Probably the hardest thing to even be a "purist" these days is the explosion of knowledge available to the martial artist today. Also the scientific advances in athletic physical training seem to have eliminated the "secret squirrel" techniques of any individual martial art. Movement is movement and perfection is the key! I have seen countless so-called "purist" do complex form with absolutely no idea as to what they were doing, application-wise! However, years ago, a non-purist was punished as teachers were few and far between and the need for fimmediate fighting skills left little chance for experimantation. That was then-This is now.
Don't get me wrong. I highly respect anyone who is loyal to thier individual art. But, in another sense, as in my case, age and injury have forced me to radically change how I train today compared to how I trained years ago. I went from long-fist Choy-Ly-Fut and Tai' Chi in my early thirties to Arnis in my sixties. Also after spending over 12 years with arnis, I have gone back into Tai'Chi and am spending most of my time nowadays working on understanding some of the obvious similarities within the two, especially in DeCadena play. Does this make me a non-purist? I don't think so.
Time changes, your body changes. What is Purity? If you spend time learning your art and give credit to those who taught you. Or / And if age and experience dictates that you change your art to fit your body/mindset, does this make you some kind of non-purist?
Absolutely ridiculous! The back pages of blackBelt Magazine are full of B.S. Purtists trying to sell you blackbelts via the mail. Again, train hard, give credit where credit is due and be honest with yourself and your supposed skill level. Then your art is "pure". As it is now yours, you have learned it and earned it.
Chris A