Under what circumstances is it appropriate to innovate or adapt a TMA to suit individual needs?

Innovation - introducing something new, a new method or idea.

Adaptation - something that is changed or modified to suit new conditions or needs

(Both are the definitions as I see them fit for this question, and pulled from Dictionary.com for any citing.)

I personally believe that there is very little if any innovating left to be done with any traditional martial art, as a whole. I feel this way based on the simple fact that there are more than 6.8 billion people on this planet, and enough of them (no matter how small the number) have studied martial arts or fighting practices since the dawn of time. That being the case, any combination of movements (for power, economy of motion, etc) have been discovered and practiced. It is only logical to think so, considering the limits of the physical ranges of motion of the human body. (This 'limit' is not to be drawn up as few motions, but what is truly the expended variances of the average human body, as hundreds of thousands, to millions of people over the course of time have actually put in a quality effort in studying human anatomy and its martial applications.)

That said, if you haven't seen it before, then it is new to you. Which means, that feeling the need to expand on what you know is innovating (but from your own perspective).

Innovation, is a part of martial arts from the individuals perspective, and if it is something to 'better' suit them, then so be it. I feel that it would be appropriate after having experienced as much learning as they can feasibly afford. (IE:traveling to different schools, other countries, or even interacting with the military or certain LE branches... as long as it is something that the individual can afford.)

As far as adaptation is concerned, I feel that it is always appropriate to adapt whenever necessary. Adaptation is simply an aspect of life. When is it necessary to adapt a martial art??? It is always necessary. However... however, the population as a whole seem to forget that martial arts are a living system of study. People tend to forget that martial arts have lasted thousands of years. (That's martial arts as a whole, not Karate specifically, etc for the naysayers.) They have consistently adapted to the changing times. The reason that martial arts have been able to withstand the test of time is NOT "this block works for that punch every time, etc" BS. No, it is because martial art studies are based on principle. It's just like math... You learn the principle and apply it to any equation that is appropriate. If it is not, simply choose another principle.

That is how I feel for myself, and it is why I don't feel a need to set out 'improving' anything or creating a 'new' martial art. I have studied a wide enough range of martial arts and have spent time in the military, along with having friends and family in the LE world to understand the necessary adaptations of my art which already exist... as long as I know where to look.

As far as other people are concerned... eh, I could care less. I may not agree with how soon somebody tries something, or may argue counter to their 'creation' as being 'original', but that honestly isn't my concern. I feel that if I pursue tma the way I am, and have been, and pass it on to the best of my abilities, I will be doing a good job. I feel that the truth often outs itself through the holes in propaganda.

I'm at work and rushing a bit. I may need to clean this up later...

There are a lot of innovations concerning teaching people given new technology and wealth. So I believe teaching methods have generated new ones. Techniques have mostly stayed the same and only been modified. There are more limited potential innovations when it comes to the actual techniques themselves. I would say almost all of them are not innovations, but modifications in recent times.

Adapt parts of an TMA to the goal in question. If the goal has changed from the past, then the methods should not properly be the same as in the past.

For an example of a teaching method innovation, I would point towards the principles part of TFT vs an equivalent system that uses the method of visual observation or technique mimicry as the way to learn. Then there's the "do it 1,000 times" method to learning. Those aren't new, but as a complete system, it can indeed be an innovation. It's hard to say if the original masters ever did any of that. They probably did explain principles at one time or made people repeat a motion a thousand or so times a day. But the innovation these days is that we are creating a system, rather than taking pieces and putting them together ad hoc. A learning system, not just a martial arts system.

I like what Katanas Revenge has said and agree. I will say this.

If you are not already learning through innovation and adaptation then you are not a martial artist.

If you are not teaching your students with innovation and adaptation then you are not a teacher, just an autocratic dictator that takes someones money and gives them nothing useful for their particular needs.

That being said, The basics are the basics. Everyone must learn basic movement, body mechanics, timing, power generation etc. The basics should always be taught as much as possible within the guidelines of the system they come from. You definitely need a baseline to work from. You have to have a strong root system before you can grow a strong and resilient tree. If the root system is weak the tree will fall in a strong storm. Having a good solid baseline to work from allows you to relate back to something when you are exploring what is right for you, without jeopardizing your safety within your practice.

