The Future of the Martial Arts...

[Great Sage]

REAL interest in the martial arts began when Bruce Lee introduced his brand of lightning kicks and fists on screen. This movement of “dynamics” has been further propelled by movies such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “the Matrix.”

The upswing is that the martial arts has become a viable market in entertainment. Movies that can integrate story telling and martial arts have surpassed the “dynamics” that Bruce Lee introduced decades ago. In terms of martial arts skills... That’s a different story.

The downswing may be that the mass media are being fed a false representation of what martial arts really encompass.

On the other side, the combat side... The martial arts are moving in the complete opposite direction. The UFC, among other NHB events have opened eyes to SOME realities of combat. More and more martial artists have crossed over to the truths of martial arts and abandoned the fancy propogandas that have persisted over the years.

Unfortunately, the average citizen cannot distinguish between what IS real and what SEEMS real. Many thousands flock to McDojos in hopes of learning “flying maneuvers” or what not. In truth, only serious martial artists will invest in submissions training or realistic approaches to combat. A laymen who sees two fighters engaged in a submissions match thinks nothing is happening. For many, truth in the martial arts is simply too boring. For when they realize they’re not doing fancy kicks or forms, interest is lost.

Nevertheless, this mode of thinking is changing steadily. Perhaps MMA will be a pioneer for the future. A path has been cleared for the martial arts... Now it’s up to the willing to walk it.

[Lizard]

Yes we seem to be getting two extremes. Fancy kung-fu movies MA and serious combat MA/MMA. Do you want to dance around like a shaolin monk or do you want to fight? You can't have both.

[swan104]

To me, the difference between flashy film-fighting and reality-based self defence is like comparing Star Trek to Astrophysics. The two may have things that are similar but are totally different.

Also, one more realistic than the other!

[eXcessiveForce]

I think you may have a flaw in your premise.

First martial arts may have become popular in the west due to bruce lee if you are speaking of eastern arts, but world wide bruce lee had an impact recently but martial arts existed and were popular long before bruce was a twinkle in his daddy's eye.

For instance UFC kind of pales in comparison to the roman's Idea's regarding martial sports like the gladiators.

Now take into account how views of society change over time. Today most people would look back and think of the gladiators as barbaric and would not allow such things in their communities. And we are seeing that in many states in the united states. Some states have banned such things and Toughman and UFC type activities.

Movies however infuse imaginiation and martial arts. there is nothing wrong with that. I watch martial arts movies and laugh. I see thing and go, I can do that and I don't need cables. other times I wonder how the hell they did something. Not because I believe the key to combat is hidden in the matrix and such but because of curiosity and being driven to do things that others consider difficult or impossible.

Movies will bring people to MA. There is nothing wrong with that.

But I think Technology will have an effect on martial arts. Training equipment will improve. We may develop devices that can dramatically improve speed, or strength. We may come up with weapons that are implantable into the body.

The U.S has already unveiled sonic weapons, Microwave weapons, Electical weapons, Chemical weapons. Many of these are non lethal but effective. How long before someone could have some type of non lethal weapon implanted in their arm.

These could all radically change the idea of martial arts much like the invention of the gun even in Musashi's time. He stated a gun was undefeatable from a wall but not good from with in sword range. Even then we saw a move from physical technique to technological combat. No fast forward to the Iraq war. Hi Speed tanks with reactive armor. Smart Weapons. Unmanned aireal vehicles.

One must remember that martial arts was developed to fight. Each group had a different threat so the techniques and the systems varied. However the further things are removed from the original source the more prone to failure they become. Once people no longer needed to fear for their saftey on a daily basis they lost many of their survival skills. Once technology advanced there was no reason to develop physical prowess since the common man had access to weapons that did not require much training to operate.

Society will mold martial arts to what it deams acceptable or it will get rid of it all together. Martial arts have been banned in coutries around the world from time to time. The same it true of weapons. But if a war breaks out internal or external we see a change in the views of the people. The begin to realize the importance of accessibility of weapons both physical and technological.

It is interesting that Martial artists put themselves in roles such as Warrior or mercinary. They identify with soldiers and other people who have fought in combat. Yet those in the current roles as military leader have moved away from Physical martial arts systems to technological systems.

Right now we see a move towards modern military systems and away from previous systems.

Karate was once a military system
Aikido Grew out of a military type system
Kung Fu grew out of a need for personal protection (kung fu is not widely practiced in China today)
Tai Chi is now used widely for health but was originally designed for personal protection.
Caporiera is now a sport but was originally for self defense for a specific class of people.

