Traditional martial arts.?

I have been questioning my art lately, when I was younger when I learnt kempo my instructors were really committed and trained us hard...





recently I started kempo again, I taught it would be the same in my adult years, but my first night back...I seemed to be alot fitter than most of the higher ranking grades, (they were puffing after about 10 minutes, we went into kicking techniques without warmups or stretching, and apparently were not allowed to do some sparring because to many of us are making contact and not doing enough circling, as I like to do a straight punch which i taught is quite effective.





Im just really confused, although have learnt how to use the nunchucks the first month, I feel that my fitness didnt improve at all. and I notice that the blackbelts are adamant about sharing information why is that? Im thinking of the traditional ways of secrecy, but I think its getting rediculous.





can someone please shed light on this subject or your take on it...I need enlightning

Traditional martial arts.?
Things always change over the years, just like a karate school and it's instructors do. For about 10 years I was a member of a TSD assoc. and when I returned with my son for lessons as a new student (he was 6 years old at the time), we were given the COLD shoulder, they knew who I was. I told him we had to leave and we did and I explained it to him out in the parking lot, I never looked back nor have any contact with them again. I was a 2nd dan black belt when I left and in about a year was able to take my 3rd dan exam test, I left on very good terms back then and some of the other black belts were good personal friends.





We have been into Kenpo Karate for just over ten years now and I know from the past that most instrustors don't share info/techniques with new students, it takes some time to build confidence and trust. So give it some time to see if things start getting better or, try another Kenpo school if there is one within your location.





The Tang Soo Do school was 15 minutes from my home and the Kenpo school was almost an hour drive. The Kenpo classes were very different from what I did in the past, 1/2 hour of work out, techinques, Katas on Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays and Saturdays. We started with Yellow all the way through Black and Tuesdays %26amp; Thurdays after class we sparred for those who wanted too. Saturdays were for the advanced students only, weapons and heavy hitters...in black belt sparring, witch included ground grappling. Colored belt ranks could show up to work on katas %26amp; techniques mostly on there own but, if stuck on something we would help you out.
Reply:yes it is what happen when a Martial Art get "Westernized", finish the teaching of the Masters, now everyone is affraid of law suit and so on. Black belts are not really black belts just teacher favorites because you could be Black belt in one year. What is that????????
Reply:I think the traditional martial arts is still good once u know the techniques %26amp; have the mastery in it.





Learn more it's techniques %26amp; enjoy while u are performing.
Reply:you should change your martial art to a full contact one like kyokushin karate or muay thai.


Something like this happened to me to.the first year I went to a karate school we sparred full contact with gloves but when more little kids came at the school,it turned into a McDojo and and he started telling us about chi and inventing new taxes that he told us that he pays to the federation.I looked at the federation's site and found out that there were no such taxes and left the school
Reply:What I think you're describing is what's happening to many martial arts here in America. They become less martial over time. Try to find a more traditional dojo.
Reply:Well...





Welcome to modern day martial arts...





As many martial arts here in America evolve, they become commercialized...





MMA and ground fighting systems are taking its toll on traditional schools and it is difficult to say the least for many schools to keep students wit the type of discipline that you experienced when you first started to study.





Many Black Belts of Today would not stand a chance against green belts from the 70's.





But that is the way society has changed...We want it but we don't want to work hard for it...So we search until we can find the least amount of resistance to find ways of attaining what we want...





Hence...So many Paper Tigers...





I recommend that you train yourself physically on your own ( self discipline) which is better anyway and go for the knowledge and practice what you have learned until it becomes natural.
Reply:I like what Bruce M said.I would consider another place to study. Maybe a different style might challenge you.You might just be better than you thought.
Reply:Traditional Martial Arts are best. Unfortunately, many schools don't uphold traditional standards.
Reply:It seems that the higher ranking students don't do any work or conditioning outside of the class. They probably have no real commitment to it. It actually seems somewhat like a McDojo if everyone is out of shape. My shaolin-do school encourages people to exercise and practice outside of class and has a very in depth warm up portion at the begginning of each class (over 10 minutes.).





All the martial arts I've taken have good warm ups. I'd advise looking for a better school (if there is one)..
Reply:Yup, you dweeb. Traditional martial arts suck. They are useless unless your looking for show and flash. Kata and Cash. "black belts" don't tell anyone anything anymore because the don't know anything. They may be able to do kata or tag but don't think for a minute they will help you in any real self-defense application or anything even close to real life. Traditional Martial arts are for those who want to look good and wear a retarded belt about their waist. It makes them feel better about them selves. Even if they may be laying in a hospital bed because they just got the **** kicked out of them in a real fight. Tradition is worthless, as it is taught today. Keep with tradition and try to defend yourself against a real fighter, see how that works out for ya.





Yup, luv ya babe. Think about a pink belt instead of your black one.
Reply:Sounds like a McDojo to me. I say find a better school more suited to your needs.Also any place that emphasizes technique without conditioning is usless in my opinion you can know 1,000 techniques but if you have a 5 minute wind how much can you reallypull off in a real fight?