Kennedy made the remark that: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” Is this true of martial arts? I think some of it is, depending on your point of view.

Palgue forms came around about the time of the Vietnam war with the last two being developed in the early 70’s. The Pinan forms were developed at about the time the Wright brothers flew for the first time and Harley-Davidson made its first motorcycle.

While we still have airplanes and motorcycles they are much different because the science and knowledge about those things improved over time because people built upon foundation that was laid.

I agree with you that because something is new does not mean its better. Why develop new forms on top of new forms? I never understood that. What I learn from research was that angle and direction for attacks and where they used angle direction are important and significant. There is no doubt in my mind today that there are certain forms that allow us to know this angle, direction and where they should be applied; while other forms were developed by well meaning teachers who did not understand. They were messing around with true works of art when they changed a form, or created their own, being ignorant that there was a deeper purpose to the form. They were not simple, random movements.

I think today with all the ways we have of recording information there is no real need for the forms except that it is art. And the ones that should remain are those whose meanings existed to keep what was important documented by way of movements.

They are like a valuable painting done by a famous artist. Those forms composed by those who documented angle and direction for the purpose to have a record of what they uncovered or discovered – so that it could exist beyond their lifetime; passed on for others who would understand their meaning and enjoy – this is what we should treasure. Can you imagine if the Wright brothers or Harley and Davidson did not document via drawings and make notes so they could remember what they had tried?

You cannot change the laws of nature just as with flight. The mathematical formula is the same as it was for the Wright brothers though we understand it much better than they did and have improved on how to utilize it to our advantage. But the basic law has not changed.

I think for some, they enjoy art – and there are plenty to choose from. Others would rather learn something like Krav Magra in order to learn to protect them selves from guns, knives. How to throw a punch and kick, execute a take down and not have to worry about belts, uniforms and the formality of it all. They don’t want to be tied down to decades of learning. They just want to get to the point.

Others like the competition and would rather compete in fighting and kata competitions. There is little art there other than the competition. Originally, the art was not developed to be used against another who was trained in the same art. It later became that way in war and then in sport.

Paint ball is a good analogy to that. The idea was to have a better weapon to defeat the enemy, then the enemy usually figures out how to get your weapon and use them to defeat you, then strategies give the edge. Today, we have paintball teams using same equipment but using strategies to win the sport – everybody goes home alive.

All students of the traditional martial arts that practice forms have been taught about hidden self defense techniques contained therein. Yet when they are practiced many students will ask about a particular movement, “Did they really do that in a fight?” When they refer to a move that makes no sense to them and the teacher’s explanation offers no help either, they will always wonder why they do these “dances.” When a student is told that a move is a block and they know they would never use it in a real fight they truly loose a little faith in us all and start to move toward a system that is more suited for a fighter. There is nothing wrong with those types of programs if one wants to be a fighter but not everyone will stay in a rigorous fight training school. They just want good self defense. When they go to a self defense class that doesn’t do forms and perhaps includes firearms training they get what they want but the forms are no longer being passed down.

As instructors we all understand the aesthetic values of form practice such as breathing, conditioning, timing, and balance. Probably one thing I recognize in the value of form is the practice of moves that allow me to grow old in much better condition than many people my same age. The long stride of the forward stance keeps me from walking at a snails pace and the regular movements of forms help promote good flexibility and strength. However the understanding of the real self defense has been lost. I see this problem as two fold.

First, it is our responsibility as instructors to not just rest on our black belts and teach kids to fight in a tournament. We should endeavor to understand what we have already learned and are teaching, and not just learn another form for yet another promotion. The other problem is that there is no longer a need for the secrecy and that is where the defense classes that don’t do forms are so attractive to the unknowing prospective student.

As a traditional artist I truly love the forms we do but without good explanations for what we are doing we will chase our prospects to those other programs. Without the need for secrecy we have lost the need for forms. The students will get what they want from another program for a little while and then just quit. They will never understand the true value of “Lifestyle Martial Arts” or what a life study of the arts is really all about.

Contributions by: Master Rick L. Crose

I am a martial arts instructor and for over 25 years many parents have asked me what can be done to curb this problem. When I teach a self defense class I always emphasize the need for awareness. A criminal of any sort will always choose the easiest victim. A burglar will choose a house with no outside lights and no dogs in the yard or a rapist will always choose the woman that is alone in an isolated area, and a bully will always choose a timid or weak child to assault and therein lays a possible answer.

A person can place protections around his home and a lone woman can choose to start taking a friend or two but what about a child on the school bus? It seems that the school system, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that in any confrontational situation, both children will be punished. To me this seems an easy way to not deal with the real situation. This teaches the timid that they cannot win and will always be a victim. It also teaches a bully that he has very little to lose. Most of the bullies get disciplined regularly and don’t care, while the others that are trying to do good have a great deal to lose. We have taught them to just be the victim and I think that is an outrage.

