery would you rather have the surgeon operating on you to have 20 years of experience consisting of 5 years as a heart surgeon, 5 years as an optometrist, 5 years as an orthopedic surgeon and 5 years as a brain surgeon or would you rather the surgeon have 20 years of experience only as a brain surgeon.
The problem with changing martial arts every time you get a black belt to gain black belts in as many styles as possible is that you will only get to learn the basics of any martial art. It would be like only reading the first chapter of every book, sure you will get a lot of reading done but you will never get the full story. The true essence of a martial art only begins after you get to black belt. This is where you get to start to perfect your technique and learn the advanced concepts. This does not show much loyalty to the martial art, the instructors or the masters in that school. It is also a selfish attitude, when you earn your black belt you do not do it on your own. A lot of time, effort and patience on the part of your instructors go into teaching you the art in the hope that you can learn and stay with the school and make the art stronger. If you decide that the art is not for you at some point and leave then that is one thing but to have the secret intention right from the start to leave after black belt then that can be like a slap in the face to your instructor. That would be like getting a job for the sole purpose of learning the equipment and procedures and leaving as soon as you are finished and working for the competition.
It is perfectly fine to mix and match martial arts if that is what you want to do, it does not mean that you will not be effective or successful in the martial arts. MMA fighters do this very well but it is not the only way to become well rounded. By choosing the right martial art for you that is as complete as possible you can learn the most advanced concepts and adopt the art as a way of life. When making a lifelong commitment to a martial art there is nothing wrong with learning specific techniques from other martial arts that you see and getting different perspectives. For beginners this must be in consultation with your instructor. If your instructor tells you that the technique is inadequate then the technique must be discarded. If your instructor tells you that the technique is useful then the technique can then be incorporated into the art. You must do this because your instructor will have more knowledge and experience than you. If you were previously from another martial art and know more about martial arts than your instructor then he or she will still know more about their art than you. For black belts and instructors who have a lot of experience then you can usually judge for yourself the value of any technique you can use.
I was fortunate to have picked a martial art that that is a complete art headed by one of the 12 original masters of Tae Kwon Do who personally conducts every black belt grading and I see every 3 months. There are also his brothers, one a 9th dan grandmaster and the other is a 7th dan who is also one of the 12 original masters. I feel no need to cross train because my art includes hands and feet (~40-60% hands), ground defence, joint locks and defence against multiple attackers and weapons and trains to defend against other martial arts and not just itself. But that is not to say that I do not learn techniques from other martial arts that I see here and there. Personally I still use many of the techniques I learned in Hap Ki Do, such as the break falls and joint locks and at least one kick. I once saw a Karate demonstration and saw a defence against a headlock that I have incorporated into my repertoire as well as a defence against a hip throw that I saw in a Judo video.
So if cross training is your thing and it works well for you then go for it but also be aware of its limitations. If you choose to concentrate on only one martial art for a lifelong commitment then do not be afraid to seek a wider perspective.
Other martial artists will study more than one art at a time whilst others will learn one art for a while and then change to something else with the aim to get as many black belts as they can. When studying 2 arts that have similar techniques it is even more difficult as you would have to keep changing the way you do them after each time you change between classes. Each of these approaches carries with them their own set of limitations. The classical approach is to choose one martial art and stick with that for life. The main problem in doing this is it can often be difficult to find a complete martial art. No martial art can be absolutely complete, if they were then there would be no need to evolve the art or improve the techniques.
The problem with mixing and matching different styles instead of concentrating on just one art is that it is much more difficult to develop a reliable set of skills; you just get an average of many skills (jack of all trades, master of none). Just consider this; if you required brain surgery would you rather have the surgeon operating on you to have 20 years of experience consisting of 5 years as a heart surgeon, 5 years as an optometrist, 5 years as an orthopedic surgeon and 5 years as a brain surgeon or would you rather the surgeon have 20 years of experience only as a brain surgeon.
The problem with changing martial arts every time you get a black belt to gain black belts in as many styles as possible is that you will only get to learn the basics of any martial art. It would be like only reading the first chapter of every book, sure you will get a lot of reading done but you will never get the full story. The true essence of a martial art only begins after you get to black belt. This is where you get to start to perfect your technique and learn the advanced concepts. This does not show much loyalty to the martial art, the instructors or the masters in that school. It is also a selfish attitude, when you earn your black belt you do not do it on your own. A lot of time, effort and patience on the part of your instructors go into teaching you the art in the hope that you can learn and stay with the school and make the art stronger. If you decide that the art is not for you at some point and leave then that is one thing but to have the secret intention right from the start to leave after black belt then that can be like a slap in the face to your instructor. That would be like getting a job for the sole purpose of learning the equipment and procedures and leaving as soon as you are finished and working for the competition.
It is perfectly fine to mix and match martial arts if that is what you want to do, it does not mean that you will not be effective or successful in the martial arts. MMA fighters do this very well but it is not the only way to become well rounded. By choosing the right martial art for you that is as complete as possible you can learn the most advanced concepts and adopt the art as a way of life. When making a lifelong commitment to a martial art there is nothing wrong with learning specific techniques from other martial arts that you see and getting different perspectives. For beginners this must be in consultation with your instructor. If your instructor tells you that the technique is inadequate then the technique must be discarded. If your instructor tells you that the technique is useful then the technique can then be incorporated into the art. You must do this because your instructor will have more knowledge and experience than you. If you were previously from another martial art and know more about martial arts than your instructor then he or she will still know more about their art than you. For black belts and instructors who have a lot of experience then you can usually judge for yourself the value of any technique you can use.
I was fortunate to have picked a martial art that that is a complete art headed by one of the 12 original masters of Tae Kwon Do who personally conducts every black belt grading and I see every 3 months. There are also his brothers, one a 9th dan grandmaster and the other is a 7th dan who is also one of the 12 original masters. I feel no need to cross train because my art includes hands and feet (~40-60% hands), ground defence, joint locks and defence against multiple attackers and weapons and trains to defend against other martial arts and not just itself. But that is not to say that I do not learn techniques from other martial arts that I see here and there. Personally I still use many of the techniques I learned in Hap Ki Do, such as the break falls and joint locks and at least one kick. I once saw a Karate demonstration and saw a defence against a headlock that I have incorporated into my repertoire as well as a defence against a hip throw that I saw in a Judo video.
So if cross training is your thing and it works well for you then go for it but also be aware of its limitations. If you choose to concentrate on only one martial art for a lifelong commitment then do not be afraid to seek a wider perspective.
