"Students who stick with just one teacher are sitting on the corner of a table unable to comprehend that there are three other corners"
I found this statement in "Okinawan Karate" by Mark Bishop. It was made by Yuchoku Higa, a Shorin-Ryu karate master who was 70 years old when the first edition was written.
Tao
Favorite Answer
I think that statement has some validity to it, but it depends on your perspective.
If your teacher is a brilliant mathematician and communicator, and all you want to learn is math - you are in the right place.
If your teacher is Freddie Roach, and you enter a grappling contest you are in the wrong place.
My personal view is that there is a definite need for the experts in their fields as well as the "jack of all trades". I would rather see an ortho specialist for a broken bone than a really great GP. But we need both.
This principle applies to martial arts too. A coach who can teach wrestling, jiu jitsu, 6 different weapons, muay thai, and capoeira is probably not too great at any of those things, or maybe 1 of them. There's nothing wrong with being good at a lot of stuff if that's your calling. There's definitely strength at being great at one thing if that's your bag, too.
I do have a problem with people who don't acknowledge that the table has other corners, though. I had a kickboxing coach who freaked out when I clinched with him and threw an inside uppercut. "Don't hold onto my arms!" He told me that if you are good enough people can't hold you. Well, I had just clinched with him and got better position...That lopsided and unrealistic view of the world just dumbfounds me.
Zenlife
I totally agree!!!
But I would suggest 5 areas of the table the base art being in the centre of the table and the other four being in the corners.
Mine would be as follows....
Shotokan karate ( corner 1 )
Aikido ( corner 2 )
Japanese Ju-jitsu ( Centre )
Filipino arts Arnis,Eskrima etc ( corner 3 )
Wing Chun ( corner 4 )
Again it can also be defined on what is nearest to you to attend or what you are young enough to practice ( Muay Thai ) I'd dearly love to do but with being 46yrs old I don't wanna go full contact with a seasoned 18 - 25yr old someone.
Hope this helps as it really depend on your current age,ability and choice of available styles to you.
Best wishes :)***
Liondancer
Very well said. I totally agree. I do think though that one should stay with one teacher if possible and get really good basics before 'exploring the other three corners'.
To lolcat
Who sits on a table like that? When I sit on a table my back is turned to the other corners of the table.
?
True
Anonymous
like most generalizations, it has a ring of truth, but fails to really address the issue-
the issue here is that many teachers don't teach or encourage one to go out and see what else is out there and/or learn other styles to add to whatever you are learning in that one class.
basically that is more widespread today because of the financial issues of trying to "keep" students in and hope they don't find something better.
a quality teacher shouldnt' worry about that and have enough confidence that if you see 100 other schools and different styles, you will still stick with them regardless if you start training elsewhere as well.
the general intent of the statement is true and should be taken to heart, but the practical matter of training with 4 teachers at once might be cost prohibitive if you come from a school with a teacher with a multilple art background and actually studying with someone else versus seeing what is out there and making that determination for yourself based upon your individual goals ("do i want to become an accomplished submission fighter or is learning to defend myself somewhat and focusing primarily on striking?" or "do i want to roll, screw the strikers?" type of individual goals).
but one should expose themselves to other teachers and arts to at least see what is out there-
i think a statement more along the lines of "buying without shopping around" might be more appropriate, but the heart and intention of the statement is completely valid.