glad2bhere
Master Black Belt
Dear Ken:
The simplest definition I have found is that the "art is what is done and the style is how it is done". I think this is close but not exactly right. What I have found is that the art is a goal attained by a particular method. The "style seems to represent the optimal manner in which a particular person sees attaining skills for expressing that method. My guess is that style more often represents a view towards training, towards learning or even teaching. Its a catalogue of how a person prioritizes bits that make up the art in terms of importance. Its not like there is a huge difference between the Hapkido of Ji Han Jae and Myung Kwang Sik, but the manner in which it is organized and presented to each of these two gentlemens' followers indicates to me that we are dealing with two different styles--- Sin Mu and Yon Mu Kwan--- of the same art ---- Hapkido. Does this help?
Best Wishes,
Bruce
The simplest definition I have found is that the "art is what is done and the style is how it is done". I think this is close but not exactly right. What I have found is that the art is a goal attained by a particular method. The "style seems to represent the optimal manner in which a particular person sees attaining skills for expressing that method. My guess is that style more often represents a view towards training, towards learning or even teaching. Its a catalogue of how a person prioritizes bits that make up the art in terms of importance. Its not like there is a huge difference between the Hapkido of Ji Han Jae and Myung Kwang Sik, but the manner in which it is organized and presented to each of these two gentlemens' followers indicates to me that we are dealing with two different styles--- Sin Mu and Yon Mu Kwan--- of the same art ---- Hapkido. Does this help?
Best Wishes,
Bruce