Now we see these styles have not been used in combat for a very long time. So an emergence of other systems comes out

Krav Maga Israils military martial system
Systema Russian Covert system
WWII combatives, Reversion back to a system used more reciently by a military body but later discarded when the threat was no longer present.


A few systems have become popular due to sport use.

Taekwondo, a combination of korean arts later morphed into national sport becoming more popular since added to the olympics.
BJJ, Originally used by military and sport but was almost dead. Revived by the gracies with the sport based UFC.
Boxing, I popular sport that many are exposed to though out the world.
Greco Roman Wrestling, Olympic use
Karate is starting to use Olympic marketing so if it works you will se a revitalization of the Karate world as it become prominent in the olympics.


See if we see more wars you will see more combat based systems and technology based systems.

Peace will lead to more sport based systems and a loss of effectiveness overall.

[Great Sage]

Originally posted by eXcessiveForce
I think you may have a flaw in your premise.

First martial arts may have become popular in the west due to bruce lee if you are speaking of eastern arts, but world wide bruce lee had an impact recently but martial arts existed and were popular long before bruce was a twinkle in his daddy's eye.

Ah.. I love a good debate. Yes, ofcourse many forms of martial arts have existed before Bruce Lee... I do not deny that nor did I say otherwise. However, Bruce Lee revolutionized and brought national attention to martial arts awareness. Before Bruce Lee, martial arts were secluded in their individual corners of the world and the what we did see were cheesy flicks that did very little for the imagination.

Originally posted by eXcessiveForce
For instance UFC kind of pales in comparison to the roman's Idea's regarding martial sports like the gladiators.

Now take into account how views of society change over time. Today most people would look back and think of the gladiators as barbaric and would not allow such things in their communities. And we are seeing that in many states in the united states. Some states have banned such things and Toughman and UFC type activities.

With all due respect, the context of which the “Gladiators” fought is totally different from today’s NHB. Coloseum matches were arranged by the Roman Empire and many Gladiators were prisoners, convicts etc... that were killed for pure amusement. In other words, people were not watching an exhibition of talent, skill and grace. They were just watching to see how long each person would survive the Emperor’s soldiers or tigers.

A better comparison would be the Greeks who held annual wrestling tournaments which were later adopted by the Romans. This may have been the first form of competitive martial sport.

Originally posted by eXcessiveForce
Movies however infuse imaginiation and martial arts. there is nothing wrong with that. I watch martial arts movies and laugh. I see thing and go, I can do that and I don't need cables. other times I wonder how the hell they did something. Not because I believe the key to combat is hidden in the matrix and such but because of curiosity and being driven to do things that others consider difficult or impossible.

Movies will bring people to MA. There is nothing wrong with that.

Yes, movies will bring people to MA and that’s not a bad thing. But as anyone can attest, the unfortunate truth is that people are getting a false representation of the martial arts. Movies are not real, that’s a simple fact. And people who try to fight like “the Matrix” are gonna get killed. Like it or not, it’s something that people who know little about the martial arts will do. I’m merely stating one of the problems associated with martial arts films.

Originally posted by eXcessiveForce
But I think Technology will have an effect on martial arts. Training equipment will improve. We may develop devices that can dramatically improve speed, or strength. We may come up with weapons that are implantable into the body.

The U.S has already unveiled sonic weapons, Microwave weapons, Electical weapons, Chemical weapons. Many of these are non lethal but effective. How long before someone could have some type of non lethal weapon implanted in their arm.

It is interesting that Martial artists put themselves in roles such as Warrior or mercinary. They identify with soldiers and other people who have fought in combat. Yet those in the current roles as military leader have moved away from Physical martial arts systems to technological systems.

Right now we see a move towards modern military systems and away from previous systems.

The more advance we become the less we will rely on close range combat. In all honestly, martial arts have moved from the military ranks to the backyard. We no longer live in times of swords, babaric raids or medieval duals... Instead, the martial arts of today are for self-defense in desparate situations, sport combat or self-preservation.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Well, I personally am much more disappointed in some MA's movie's representation of its practitioners (i.e. the bad ass anti-hero who treats women like shit, etc.) than the actual skills being represented.

Though I would also like to see more down to earth realism in film. (I enjoyed The Hunted for that very reason, though the story was kinda weak)

But, if MA people are concerned about representation in media, it's up to them to do something about it.

Ryu