Thread by Alaric The Barbarian
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- Sep 1, 2022
- #MixedMartialArts
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American culture created bullshido martial arts.
THREAD 1/
THREAD 1/
There's thousands of videos like this online - some esoteric, defensive martial artist being absolutely pummeled by a fit, offensive kickboxer.
And there are hundreds of studios in the US alone dedicated to teaching these reactive, complex arts.
All this snake oil - why?
And there are hundreds of studios in the US alone dedicated to teaching these reactive, complex arts.
All this snake oil - why?
In the 70s, Eastern martial arts had an explosion of popularity in the US, mostly due to Hollywood movies starring Bruce Lee. Later, we had The Karate Kid.
They introduced Americans to the exotic and flashy world of Kung Fu and Karate.
Dojos popped up in every major city.
They introduced Americans to the exotic and flashy world of Kung Fu and Karate.
Dojos popped up in every major city.
Karate became a fixture in the Western imagination. With it, a 135 lb. Bruce Lee-type could kick a strongman across a room.
A teenager could block a flurry of punches from a trained assassin, dropping him with a well-placed chop.
A teenager could block a flurry of punches from a trained assassin, dropping him with a well-placed chop.
Despite this fanciful image, 70s karate training was still very combative. Full-contact was the norm, and "sparring gear" was yet to enter the equation.
Kids and adults were fighting bare-knuckle, without foam-dipped helmets or gloves.
Kyokushin was a global sporting event.
Kids and adults were fighting bare-knuckle, without foam-dipped helmets or gloves.
Kyokushin was a global sporting event.
Training was still very physical-fitness oriented. Karate training was something that could legitimately make someone more dangerous.
Many studios functioned like gangs, and dojoyaburi was still practiced.
But all of this changed as the consumer market got bigger.
Many studios functioned like gangs, and dojoyaburi was still practiced.
But all of this changed as the consumer market got bigger.
Sometime in the 80s, the fantasy of karate and kung fu overtook reality. Instructors wanted to "make it big", and lowered standards to appeal to the masses.
They sold a fantastical version of karate, in which *anyone* could learn a few techniques and win a fight by skill alone.
They sold a fantastical version of karate, in which *anyone* could learn a few techniques and win a fight by skill alone.
Techniques which were once expert level - advanced parries, joint manipulation, fancy kicks - became standard.
But these just don't work without a baseline of physical fitness, aggression, and a strong grounding in basic offensive fighting.
But these just don't work without a baseline of physical fitness, aggression, and a strong grounding in basic offensive fighting.
This notion of *offensive fighting* is the key element.
The lowering of fitness standards shouldn't be overlooked, but the biggest change was from offensive to defensive fighting.
The lowering of fitness standards shouldn't be overlooked, but the biggest change was from offensive to defensive fighting.
This is where American culture intersected to create snake oil.
1. Mass-market consumerism required making things "softer" and more palatable - no aggression, just reaction.
2. Litigiousness & aversion to violence required that instructors emphasize ***self-defense only***
1. Mass-market consumerism required making things "softer" and more palatable - no aggression, just reaction.
2. Litigiousness & aversion to violence required that instructors emphasize ***self-defense only***
Of course, anyone who's been in a fight knows that whoever throws the first punch wins 90% of the time. Aggression is *mandatory*.
But weak "martial artists" and money-hungry instructors rejected this. They created a cargo cult of actual fighting, based on defensive techniques.
But weak "martial artists" and money-hungry instructors rejected this. They created a cargo cult of actual fighting, based on defensive techniques.
The "generational cycle" of martial arts is very short - maybe 10 years.
So, four generations after this shift, almost everyone involved in Karate or Kung Fu learned from this idiotic school of thought.
So, four generations after this shift, almost everyone involved in Karate or Kung Fu learned from this idiotic school of thought.
Of course, these notions are disproved by actual fighting.
So, the competition rules were changed. More protective equipment, less contact, fewer takedowns.
Some arts literally stopped sparring.
So, the competition rules were changed. More protective equipment, less contact, fewer takedowns.
Some arts literally stopped sparring.
Think of the WKF - those fights are absolute jokes, compared to something like the UFC.
But these organizations don't care. They ignore the elephant in the room and collect their snake oil paychecks from gullible students.
Then they give 9-year-olds black belts.
But these organizations don't care. They ignore the elephant in the room and collect their snake oil paychecks from gullible students.
Then they give 9-year-olds black belts.
Today, it is controversial in the karate community to teach offensive fighting. To teach aggression. To teach the practiced application of violence.
But is that not the core ethos of martial arts?
But is that not the core ethos of martial arts?
Every historical martial art was once intended for extreme, life-or-death violence. If they were unsuccessful, they didn't survive.
It's ultra-recent perversions that neutered them, producing fat neckbeards that think they're dangerous.
It's ultra-recent perversions that neutered them, producing fat neckbeards that think they're dangerous.
Karate, aikido, kung fu, and more have been infected by this virus.
And so, they just keep producing fighters further and further divorced from the reality of combat.
The same thing has been happening in BJJ for years, even though there are holdouts.
Muay Thai is next.
And so, they just keep producing fighters further and further divorced from the reality of combat.
The same thing has been happening in BJJ for years, even though there are holdouts.
Muay Thai is next.
I look forward to a revival of martial arts, with a focus on the martial element.
The UFC has done wonders for this, but most places teaching "fighting" are still soy beyond comprehension.
The UFC has done wonders for this, but most places teaching "fighting" are still soy beyond comprehension.
But I hope that people can once again recognize the original purpose of martial arts, and revive their warrior ethos.
Don't let Safetyism and consumerism continue to destroy martial arts.
Dojos must become exclusive. Physically rigorous. Aggressive. Violent.
This is the way.
Don't let Safetyism and consumerism continue to destroy martial arts.
Dojos must become exclusive. Physically rigorous. Aggressive. Violent.
This is the way.