As we are all somewhat similar, in many ways we can do things in similar ways without any tailoring process. We are also quite different in many ways also. Due to those differences we have to look for what works for us.

A good instructor can read each individual and work with them as individuals and give them the best for them along with challenging them in areas they need to grow in.

This should be a continuous iterative process for your entire Martial Arts experience.

Look at all the different styles, theories of motion, and mind sets taught in the Martial Arts.

That should be the first clue that there is plenty of room to grown and many different areas to grow in.

The interesting thing is that you can actually engage in this iterative process of innovation and adaptation without ever leaving your base system. Look at all of the different practitioners within your system, they are not all carbon copies of each other. They are not cloned. They do have their individuality.

When the student gets a bit older and it's difficult to do the same moves when he was younger. My instructor told me to modify some of the technique combinations because my hips are not the same like they used to be. I just turned 49 a few days ago. My instructor asked me to do a front kick instead of a round kick for certain combinations. My front snap kick doesn't exactly whip in and out like it did when I was in my twenties. But at least it's easier for me to do a front kick than a round kick.

These are not major innovations, but modifications to make it easier for me to do my martial art. But I have to remember the original technique in case I ever teach, so that I can teach the original technique to my students, even if I can not do the technique myself.

I forgot to give my definition of Traditional Martial Arts. I consider Kajukenbo to be a TMA because all the techniques come from TMA from Asia: Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, Okinawan Kenpo Karate, Escrima, Gung-fu. Kajukenbo is not really an MMA because we are not training to compete in the UFC. We are a hybrid or eclectic martial art. It's just that our founder came up with the idea to combine martial arts back in 1947. We have titles, belt rankings, uniforms, forms ( katas ), we are taught respect and discipline. What's a bit non-traditional about Kajukenbo is the philosophy and the training methods. Instead of an Asian philosophy, we are taught to do anything to survive a street fight. And the training methods are dangerous and violent. Probably more dangerous than MMA training methods. Maybe Kajukenbo straddles the fence of TMA and a modern street combat self-defense system. But I still identify myself as a practitioner of TMA.

We at our school have been adapting T M A to people with handicaps for years. It is fairly obvious that a person in a wheelchair can not perform poomsae like someone who has use of two legs. We adapt the poomsae to fit the students disability. We teach alternate self defenses including one step drills.

We also offer alternate training for self defense only for the student who may either ot want a traditional martial art or already train in one and feels that it is not up to the task of their particular circumstances such as military service of security posting such as body guard, or bouncer. In these situations the logistics are different than pure self defense. It is defending someone else perhaps inserting yourself in harms way or subduing someone while avoiding a law suit for excessive force.

Wow so many great answers. Material here to start a book! While we are traditionalist at our school we believe in what works best for the student. Having more than one art at our school has given us incite. We do alter for the advanced student something that will suit their individual need after they learn the traditional first and it is flat out not working for them because of their individual physiology.

Katana's Revenge has our philosophy nearly nailed.

MAs should be taught unmodified. The applications are in the Forms(Katas). Some applications arent obvious.

Everyone interperates the applications and uses differently. The individual martial artist will use applications that feel most comfortable for them to use.

That is how lineages are created over time. I have observed Sifus of the same lineage practice their arts and appear very different because they have adapted their art to meet their individual needs. The MAs are the same but just interperated differently.

My Sifu would encourage his student to watch dvds from other masters so we can see how other might interperate the applications of the art.

katana has it right on. I will add my own opinion.

I believe there has to be a balance in training. I don't like those martial artists who close themselves up to all other styles. They think very linear. (One way and only one way.) They don't understand differences in body type and background can make a difference in technique execution. There's also those who go the other extream. The "More is better" sort of mentality. They think "If I learn BJJ and then Mauy Thai, throw in a little Judo on the side, I'll be a lot better than those poor suckers who spend years learning just karate!" Oh how wrong they are. They become practicionars of many styles, but masters of none.

It is important that when you decide to take martial arts, you practice hard to build a good solid foundation. You practice even though you can't understand why. A welder just learning, will spend hours just putting beads (welds) in a solid piece of metal. You're not doing anything. He has to know his machine. How it works, what a good bead looks like, and how to properly clean them or else he'll never be able to weld two pieces of metal together. The same with martial arts. A lot of people dismiss tai chi as a useless style. Well they don't realize to do Tai Chi they have learn to walk and move properly. Otherwise, all their tai chi down the road won't be anything but crap.

