My Art is NOT Better Than Your Art: Respect Stylistic Differences (Rant)

Konbanwa!

I was speaking with a friend this evening who does Haidong Gumdo, a Korean sword art. She linked me to a post on a sword forum that showed a video of a very skilled Gumdo practitioner doing a paper-cutting demonstration. While Gumdo is very different from my own Iaido, I can appreciate it as such. I think it's a fascinating art to watch, though as far as learning, I will stick with Iai.

However, that wasn't what our discussion was about. In the comments, someone (with no martial experience that I know of) dubbed it as 'silly' and said that he 'could not take the practitioner seriously'. There's two things here that I take serious issue with: 'Armchair experts' with no practical knowledge chiming in on matters they really have no clue about, and actual practitioners with a superiority complex.

Seriously guys, get over yourselves.

I'm classically trained in Koryu (traditional art). My Koryuha of choice is Kashima Shinto Ryu through the Iai Tatedo Federation. My art suits me. Does that mean that it's superior to someone else's art? No! Does that mean someone else's art is superior to mine? Again, no. Does that mean my art is right for everyone? For the third time, no. And not all arts would suit me, either. As martial artists, why can't we see the value in arts different from our own, respect them for what they are, and let it go instead of bickering about lineages, how that chiburi looks stupid compared to the one so-and-so learned at such-and-such dojo or how that school under-performs compared to this other one? Why must we argue over the validity of learning from books and videos versus a qualified instructor, whether MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) are better than Koryu or the arts from one locality better than another? Can't we all just get along?

As for the 'armchair experts', while of course no amount of writing or talking is going to change the fact that the peanut gallery will always have a running commentary on something, I would like to encourage those who feel it's necessary to comment on something with no practical experience in the subject themselves to receive formal training from somewhere before expressing an opinion on the subject. It's difficult to form a valid opinion on a topic with no practical experience in-hand, and even harder to be taken seriously as a commentator or a practitioner without it. I would also like to add that discretion is the better part of valor and if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Most armchair experts would never voice these opinions to a martial artist's face, but feel comfortable and secure behind the relative anonymity of a computer screen. If they said the sort of things they type to a martial artist in person, they would be ignored, laughed at or, worst case scenario involving some of my more hot-headed MA brothers and sisters out there, shown just how effective the techniques they're making fun of really are.

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For the record, I believe that a good MMA school is just as good as a Koryu, and that there is much to be learned from good instructional books and videos, but that nothing can replace a good instructor, no matter what martial art you're interested in and why. Books and videos are great supplementary education, but not without proper basic training from a qualified instructor. Without a good set of basics, it's more difficult to grasp proper technique application that you find in books and videos. Using a technique improperly could get you injured or make a bad situation worse if you fail to subdue an attacker and proceed only to anger them. Learning the basics from a professional is not just essential as a stepping stone on the path of the way of the warrior; it could save your life.

One more thing I'd like to address: McDojos. Please, do your research before paying your dues to a dojo. Watch for 'chain dojos' that seem to have an office in every city near you. These places are out to make a buck, not really teach you how to fend off an attacker. Whether you want to learn a traditional art or a contemporary one, please choose your school wisely. Get a more experienced friend to check it out for you if you're uncertain. These places are okay if you're only looking for a workout in a setting other than a gym and to build self-confidence, but will not teach you a real martial art, so be cautious when choosing.