My opinion is short and sweet: the style does not matter, it depends upon the teacher and the student. I have had three teachers, all world known: one said he basically could show you techniques, but only real way to learn how to fight is to fight, and use the techniques in the situation. Second master, we would fight using our animal styles every day in full contact, with no pads, and use your style and technique against others with different movements and style. We also went through extreme Shaolin old style body training until we could barely make it to the car every day. My third teacher, believed that it was not what your opponent did, but what you failed to do that mattered, and would allow light contact until a certain level and then fight accordingly. In all instances, plus fighting many from other styles and full contact in Hong Kong, a couple of conclusions: 1) One must eventually fight, in a controlled and uncontrolled fashion, to understand true pressure and ability to react to changing conditions under adverse circumstances 2) The traditional martial arts are in some cases not so traditional. IF they are truly traditional, they will not kickbox, will not fight with pads, and the teacher will ensure that no one is harmed but at the same time bring some reality to it. Unfortunately, tournaments have made alot of fighting pitter pat and point fighting, so people get a false security, see Olympic tae kwon do fighters who will admit they might have an issue on the street. 3) As an example, though I am long time Kung fu and tai chi, the differences I see in tae kwon do as a sport in the US v. what I saw from Korea when I was in Hong kong is night and day. 4) No matter what the style, until one leaves the "technique" arena, stops training and starts practicing, and achieves naturalness in their movement, TMA will always be stuck. 5) What is neglected in both TMA and the RB arts are the foot movement and use of waist, as well as root. In both arenas, foot movement is usually never taught, and thus almost everyone can attack but few can defend simultaneously. I have yet to see one MMA or UFC fighter with a decent defense against attack. I do agree it is better to perfect three techniques well than 50 not so well. Too much to think about. 6) Lastly, will finish where I started.....it is up to the students, the teachers, the competitors, etc. to make the art realistic, applicable, and sustainable. The basis is there in the TMA, but has been lost. If the TMA were not reality based and tested, they would have not lasted this long...after all, whatever style still propagated today would not be here if not battle tested over time as humans have a tendency, especially in warfare, to evolve and use what works...to do otherwise, is to lose and die!!! My humble opinion.
