Martial Arts Community Thread

Do you know your martial arts lineage? Explain in a post.

Yep	66.7%	[ 12 ]
Nup	22.2%	[ 4 ]
line-what?	11.1%	[ 2 ]
Total Votes:			[ 18 ]

[Shaggy Rogers_mystery inc]

Leaf Condition

i always wanted to BJJ

I've been wanting to do that as well.

[goingd]

Lots o' people do. Heh. I just don't have the time (or money). Oh, nice new avi.

[Shaggy Rogers_mystery inc]

Thanks.

[goingd]

No problomer.

[Leaf Condition]

i want to train BJJ from one of the gracie's

[goingd]

I personally don't care that much who I learn a style from. As long as they are proficient with it, and they teach it well, I'm all good.

[goingd]

Controversy in Korean Martial Arts~

The Korean martial arts are something that has exploded in the last half of the last century to now. As popular as Taekwondo is, styles like Hapkido, Haedong Kumdo, Kumdo, Haedong Kumdo, Tang Soo Do, and Kuk Sul Won have come to be some of the most practiced styles of martial arts in the world today. In a positive light it shows a great deal what can be done with independence. Over the centuries Koreans has formulated effective systems and styles of combat which have always been stripped away by oppression. When they once again had the chance to redevelop and create their own styles, they did so and they very effectively spread them around the world to the point that it would be virtually impossible to destroy any one of them. However, in styles like Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Haedong Kumdo (probably more) there is a lot of controversy about the history.

Taekwondo
The main controversial aspect of Taekwondo history is General Choi Hong Hi. Most people consider him to be the founder of Taekwondo. Realistically, he contributed maybe  to the aspects of Taekwondo, and then suggested the name. It was among nine different schools that Taekwondo was formed. The masters of these schools that had learned various Japanese martial arts, and expanded on them in their own light, and brought in aspects of traditional Korean martial arts (ex. a lot of kicking), were the ones (still including Choi however) that gave Taekwondo it's concepts. They, together, formed the art of Taekwondo. But most people, probably because they feel there should be a single founder, give this credit to Choi.

Hapkido
Hapkido's will always go back to Grand Master Choi Yong Sul. Regardless of the name Hapkido, or the introduction of kicks and hard strikes, Choi is the man who brought this concept and art to Korea. The controversy here is how he originally learned it. Hapkido originally is a virtual duplicate of the Japanese style Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu. The claim that is seems Choi made was that he learn Daito Ryu from Takeda, while he lived in Japan has his servant, and eventually adopted son. However, the Takeda family has no memory of Choi ever even being there, let alone being adopted by Takeda himself and learning from him. At the time the Japanese ruled over the Koreans, so having a well respected Japanese master adopt a Korean would be shameful. There is certain indication though, that Choi may have learned from an assistant instructor under Takeda, or that he attended seminars for Daito Ryu.

Haedong Kumdo
This is the most recent, and probably most extravagant of the controversies. Two men formed Haedong Kumdo after learning a few other sword styles including some other martial arts. They formed a story that very directly said that Japan never had any ideals of sword training. They said that ancient Korean masters formed Haedong Kumdo, and taught it to elite warriors called the Samurang (huh, sound like Samurai? [ie, Korean translation]). They said that once Japan came to Korea they picked up the aspects of the Samurang and formed Kendo. There is other controversy on some of their other claims, but it is for the most part now undisputed that they were lying.
Nonetheless though, I should say that in my opinion I actually feel like Haedong Kumdo has some worthy aspects. Compared to traditional Kendo of course it looks flashy. But to me it does a very good job of teaching extension and control. Just sayin.

The main reason for a lot of the stories behind these style's histories is for the sake of making the style and it's founder look better. To make it more popular. No doubt it's political. Yep.

[Shaggy Rogers_mystery inc]

I suppose that could be a possibility. Wasn't there also some question as to the origins of some Kung Fu styles as well in China?

[Leaf Condition]

i don't really care about the history of martial arts as long as they teach me how to kick a** xd

[Shaggy Rogers_mystery inc]

Well there is allways that. xp

Some martial art forms though seem to be looked down upon by some. I know Tai Chi has been looked on as a weak & worthless form of Kung Fu not worth learning (and that was my first intro in martial arts not counting wrestling in school). Why are some viewed as dumb while others are viewed as the best martial art around I wonder?

[goingd]

There is at least some controversy to every range of martial arts.

The history doesn't really matter to me either. As long as I learn something effective, I'm happy about it. I still like knowing the history uber muches though.

Tai Chi Chuan is mostly practiced today for health and not for fighting. However, traditional fighting with Tai Chi is incredibly effective. One thing I noticed is that a lot of Kung Fu and Kempo schools heavily look down on other martial arts. Some schools or some individuals just like feeling they're the best, or perhaps they're insecure about it. I'm sorry, but calling one style superior to another just feels flat out ignorant to me.

[KoolLink7]

I like UFC

[Leaf Condition]

me to smile

[goingd]

I've never been really fond of it.

[Leaf Condition]

what belt color are you guys?