For the school it is so much easier to chastise or punish both children than to investigate and take a stand on the side of the victim. A school bus has many witnesses and many buses have cameras so it should be fairly easy to get somewhere near the truth. When the real bully is discovered then the school administration should take swift and severe action against that person and YES, stand up and take the heat for the decision. When the leaders do not stand up for what’s right then they have failed us all miserably.

Most parents only want their children to be safe at school but this cannot happen as long as a lack of strong leadership exists. When parents ask me how best to deal with this rule I have always said something like, “I won’t encourage any student to break the school rules BUT, you should never let anyone at school hurt you.”

I am now taking a lesson from my own son. He is an adult now but in school he would stand up against any bullying situation. Being a brown belt gave him the confidence to stand up for the weak and do what needed to be done. It worked well because the violence on his bus ended. Most kids don’t have his obvious advantage but the knowledge of “safety in numbers” can go a long way toward giving them what they need to protect themselves.

I believe that self defense is an inherent right of all human beings and I will no longer say to any parent or child that they should just bow down. While most school children know very little about self defense there are always many many more of the good kids than there are of the bullies. From this day forward I will remind them that there is strength in numbers. (Remember the lone woman?) My thought is that the good children should be taught just how reprehensible the act of bullying is and that they should all stick together. If one of these events occurs they should swarm the bully and overwhelm him. Yes some may get a knot or a few bruises but when they learn how to take action as a group they will learn they no longer have to be a victim as they have been taught and they won’t have to be weak or afraid. The joy of no longer being afraid will far out weigh the sting of a few bruises. It is then that the self esteem and confidence we all want for our children will begin to grow and will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

When they learn that the unity of good people can be used to defeat the evil of the few then the fear will go away and it will no longer be necessary for worried fathers to board a school bus to protect their children. I think all parents would rather see a bus video showing about 10 good kids wailing the tar out of one or two bad ones than to see a violent episode where we all know the bully will face very little punishment. Going beyond the need for self defense just think about how much self esteem and confidence can be gained by timid children after being victorious against such an attack regardless of the knots.

Instead of teaching our children to stand by and become a victim we should empower them with a much more effective approach. Parents I will say to you now that this will not be easy but if it happens to your child then you absolutely have to stand next to him or her and face whatever heat the administration will bring down on you together. Don’t let your child fall victim because the school leaders are afraid of taking a stand for what is right. We must all unite and teach the kids to unite against this problem.

There are those that will say that this is a law enforcement problem but God bless them, law enforcement cannot be everywhere all the time. The same holds true for parents. To those in the school system I will say to you, we trust you with the safety of our children and for the sake of political correctness you do very little. When will you stand up for us.

After all, don’t most teenage suicides come from bullying or when you hear about one of these school shootings isn’t the shooter usually a long term victim of bullying? The good that can be done by courage on the part of the good is immeasurable.

One last thing for the ladies who may read this. Ladies, please please never be on a jogging trail alone and never drive a worn out car into a dangerous area. Use your good common sense. Always be aware of the potential danger of what you are about to do. This is a wonderful world but danger is lurking so please just take a friend or do the safest thing for yourself no matter how inconvenient.

In my opinion there is a far greater influence on a child than his karate teacher. In a student’s class he is taught to show respect at all times. He is required to bow and use his manners (saying sir or ma’am etc.) but at the same time he is shown respect by his peers and teachers. He is encouraged to do all that he can do and then is shown that he is still able to do much more. As he begins to learn what great feats he is truly capable of and that if he perseveres he will succeed at any endeavor he chooses, he gains a great deal of self-confidence. As his training progresses he will gain a heart felt respect and admiration for those teaching him. This, I believe, is where the breakdown begins.

As a parent of two (my youngest is 25) I can say that parenting is without a doubt the most difficult job on earth. Because of the constant exposure to his parents a child will sometimes ignore them and it seems that he just doesn’t care. Over the years many parents have asked me why this is so. “Why does he do so well in class and not at home?”

I can offer only one possibility. The most important thing to any child on the planet is to feel important to his parents. To feel that what he or she does is important and really matters to the ones he loves the most. Repeatedly I have seen children dropped off for class and picked up afterwards without any parental involvement what so ever. Of course no parent can, nor should be expected to attend each and every class, but remember what that child needs the most, his parents.

I highly recommend that in order to achieve the full benefit of martial arts training we form a partnership between us all. It is of great importance that the lessons be enforced at home but it is even more important for parents to be involved. Encourage your child and make him feel that what he does matters to you. Attend a few classes a month to monitor his progress. Let him know you are proud of his accomplishments and by all means be there for his rank examination and again for its presentation. When they know you truly care about what they do they will excel.

Help us help you. In the end you will find that the most important and influential lessons are not given at a karate school. The most important lessons are given at home.