I don't really know how to word this to match my feelings and thoughts, so I ask for forgiveness beforehand and an attempt to get it. Thanks.
I just have a feeling about this subject, though I sincerely hope that it's just pessimism on my part. My feeling and question for all is this : Are the martial arts and practitioners actually dumbing down?
I fear this might be the case. My reasons? Well, the founders came up, worked tirelessly, and made what was, what it was through out time. A quick fast forward to now has many more practitioners and many with knowledge and incredible skills. But, what are they doing really? Sure they are doing that particular style or art, but are you really doing it? Or, is it the modern version of it?
I ask all to think about the biggest picture of what I'm getting at. Currently, there are many who have the stripes on the belt, the chain of schools, the eyes and ears of the MA public, and the accreditation. But, somehow, they seem less of experts or masters of what is than what used to be. Those people have passed and took the answers and knowledge with them for ever. In their place are the "currents" who are representations of particular styles. Do they have the same thorough knowledge? My feeling and apparently many posters here and people that I talk with seem to feel not.
If this is true, is what's going on really ok? I mean cross training, MMA, expansion of systems, techniques, philosophies (which HAVE changed!), Just everything, and every day practices of it. Do these changes take away from what was? As an example Kem/npo was like "whatever" then; It is like "whatever" now.
So many of the greats have gone, they had very little, to no footage, writings, etc.. In their place is widespread commercialism, organizations, independents, etc.. I see the light and inspiration in the eyes by "discovering" something in a form, "verified" by a higher up. In the end it is shown that might not be the actual application. Argument go on, and everyone is correct in the end. Ultimately, no one can say for sure that they really are.... sure! About anything! My fear is that they take this "truth" and spread like wild fire. As time continues more of the old goes, and is replaced by the new. If their version is all that will be left, has it all dumbed down? Changed? Is less than what was or was supposed to be, in spite of tremendous gains? What has been lost? gained? does it matter?
I dunno. I don't even know if it was explained right on my part.
I just have a feeling about this subject, though I sincerely hope that it's just pessimism on my part. My feeling and question for all is this : Are the martial arts and practitioners actually dumbing down?
I fear this might be the case. My reasons? Well, the founders came up, worked tirelessly, and made what was, what it was through out time. A quick fast forward to now has many more practitioners and many with knowledge and incredible skills. But, what are they doing really? Sure they are doing that particular style or art, but are you really doing it? Or, is it the modern version of it?
I ask all to think about the biggest picture of what I'm getting at. Currently, there are many who have the stripes on the belt, the chain of schools, the eyes and ears of the MA public, and the accreditation. But, somehow, they seem less of experts or masters of what is than what used to be. Those people have passed and took the answers and knowledge with them for ever. In their place are the "currents" who are representations of particular styles. Do they have the same thorough knowledge? My feeling and apparently many posters here and people that I talk with seem to feel not.
If this is true, is what's going on really ok? I mean cross training, MMA, expansion of systems, techniques, philosophies (which HAVE changed!), Just everything, and every day practices of it. Do these changes take away from what was? As an example Kem/npo was like "whatever" then; It is like "whatever" now.
So many of the greats have gone, they had very little, to no footage, writings, etc.. In their place is widespread commercialism, organizations, independents, etc.. I see the light and inspiration in the eyes by "discovering" something in a form, "verified" by a higher up. In the end it is shown that might not be the actual application. Argument go on, and everyone is correct in the end. Ultimately, no one can say for sure that they really are.... sure! About anything! My fear is that they take this "truth" and spread like wild fire. As time continues more of the old goes, and is replaced by the new. If their version is all that will be left, has it all dumbed down? Changed? Is less than what was or was supposed to be, in spite of tremendous gains? What has been lost? gained? does it matter?
I dunno. I don't even know if it was explained right on my part.