who's betterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?

[skinny]

I'm new to this site as well as to martial arts in general and I don't want to offend any one even though I might sound like a nerd to you guys. I've never been arrested, locked up or in a life threatening situation other than in an emergency room after a bad allergy attack. But I have been observing ad learning about different styles of Martial Arts and finding that they all seem to have plusses and minuses (many that I probably can't even see yet.)

I felt JKD seems to have the most effective moves if your life depended on it but that's my opinion I guess. But I have a friend I grew up with who was a black belt in Karate and very small but very fast and strong and a very effective kick boxer and another friend I grew up with who studied nearly every style from -Karate to Kung Fu to Aikido JKD to Boxing- and I think he got it right by combining the techniques of many different styles. But to this day I have yet to see someone threaten either guy on the street with or without a weapon. There's a lot of bickering going on over who is better, who's style is better etc. Wouldn't it be better if you all shared your knowledge and experience and learned a littel bit from each other? Or would that be to nerdy?

Slkinny

[Brokenmace]

Wouldn't it be better if you all shared your knowledge and experience and learned a littel bit from each other? Or would that be to nerdy?

What gave you that idea?

The whole point of JKD was to abandon style for reality. One person's ability to reproduce a given technique will always differ from another's. JKD is based on principles. Principles are universal; techniques are limited.

Styles are most often based on philisophical foundations. For instance (I'll get hammered for this) BJJ seems to be based on the idea that "equal footing" between two physically different foes can be gained by getting in close fast, and "exchanging blows" is both stupid and dangerous, as (they assume, I guess), the stronger man will win. This, I believe, is a dangerous deception, but that's not my point. While it has this core philosophy, it is built upon techniques and specific tactics. True, you can add any technique that works to your game, but the only guiding principle is that you leverage more of your body against less of your opponent's, therefore submitting them.

There's nothing wrong with this. I fully intend to add as many simple BJJ techniques to my program as possible. It is an excellent grappling system. Where some of its instructors fail is to both buy into and teach the false argument that grappling range is the only solution, and to reject preperation for any other range. Some BJJ purists refuse to see any value in learning how to punch or kick. This is beyond me.

The problem is a myopic viewpoint. It isn't about style. Find a teacher with an open mind. The last thing you need is a JKD instructor who thinks "those [insert style here] guys are a bunch of hamstrung yahoos" or anyone else who thinks that way.

My best advice is to find a JKD school. This isn't because JKD is the "best." It is because JKD started the whole modern American MMA thing, and you will probably find many arts being practiced at any given school. They will encourage you to try out all the arts there, and I would do this. Ask various folks the ups and downs of their preferred style or art. Decide what you want out of the martial arts, and choose a path accordingly. For me it was JKD/Kali, because I wanted street fighting and a good workout.

Later.

[skinny]

Thanks for the reply. As I said I am not an experienced MA just an observer interested in learning more. Let me ask you a few questions though.

Would you consider BL to be Martial Artist or a streetfighter? Also, would you consider him to be the greatest fighter or is that just Hollywood hipe? I am not that concerned about the name or style I guess, like a lot of others, I just want to learn how to defend myself and my family if necessary. But I have been noticing the rigidness (for lack of a better word) of say Aikido or Shao Lin Kung Fu. Although while Aikido seems to be best done in the dojo against antoher Aikidoist, Kung Fu seems to be somewhat more fluid or adaptable. But did not Morihei Ueshiba design Aikido feeeling it was the best or most effective fighting method of all and didn't BL design JKD with a similar thought in mind?

I don't know if I can find a JKD instructor around here so I may be linmited to trying Aikdo, Kung Fu, Judo or Karate. Do you think Aikido is as effective in a practical streetfighting sense as theh others or is more of an art to be practiced as an art? Also is it worth trying to learn JKD from video instrucional courses or is that only a supplement to lessons?

Thanks again

[Brokenmace]

A martial artist is someone who attempts to express himself/herself through the creative application and exploration of martial principles and techniques. A prize shooter can be a martial artists, since a gun is a martial tool, and the shooter strives to express his abilities with it. A street fighter, too, can be a martial artists for the same reason. Bruce Lee leveraged his street experience to enhance his understanding and application of the other arts he had learned (not just Wing Chun). So he was both. You will find that being more than one thing is a common human trait, I am sure.

As for your predicament? Well, I'd suggest taking Kung Fu and Judo both at the same time, though I realize this may be hard. Kung Fu (for the most part) is kicking, punching, and standing grappling range. While Judo (I think) doesn't go to the ground much, it will help you understand the dynamics of grappling. I would also try and see if you can find a BJJ or Greco-Roman wrestling coach, as this will help in the ground grappling range.

There's nothing wrong with tapes, but they will never be a full substitute for personal training. They will help you after you've learned the basics of human motion as it applies to martial sciences.

BTW, never foresake one range for another, despite what some on this board might want to tell you. All ranges of combat have their place. Almost every fight starts standing up, almost every fight ends on the ground. What will you do in between if you totally neglect the other ranges?

Just keep your mind open and don't study under pricks. They won't help you.