Is Individualism Compatible With The Martial Arts?

At first glance, the world of martial arts may not seem a very promising place to exercise individualism. The thought of modern martial arts conjures up images of phalanxes of students simultaneously executing identical actions in a warehouse setting. Couple that with the need to remember sequences that may run to hundreds of individual forms, and it would seem that any fledgling individualism would be decidedly out of place.

Please do not mistake that I am saying the aforementioned approach to learning the martial arts is all bad. In fact, there are many good reasons for structured learning in the martial arts. For beginners, it helps to instill a sense of discipline and comradery while building a solid base for more advanced training. From the instructor’s point of view, the structured environment makes teaching larger classes manageable. Additionally, defining the expectations that students must achieve for advancement is much simpler within a clearly defined structure.

Yet, one must recognize the downside. Structured training can get boring, especially in the higher ranks. Endlessly repeating drills and making micro-corrections is not for everyone. Students will begin to question why they are doing these endless repetitions. Often, their instructors do not have a good answer.

Further, students risk becoming one-dimensional and unable to adapt when faced with unfamiliar situations. I once had an opponent, a Tae Kwon Do practitioner, abruptly end our sparring session because I “did everything wrong.” There was nothing deficient in his skill, he was just unable to function outside what was familiar to him. It was a perfect example of a student becoming bound by style.

While anyone who can master all of the traditional forms of even one classical discipline is worthy of respect, there is another approach to the martial arts.

Consider, if you will, some of the best martial artists and fighters. Bruce Lee, out of a sense of frustration with what he saw as the limitations of classical martial arts, created Jeet Kune Do which encourages individualism and expression. Bill Wallace created his own fighting style after suffering a knee injury – and retired undefeated. And today, mixed martial arts competitors like Georges St. Pierre, well, they mix martial arts!

What Does It Mean To Be Eclectic and Syncretic?

However, simply mixing martial arts is an over-simplification and misses the point of what we are trying to accomplish here. What I am talking about here is the difference between being the best one can be in style X or style Y, and being the best martial artist one can be. This cannot be achieved by a willy-nilly mixing of various styles.

What is required is an honest self-assessment. Look hard at yourself as a martial artist. Ask yourself: What are my strengths and weaknesses? What ought I to do about them? With the answers in mind, go out and study various martial arts. Be omnivorous and search without prejudice. The key to a break-through technique that takes your martial art to the next level may be anywhere and you will never find it by looking in the old familiar places.

I always tell the martial artists that I work with: Be eclectic in your learning and syncretic in your practice. What this means is to look everywhere for your knowledge and skills (eclectic learning) then blend them together (syncretic practice) to create your unique art (individualism).

As an example, a Tae Kwan Do high-kick and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu takedown, in the proper context, are both valid techniques. However, in practice, one would not want to try the kick then jump right into the takedown.  Rather, you consider how each technique might be modified so that it will be possible to transition from the kick to the takedown based on the reaction of your opponent to the kick, within the context of your physical abilities/limitations. Now, you have created a new technique, unique to you.

A Process Without End

One must bear in mind that any technique that you create will never be a finished product. You must continue to refine it throughout your martial arts career. In fact, at some point you may need to wholly abandon it. That is OK. It does not mean that there was anything wrong with that technique. It was the best idea in the context in which it was created. However, as you develop as a martial artist, the context of your abilities is constantly changing and your techniques must follow suit.

This continuous syncretizing of disparate elements is the key to what we are trying to accomplish here. That is the blending of techniques in a manner appropriate to our (continuously changing) physical abilities that will allow us to become the best martial artist we can be.

The prior discussion is not meant to imply that traditional martial arts should not be taught. On the contrary, traditional martial arts provide an essential physical and historical base to both the aspiring and the accomplished martial artist. What I am saying is that if one wishes to achieve their fullest potential as a martial artist, they must move beyond allegiance to any one style and seek a plurality of experience and training and meld this into a martial art that is unique to themselves.

Editor’s note: If you enjoyed this article, be sure to also check out other Martial Journal exclusive articles such Knowing Why We Train by Dane Manson and Toxic Martial Art Personalities by Jeremy Lesniak!

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Tim Roettiger

Tim (T.G.) Roettiger is a writer, biologist,martial arts enthusiast and Big Cat at Red Tiger Martial Arts & Meditation. He has a M.S. in Fishery Science and worked in that field for nearly 20 years.He has also published two fiction works: Founding of a Coven and Ex Libris Merlini. Though he takes a somewhat eclectic approach to the martial arts, the core of his training has been in Jeet Kune Do, Ted Wong lineage.

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