Is it acceptable to break with traditions so as to promote the natural evolution of any martial system? I believe it is not only acceptable but inevitable if the system is properly practiced.
Look at the recent history of Okinawan Karate. Since the late 1800's up to the present many of its adherents have broken with the traditions, supposed ones that is, and moved the system forward in a positive direction. Tatsuo Sensei appears to fit that mode. Even in the day, mid fifties, the other traditional leading proponents of their individual systems resisted his innovative changes. Seems normal human behavior to my view.
Regardless of human nature it still stimulated thoughts and idea's and now we have many systems of Okinawan karate vs. the original "one system" referred to as "Ti or Toudi." Toudi morphed into Naha, Shuri and Tomari Ti. I won't try to list all the off spring of those three main systems of Okinawan Karate - there are many.
Where I do resist breaking with tradition is when it is done simply to achieve notoriety - to achieve self-promotion to a master rank. In the early American years you would hear of this move but only a few actually did it. Today you see many, many masters both in a traditional system as well as systems created to meet individual goals - pride and ego fit in here somewhere too.
To break with tradition and cause evolution to succeed in the proper direction takes a good deal of practice, training and the gathering of an enormous amount of experience. Not the type that is gained from a sport orientation but rather an all-round orientation - sport, fighting and combative. Then what about philosophy, morals, and beliefs or are they understood to be a part of the system in transition?
No comments:
Post a Comment