In my 20+ years of teaching I have seen hundreds, maybe thousands of students (see past blog post) pass through the doors of the school. I have had anyone from the person with no experience at all to the person who is at an accomplished level in another style train with me. The one thing that I always watch with experienced martial artists is the attitude they bring with them. I always ask about previous experience because I love seeing what types of styles are out there and hearing a bit about how they train. Once I get past this initial discussion and we are training, everybody trains the same way and everybody starts from the beginning of our system.
It has been interesting watching the reactions of trained martial artists as I break the news to them. Some have an excellent attitude and are very happy to learn everything from scratch whereas others will be taken aback by the suggestion that they need to start with learning stances and blocks. A true martial artist understands that every style is not the same and you need to learn from the beginning to become proficient at a style. Those that do not understand this normally don't remain in the class as they are too busy pouting instead of learning. I have even had one young man insist that he come to the advanced class as his first class....of course that was met with a thanks but no thanks response. Demanding anything as you meet your potential instructor is probably an indication that you are not ready for my class.
I would suggest that those that are determined to try a new style of martial arts should completely clear their minds of previous training as they enter the door because there are likely many things that are taught differently than the previous style. This is not to say that one is right and one is wrong but rather that theories differ between styles. Having an open attitude is the best way to learn the new style quickly.
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I have put some thought to this topic myself based on some conversations about these situations with you Sifu.
It comes to my mind that if a senior/experienced student is trying to "switch" styles it would mostly be for one of two reasons (barring a distant relocation). Either they have mastered their own and they want to expand their knowledge and experience, or they are frustrated with the class they are currently in.
If it is the former, then the person should be experienced enough a student/instructor to know that they would have to start from scratch in a new style. It would be assumed and thus not an issue.
If it is the later, then the person may be facing hurdles in their own style (personality conflicts even) and possibly not advancing as fast as they would like so they try to find shortcuts to advancement elsewhere. I would imagine that someone changing for this reason would only end up with the same frustrations in another style.
If someone is new to martial arts, then switching around would be common place as they find their prefered style and class atmosphere and starting from scratch wouldn't be an issue.
I believe the motive for someone changing styles is reflected in their attitude towards begining from scratch.
Just my two cents.
Great insights, JP!!!
While fully agreeing with Sifu and JP, I would like to point out one very good reason to switch "school":
if your body is getting long-term damage; especially if this is result of improper training. we all get bruises, but if my knee is been dislocated every 2 months, i'd rethink my school's training method. even professional martial artists (ESPECIALLY professional martial artists) make sure their training method is safe!
Note, i said "school", not "style".
You are certainly right Kai, there will be many reasons for people switching schools/styles.
If we take your example and say someone switches for health concerns, the question then becomes what is that person's attitude towards the new class? Is switching in that situation not out of an existing frustration? How will they react to having to start over again? Will they become frustrated again over time when/if they reach the same limits?
Every body has limitations independent of the training style. True, some bodies are more suited to one style or another as those styles were designed with those body types in mind. But a student has to understand their limits and train within them, albiet pushing them, regardless of the style.
Is a student who is going past their limits not trying to advance faster then their bodies will allow? Will the act of switching schools/styles at that point not be an attempt and getting around those limitations?
That is not to say that the student is in the wrong, far from it, the student in that case is interested and ambitious in his training and that dedication should be commended. But in my mind, this is where martial arts becomes a great teacher of humility. Understanding your own limitations is a frustrating thing and it requires patients to overcome them.
I myself have a sever limitation of asthma. It is not a mild case and it limits my training considerably, more than my mind and spirit care for. So some of my observations on this are from experience.
On the word of safety however, there is no such room for patients. In the situation you mentioned I have to ask, is it one student who's knee is injured or all/most students? If it is all/most/more than one, then I would say there is a fundamental flaw in the training and students should all run away. If it is one student then it raises my question above about personal limitations.
And because I have a good instructor, i wasn't thinking of a ... how to put it politically correct... 'not so good' instructor that allows their students to train unsafely didn't really cross my mind.
The core of Sifu's posting is how do people react to a new school when they already have experience regardless of the reason for changing. I tried to explore some of the reasons for changing to try and explain those reactions and open up a dialog as to WHY people change in general and how that reason affects their attitude.
A person's attitude to training comes from within, as do most of our frustrations and limitions in our training. My point in the end, is that we carry those attitudes with us to a new style/school because they are part of us and not always a product of the style we come from.
Nice post.
I am a practitioner of Okinawa Kenpo (18 years). Last year, I started taking Tai Chi in addition to Okinawa Kenpo.
I enjoy "starting at the beginning".
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