When Contests Happen

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

I cannot tell you how many stories I have heard over the last forty plus years how contests are used as proof to advocate one system or style over another. Where such contests like the early ones used to determine the superiority of say boxing over judo or boxing over karate. This is simply not possible, valid or accurate. 

The adequacy of any given discipline from MMA to Karate to Judo to Ju-jutsu does not depend on the system or style but of the practitioner. It comes down to mind-set, mind-state, practice, dedication and a myriad set of physical factors involving conditioning, health, fitness, etc., each one with the ability to contribute or detract from victory. 

In the end, it is not about any system or style but the ability of a practitioner, regardless of system or style, who can apply his or her fundamental principles of combatives, fighting and defense - in the moment - to achieve their goals (in the case in question, victory). Regardless of the system or style if a proponent of that system or style applies their principles superior to the adversary they will be victorious and if not, they will suffer defeat.

No one system or style holds as superior over anther but the practitioner’s ability to apply fundamental principles superior to other practitioners is the true test - a test between practitioners, not systems or styles. It is impossible to compare and determine superiority of a system or style that relies on humans in their applications. There is only the ability to test the superiority of two humans in any given moment, regardless of the system or style involved, in the application of principles, at any given moment. 

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