Applications, applications, applications .... Oh, my!

I don't often speak of Isshinryu luminaries except in general terms, mostly. Today I read a post by someone who indicates he/she is in Harrill sensei's linage. He spoke of one of his traits, the understanding that Harrill sensei created from 800 to 1300 applications for the eight Isshinryu kata. This got me to thinking, "when did it become important to create or know such large numbers of applications or techniques?" Another question, "Why do American Isshinryu practitioners believe that to know so many applications means you are a master of Isshinryu or any system for that matter?"

First, it is not for self-defense in my book regardless of how those are packaged. As an instructor I can see having a full tool box of techniques to teach or draw on but what would the relevance be to that model? Is it possible in our drive to find some validation in what we do in Isshinryu that we are missing the ocean for the boat? 

I find that the systems is more a venue to draw personalities to something that provides a connection to others much like joining a tribe for survival. You join a tribe of "like minded people" with common beliefs and culture for survival so this may be the answer to systems, i.e. isshinryu, gojuryu, shorinryu, etc. I also feel that as schools became more connected to earning a living and  making a name for oneself the true practice shifted away from things like a principles model to a model for rank, trophies, competition, accolades and titles, etc. 

Don't misinterpret my post as sport aspects along with those esoteric models are good things when they provide a means for someone to improve themselves and their contributions or services to others but when it comes down to traditional combative values one is apples while the other is oranges with a definitive division between. 

Should I be impressed when someone stands in front of novices and speaks to the volume of what they know, to the volume of belts they have earned, or to the stack of trophies and awards and titles they can present? I also ask myself why I ended up taking a slightly different path than this one toward accolades and infamy as a master of Isshinryu. 

I feel Isshinryu is a venue that allows me to feel comfortable practicing but with an effort toward learning the finite principles of martial systems vs. one, two or a thousand techniques or applications. Trying to get a handle on possible scenarios in self-defense is impossible so finding relevant applications or technique specificities to cover the infinite seems - impossible or impossibly irrelevant. 

Then I ask, do the five hundred to thirteen hundred applications have some validation as to effectiveness outside of the dojo and in a real violent encounter? I have my doubts as those professionals that I have come to understand don't necessarily advocate this model to learn defense. If you want to tout about the volume of knowledge you have then it should be relevant to the situation. In defense knowing more about violence and all it entails, the defense in real life and how it all works before, during and after seem more importantly relevant. 

I am not picking on Harrill sensei, just using a quote on his vast knowledge of applications to ask questions and present theories for discussion. I don't readily accept any one person's idea of mastery without questioning. I have learned that what works for one may not work for another regardless of the professionalism and knowledge regardless of the quantity. Quality is far better, from my view. than quantity.