There are pre-requisites to this question and the answers. A prerequisite or set of prerequisites:
A. A certain amount of experience in teaching, practicing and applying the system in question.
B. A certain amount of proficiency of "making it work" in the appropriate contexts.
C. A certain age of the proponent of the system.
D. A certain number of years in the system.
E. The ability to answer the question, is it needed? Is it beneficial? Does it work?
This is the minimum. If you cannot answer it an affirmative then you don't need to change the system. Change simply for the sake of change is not good for the system. It may be beneficial for an individual in practice only but for the system and especially for teaching of the system do not change it unless you can address all the requirements and specifications.
Most of those who made changes to karate had spent the time, effort and gained reality experience before even considering a change. In a lot of cases the changes were geared more toward a specific philosophy of the practitioner - the system adherent. Often those changes are of a subtle nature and none of the fundamental principles of martial systems changed - they can't or they lose the status of principles and undermine the foundation of a working system.
When you do reach a point where you meet or exceed the prerequisites then you still have to vet the change. In a short version the following questions need to be answered before trying to change the system as a whole by its parts or specifications.
Specifications to Change:
1. To add a feature.
2. To fix a broken feature.
3. To improve on a feature.
4. To optimize the system for a specified and accepted feature.
In most cases the addition of a feature is a more esoteric change that is governed by:
"The work of art is always produced by a certain person in a certain time and place, and it is always related to its author's other works, his contemporaries, his sources and traditions, his intellectual, political, economic, and aesthetic climate. Background materials that can help the modern reader grasp the ideas or catch the flavor of a literary work of the past serve a valid and necessary purpose." - Damon Knight, "Creating Short Fiction: The Classic Guide to Writing Short Fiction."
To bring that into a direct form I would say that the person instituting the change only does so because the current time and place as to the current customs and morals of the time and place; the persons intellectual level; the climate of the times; the persons background and the ideals of the society as to ramifications if the change or addition of the feature is validated.
This would also apply to all the four specifications because it would be a critical matter. If a feature that was once valid and worked suddenly begins to fail it must be determined that the failure is due to the reasons above. If the failure is indicative to an individual regarding such as application at the moment, etc. all features of a system fail in this instance. It must be determined that the broken feature transcends the individual and is indicative of all applications at every moment. A very difficult spec to determine.
Lets step up and add both to any and all improvements. It must be necessary to all the reasons already provided. It applies to the optimization of the entire system.
It also must be asked, does this require change or simply dropping from the system entirely. This last is important for the moment you lose it you have changed the original classical intent of the originator's intent in creating the system. This is neither a good or bad thing but rather a step taken with extreme caution.
Change is inevitable, it is nature's way and it governs all life and all living things on Earth. Don't enter into this lightly or quickly.
p.s. this part is only provided because it is usually the reason most change the system or amend the system; to justify commercial gains and the pronouncement of mastery and the highest rank of the martial arts - 10th Dan.
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
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