All to often we as reality based self defense students and teachers we forget where are roots came from. Some of us came from learning what we did wrong in previous altercations, and we became labeled "street fighters." Others of us came from a traditional background, learning and growing till we found what could be inproved upon in our training. Those of use from this background were given many names, Eclectic Martial Arts, Martial Scientists, Urban Survivalists, and many more. These backgrounds seem on opposite ends of the combat/self defense spectrums, but yet they are very much the same. Why were traditional styles created? So thats they could have a way of defending themselves. Isnt that why we study what we study? So that we can defend ourselves. To say that traditional styles never worked is a very ignorant and bold statement. In truth if they did not work the creators would have been killed and the styles would have never come as far into now as they have. But somewhere along that time line the styles were made useless. Could that be because Hollywood began to give the public an idea of what at one time was a great secret? After years of watching Bruce Lee, Chuck Noris, and other films labled NINJA or KUNG FU movies, the public was exposed and soon, thugs new what was coming when someone got into a "Karate" stance. There are many reasons to why the TMA were made less powerful as they were in times of old, Hollywood is just one theory. TMA were made useless by thugs with the sheer will to hurt and kill. Then the reality based creators came along, seeing what didnt work and wanting to correct it, they created systems that worked and overpowered those thugs who wiped out the TMA. They began to save lives with the knowledge they gave, but unlike the times of old, we have fast communication. Tools like the TV, Magazines and the Internet allowed money makers to jump on the RBSD bandwagon, and now they have blood on their hands, but we keep teaching growing and never giving up, because truth never dies(VERITAS NUMQUAM PERIT). I think now in times of people who will not think twice about teaching someting that will get a person killed, for the joy of a buck, we must remember why we study and teach this stuff, for survival, the same reason the masters of old did. In years to come who knows were our names will be, someday WE may be called traditionalist. We often get a bad rap from the TMA realm, but I believe that the creators of those styles look upon us, and are glad to see what we have done, survived, helped others survive and adapt and grow so that RBSD will survive. Sammy, Rich and some choice others will be the remebered ones, and if there is a place where real masters go, they will meet the creators of the original styles, and will be thanked for doing what was the original intention, not style...but real survival.
Train Hard, Fight Harder
xander
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