(Approx 1 minute 40 second read)

Within the structured world of the martial arts, a practitioner’s journey extends beyond expertise in techniques. It’s also about cultivating a personal expression – a unique blend of technical proficiency and individual interpretation.
.
This pursuit of one’s “martial voice” isn’t a rejection of established forms, but rather a refinement. It’s about finding the optimal application of principles within the framework of a discipline, allowing for a practice that is both effective and uniquely personal.
.
Understanding lineage and the traditions passed down over generations is incredibly valuable and meaningful. However, remaining too faithful to tradition can sometimes be a problem. You need to innovate to keep tradition alive.
.
Blindly following tradition can lead to staleness. I believe that protecting tradition means moving forward. The parts you protect and the parts you innovate must progress in parallel. Otherwise, a hundred years from now, we will be doing exactly the same.
.
Many people are influenced by somebody or something that may not be practiced within their ‘style’. We learn from our experiences, after all.
.
Ultimately, karateka who have decades of experience, who have put in the training hours with the right teachers and mentors end up ‘doing their own thing’. While different approaches may exist within styles, the actual divisions between them can be quite minor. In the end, it’s still karate. Different styles merely serve to help others understand the origins or foundations of a person’s approach.
.
It’s about evolution, taking the foundational principles you’ve learned and building upon them, adapting them to your unique understanding and experiences. This process of innovation ensures that martial arts remain dynamic and relevant.
.
Some might argue that creating something new lacks authenticity or respect for tradition. However, the greatest masters we revere today were once innovators themselves. They took what they learned, experimented, and developed a different approach that suited them.
.
This cycle of learning, innovating, and teaching is what has allowed martial arts to thrive and evolve over centuries.
.
It doesn’t mean discarding tradition; it means honoring it by contributing to its growth. It means recognizing the timeless techniques and philosophies that work while also acknowledging that there is always room for improvement and adaptation.
.
Remember that every great martial art started as someone’s vision, a blend of what they had learned and what they believed could be improved.
.
温故知新 On Ko Chi Shin — “Study the old, understand the new.”