from Master Z's Facebook page
I admit I get fed up of hearing others put down certain arts and judge them on certain martial artists. I’ve heard Kung-Fu is not good for real combat. Listen, Kung-Fu is and was the fighting art of China. It is the father of Karate and has a history of thousands of years. There is history, yes… real history of Kung-Fu warriors who fought life and death in a daily basis. Not in a cage or a ring… I mean other warriors trying to defame and even kill them. This holds true to all classical arts though. There’s history of fighters from each art who lived their art and became heroes from their life. This holds true to every martial art system. To say that Krav Maga is bullshit is downright idiotic. If we’re talking the real Israeli Krav Maga as has been taught by the IDF for decades… we’re talking about what one of the toughest militaries in the world uses as their primary hand to hand combat system. Now, if it gets watered down to make it family friendly in today’s schools, that’s a different story. But a kick to the groin and a wedge hand the throat can be quite deadly in any situation.
How about hearing that grappling is ineffective in the street. I’m pretty sure a grappler is wise enough to realize that knowing how to strike is necessary. Relying on just ground fighting wouldn’t be so wise in a street situation. Just as not knowing how to grapple in a cage fight would be ridiculous. Situations differ and depending on your environment for real combat is what one will need to train in. On a one to one fight, grappling skills is a great advantage. In a street situation, striking and kicking… and possibly running is primary. To say that a certain martial art is not effective based on a person or a group of people who are under skilled is unjust. You can take a skilled fighter and train them with skills from any martial art… specially the arts that others call ineffective, and they will apply those skills effectively. We see that in the cage with fighters who use techniques from Kung-Fu, Karate, and other arts. It’s never the art that’s ineffective it’s the person applying them. I truly believe that a warrior athlete can train in any art form and be able to use it effectively. Proving that it’s not the art, but the artist.
Stay positive, respectful, and admire one another for the discipline and commitment. As martial artists we’re all in the same journey of personal betterment.
Strong & Inspired.