I hear a lot of people here who say "Well I've taken a year of karate, and now want to improve. What goes well with Karate?" NO! They don't even know how karate goes well with karate! They think they are masters now, but yet they have to ask still. It's not what style goes with what style, but what style goes with the practicioner.

Once you've achieved that solid foundation. You understand the theory of the style. That's when you can play with it, and add variety. But this understanding takes years of practice and training.

why would you not.

great answers by katana's revenge, stillcrazy and aaron j

the wheel has been around for thousands of years, the basic concept has never change, but it has still evolved. from a round stone to a robber tire, or one made of steal, but it is still a wheel.

tma doesn't mean we dont change. techniques need to be adjusted to individual all the time, not everyone moves the same way.

contrary to popular belief tma does evolve. look at the videos of shotokan from the 40's and 50's to today shotokan has change quite a bit. or for that matter any tma style.

many tma style evolve over time. and change according to the person practicing the style. you need to work to your strengths, and in some case modify a technique to your own body.

as they others have said basics are basics, but the advances levels get modified.

we learn from the past but we build on it to make it our own.

there are only so many ways to kick and punch, they have all been invented already. they only thing different is the way you modify it for your body.

front stance is still front stance, whether you do a deep long stance or a short high stance. they are still a front stance.

eventually we adapt techniques to our own bodies it is only natural.

If you talk to some strict traditionalists it is never appropriate in their minds but I don't totally agree with that as that style had to start somewhere and has probably changed or evolved some from what it started as. In fact there was just a question the other day about Shorin-ryu and that is one of the things about many Japanese and Okinawan styles. They can trace their origins from that style and a difference in opinion or philosophy about something in it that someone had and who then broke away and started his own style based on that.

There are I think two times when it is appropriate for something to be changed or altered that immediately come to mind. The first is in regards to training and training methods and many things are known more about the human body now and the way it works. I think back of how we used to stretch for instance and the ballistic type stretching that was often over emphasized in martial arts in the 60s and 70s. That has been found to largely be ineffective or a poor approach for enhancing and building flexibility and I can think of several other training aspects that have benefited or improved because of science and what is now known and changes that they have helped bring about. The use of plyometrics and circuit type weight training are two other innovations that have helped in the area of training and also there are other numerous aspects to this when you consider innovations in training equipment and apparatus that are now available for a person to more easily reach their fullest potential. Training in just a bare, sparsely equipped, room with hardwood floors and no mirrors has been replaced by something more and in some ways something better than what some from the past might recognize or be willing to accept.

The other time I think it is appropriate is when some techniques no longer apply or have a strong basis. I still teach those techniques and the reasons behind them but in application they are outdated to some extent. An example of this is the spear hand thrust which you see in many kata and is still taught in many styles today but is much less emphasized now in martial arts. Most people don't train for using and doing this type of strike and some of the reasons behind doing it no longer apply like they once did several hundred years ago. Another technique is kicking with the toes and there was just a question about that last month. That was once used and encouraged by Okinawans and Japanese but many westerners having longer digits and wearing shoes much of their lives brought about a change concerning this. Curling the toes up became more widely accepted and used and is what many have adopted now especially in the Western cultures where martial arts is taught.

Beyond these things I can also think of several other times when changing or altering something are appropriate and my testing and promotion requirements for instance are in some ways more stringent and more encompassing than those of my more traditional counterparts. For many years I have included the Judo method of falling as well as various chokes long before MMA came onto the scene as well as ground fighting aspects and ways to better control that situation and defend yourself. Many of these aspects have only been taught or emphasized since the advent of MMA in allot of stand-up styles and show how times sometimes warrant and help to bring about changes I think.

It's good to see katana back answering. I look forward to his responses.

I'm not sure about innovate. There is nothing new under the sun. To be innovative is to do something new. I see and hear people talk about doing something so new. But when I see it it is all the same with a different name.

Adapt. You are always supposed to adapt. Mushin the mind of no mind. This alone speaks of adapting to the environment or circumstance.