Just started this new system

[Dragon77]

I just started training in this new system and I'm wondering if others have had the same experience I have had. My previous study has been with Parker's Kenpo (black belt), TKD, and a little Wing Chung. I found that all these systems (and others I have looked at) are nothing but politics and fantasy. I don't think that most martial art schools know what REAL fighitng is about.

Now I've started training in this Elite Fighter system and it's kicking my butt! I never knew that I knew so little. This system is awesome, but I'm a little frustrated because I wish that I didn't waste so much time in these other schools.

The training is hard, but I can already see that it is paying off. I just started learning some of the practice combat scenarios against grappling attacks. They are awesome and deadly! In a way I wish the architects of the system didn't teach it to the general public. It's so good that I want them to teach it only to certain people. Oh well.

My question is, are there black belts out there like me who found that their martial art just wasn't what it claimed to be?

Dragon77

[Tacticus]

I'm a black belt in kenpo. I thought I knew it all until I got choked out by Eric. It makes the kenpo approach to look like TKD one-step sparring.

I have found that my kenpo background makes it easy to transition into this system, though. I've never been so saor in my life. It took a couple of weeks to get the soarness out, but now I look forward to each training session - and you have no choice. They have a daily workout programmed for an entire year. Each day is different!

Tacticus

[pigram86]

Advanced Green in Am Kenpo. Quit training in 1996. Started back this year because my son wants to learn. Also so exp in shoalin KF.

[stormshadow]

As a long time Martial Artist and a new comer (as we all are) to the Elite program I felt compelled to respond to this post, because it has bearing on many of the other threads as well. The Specific question, in any system, is: “What does Martial Arts claim to be”. If the Life of the Martial Artist so Aimless that the heart and soul of this lifestyle is no more than a Quest to discover the most “effective, deadly, fastest, most powerful” style, then I must wonder what I have been doing with my life since I was 8 yrs old!

Regardless of anyone’s background or religion none will argue that change is ever constant. As the world is constantly changing, the people that make it up are changing, and thus the means by which we do battle changes as well. There is always a new “holy grail” when it comes to the Martial Arts. Some new means, that makes all that was before obsolete. Most of the time this new way or trick is just an answer to the change in the times. It may be the holy grail of Tai Bo, for the overweight who wish to disillusion themselves into thinking that they are really learning some means of self defense as well. Or it could be the holy grail of Brazilian Jujitsu that was, until recently, “undefeatable” in the setting of the UFC. None the less, the masses sing the praises of the new grail and defy they ever invested themselves into any other before.

Now I know with Martial Arts, all to often comes politics, and I know ALL TO WELL in every Martial Art, corruption of the Art’s original state runs rampant. It is refreshing to see a system that breaks some of the rules and allows itself to be readily available to anyone at any level. Still the moment the Elite system becomes a holy grail to anyone, it will already be on the course of degeneration. I would like to see that all who would study this, have a heart of humility. I personally know both the creators of the Elite system and they are humble men. Don’t judge this form on the basis of the street brawler who must go out and prove that the system works. Whatever the outcome in such a case, whether the system succeed them or fail them, THEY have already failed the system.

Every Martial Art can speak for itself. Over the years, I have invested time in achieving a First Degree Black in Tang Soo Do, First Degree Black in Tae Kwon Do, Fourth Degree Black in American Kenpo, Second Degree Black in Traditional Kenpo and I have invested countless hours in Wing Chuan, Arnis De Mano, and even Ninjitsu. And what does any of that amount to? Nothing, if my only purpose was to discover the next holy grail, because after 18 years, I still haven't found it! I chose the time I invested in one form or another, based on the heart of the training. Be it the wise Teacher, the friendly community of fellow students, or just a heart of the system itself, I chose to stay there and to press on in the training. I wouldn’t trade a day of any of my past training as it has brought me to where I am now. Let the system speak for itself, because our own arrogance can only corrupt what once was good.

What does any Martial Art claim to be? Well the heart of the Budo is not in the one who can count his winnings above all others. Instead the true Budo finds in the Martial Arts a way to cut away their own imperfections. They find an endless quest to be the most perfect that they can be, not only in the ways of war, but also in their quest for Knowledge and Truth, in their ways of Intellect and their Spirit. True Budo is not found in winning, but in the constant struggle within yourself. I venture to say that all Martial Arts, at least in their inception, were at heart, a guide in this struggle.

[Cord the Seeker]

:confused:
What was all that about sotrm shadow? It sounds like you treat martial arts like a religion. Well, I guess so Budo and all.

I have two more questions before my lesson.

1. I am not in fighting shape. What's expected out of me?

2. (I mean this in a respectful way) This isn't some fly-by-night deal is it. I mean, how long is it going to be around?

Cord

[administrator]

Your responses are very good. Thre will be a new forum added soon that will be for announcements and rules of posting. I want to make sure everyone stays respectful and yet have freedom of expression.

For Cord:

1. We are not expecting any level of physical fitness or martial arts ability when you start out. We do have certain expectations when you go to the ranking trials. A general rule of thumb for fitness recovery is: for every year that you have been out of shape, allow at least one month to get back in shape. Each rank has a training program that takes one year to complete if you follow it exactly. I will let Maximus speak more about that.

2. We have made this a lifelong commitment, the system is here to stay. Many component's have been put in place to keep the system ongoing and fresh.

For Storm Shadow:

There are no politics in our system. Every member must undergo the trials, including the creators of the system. This was put in place to get everyone in shape, and to keep the system active and vital in each of its practitioners.

Administrator

[Dragon77]

Hey, "Storm Shadow" that was a great essay!

NOT!!!

Please, no more psycho-babel. That's the junk I wanted to get away from here in Boston.

Don"t ruin it for the rest of us.

-D77

[administrator]

It appear that this thread has run its course. Let's stay focussed on the main issues presented with the opening of each thread. This thread is now closed.

Administrator.