| Rarely do I even take pen in hand (so to speak) when | | | | we have? Not that many. Now at their time, there is |
| I have just read or heard something that has struck | | | | little room to argue that all three of these men were |
| that one final nerve that I had left for the day. | | | | superior boxers with those four punches. |
| However, this time I feel compelled to put my thoughts | | | | Now let's say that there are approximately 1,000,000 |
| onto paper immediately if for no better reason than to | | | | people here in the United States that are actively |
| get it off my chest. Now this particular thorn in my side | | | | practicing Jujitsu. Now obviously there are more than |
| has been going on at nausea for quite awhile and has | | | | four primary moves in Jujitsu, but for arguments sake |
| seen little or no change except for the so called | | | | and ease of understanding let's say that there are only |
| "style-of-the-day," which in this particular case happens | | | | four. Is every practitioner of Jujitsu a superior Jujitsu |
| to be Jujitsu and the grappling arts. | | | | practitioner? No! Even though they all know the same |
| Now before all of you Jujitsu/grappling fans get your | | | | four techniques, do they all execute them exactly the |
| panties all in a bunch let me say that I have also | | | | same? Again the answer would be, No! |
| experienced this attitude from individuals in Tae Kwon | | | | Now out of all of those people, how many of them are |
| Do, wrestling, boxing, Jeet Kune Do, and some so | | | | from the legendary Gracie family? I don't know the |
| called "self-defense" styles. All of which have occurred | | | | exact number for sure, but I know they have a fairly |
| in the past several months. | | | | large family so let's say twenty. Now you would be |
| Now I know that no matter what I say, there are going | | | | hard press to say that these individuals weren't |
| to be those of you out there that absolutely will not | | | | superior Jujitsu practitioners. |
| open your minds and listen to someone whose | | | | In order to finish this comparison let's once again say |
| viewpoint just so happens to differ from yours. | | | | that there are approximately 1,000,000 people here in |
| Attempting to talk to those types of individuals is akin | | | | the United States that practice Tae Kwon Do. Once |
| to beating your head against a brick wall. Sure you can | | | | again it is obvious that there are more than four |
| hit the wall as hard as you want and as many times | | | | primary kicks in Tae Kwon Do, but for arguments |
| as you want, but you still won't move the wall. | | | | sake and ease of understanding we are going to say |
| Therefore, if you are one of these people, do yourself | | | | that there are only four. Is every practitioner of Tae |
| a favor and stop reading this article and go on to | | | | Kwon Do a superior kicker? No! Even though all of |
| something else, because you are just going to be | | | | them learn the same four kicks, do they all execute |
| wasting your time. | | | | them exactly the same? Once again the answer |
| Okay if you've continued reading I hope that you can | | | | would be, No! |
| set aside any particular style prejudice that you may | | | | Now out of all of those people, how many of them are |
| have and can finish reading the rest of this article with | | | | Chuck Norris's, Herb Perez's, or Bill Wallace's? Not that |
| an open mind. | | | | many. There is no doubt that these three individuals |
| Now as you may or may not know, my particular | | | | are superior kickers. Please note for all of you Chuck |
| background in the martial arts is primarily based in the | | | | Norris purists out there that Chuck studied Tang Soo |
| martial arts of Karate and Tae Kwon Do. This is not | | | | Do, not Tae Kwon Do. |
| the Olympic style tae kwon do, but the traditional | | | | This is a perfect example of the non-superiority of any |
| based martial art. In addition to Karate and Tae Kwon | | | | particular martial art or style. |
| Do, I also have some experience in the arts of Judo, | | | | If you look at all of the martial arts from an intelligent |
| Hapkido and Aikido. Throughout my earlier years of | | | | and mature standpoint, you would have to agree that |
| training, I was very fortunate to have an instructor who | | | | every art has its various strengths and weaknesses. |
| taught me both the traditional and practical ways of | | | | Tae Kwon Do is an excellent kicking art, but does tend |
| executing the techniques that I was being taught. One | | | | to lack a bit in the grappling area. Did you notice that I |
| major point that was always stressed was this, "There | | | | didn't mention anything about punching? That is |
| are NO superior martial arts, styles, or techniques. | | | | because most good Tae Kwon Do schools do teach |
| There are only superior martial artists." | | | | their students how to punch. Although I personally feel |
| Now having said that, how can anyone in their right | | | | that boxing is a much better art form to learn the basic |
| mind think that one style is superior to another? I mean | | | | punches, but that is just my opinion. Jujitsu is an |
| if you wanted to put restrictions on it by saying that | | | | outstanding art form when it comes to grappling and |
| Jujitsu was a better grappling and ground fighting style | | | | joint techniques, but it does lack in the kicking and |
| than Tae Kwon Do, I would tend to agree with you. Or | | | | punching area. Anyone would be hard pressed to say |
| if you were to say that boxers in general had better | | | | that Judo is anything other than perhaps the best art |
| hand skills than Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do fighters I | | | | there is for throwing. However, be advised that Judo |
| would also tend to agree with you. | | | | was derived from the art of Jujitsu in the late 1800's |
| Or, how about if you put rules on the terms of | | | | by its founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano. |
| engagement such as in boxing, where you are only | | | | Now what about good old fashioned boxing? This is |
| allowed to strike certain areas of the body with a | | | | without a doubt the best, easiest, and most effective |
| closed fist, then I would have to say that in that | | | | system of self-defense with your hands that a person |
| particular situation a boxer would have the advantage. | | | | can learn. However, boxers are not known much for |
| However, if you put the boxer in the same situation | | | | their kicking and grappling skills. Although a lot of them |
| with a Tae Kwon Do or Muay Thai fighter and only | | | | can clinch really well. |
| allowed kicks, then the advantage would definitely not | | | | So what does that mean to the individual person, well |
| be on the side of the boxer. The same comparison | | | | and this is just my opinion, I strongly believe that you |
| could also be used if you put a Jujitsu practitioner in the | | | | should pick one art form to be your core art. This |
| ring with either a boxer or Tae Kwon Do fighter and | | | | decision should be made by you, and factoring in what |
| then only allowed grappling. Who would have the | | | | style best suits your body type and disposition. Then |
| advantage then? Of course the Jujitsu fighter would. | | | | after you have gained a significant understanding of |
| Let's take a moment here and take a look at the art | | | | your chosen core art, you should strengthen your |
| of boxing. Now what are the four primary punches in | | | | knowledge by also learning the other styles so that |
| boxing? Okay there is the jab, cross, hook, and the | | | | you can further add to your arsenal of available |
| uppercut. Now I am going to be conservative on my | | | | techniques. For example, even if you didn't particularly |
| numbers here and say that there are approximately | | | | care for grappling, wouldn't it behoove you to know |
| 1,000,000 people here in the United States that have | | | | what to expect if and when you were confronted by |
| learned how to box. Are all of those individuals' | | | | someone that was good at grappling? |
| superior boxers? No! Even though they all know the | | | | Remember, the foolish man thinks he knows |
| same punches, do they all punch the same? Again the | | | | everything and refuses to learn more, when in reality |
| answer would be, No! | | | | he knows nothing. While the intelligent man knows that |
| Now out of all of those people, how many Mike | | | | the more he learns, he realizes just how much he |
| Tyson's, Evander Holyfield's, and George Foreman's do | | | | doesn't know and keeps on learning. |