| A prospective student came to the door, interested in | | | | systems. Committing yourself to any one of these is |
| martial arts training. When I asked him if he had any | | | | the first step. |
| previous experience, he replied "yes, I've studied for | | | | Focusing on one style at the beginning of your training |
| about two years." His training history consisted of 3 | | | | will prevent confusion. At this level, you don't have the |
| months in aikido, 2 months of karate, 4 months of | | | | sophistication to separate or integrate the different |
| kung-fu, 3 weeks of tai chi, etc., etc. This is what we | | | | techniques and philosophies. But you start by |
| call "style hopping"; going from one style to another. | | | | developing strength, endurance, and flexibility. You can |
| "What's wrong with going from style to style" some | | | | learn how to stand, kick, punch, and block. You can |
| students say. Even Bruce Lee didn't believe in styles. | | | | learn footwork and forms. You can learn how to react |
| He believed that styles limited one's true potential. As | | | | by sparring and working with a training partner. You |
| far as styles are concerned, Bruce Lee advised us to | | | | can challenge your body and mind by progressing |
| absorb what is useful and to discard the rest. Why | | | | through your style's curriculum. You can learn the |
| can't we be like Bruce Lee and just learn what we | | | | principles of your art and the foundations of its origins. |
| want and move on? | | | | Let's face it. If you commit yourself to one style and |
| Bruce Lee's advice is good for someone who already | | | | study it faithfully until you have at the very least |
| has a good foundation. Before experimenting with | | | | achieved black belt or black sash level, you will have |
| other styles, Bruce Lee studied the art of Wing Chun | | | | developed a good foundation. |
| with Yip Man for approximately 5 years. He had an | | | | In reality, earning your black belt means that you |
| excellent foundation before he ventured into other | | | | mastered the basics of that system. A black belt is |
| areas. | | | | only the beginning of your martial arts journey. Once |
| All traditional martial arts were developed after many, | | | | you've reached this level, then you can explore other |
| many years of experimentation and dedicated study. | | | | styles. At this point the trick is to be able to have an |
| Most traditional martial arts when studied with sincerity | | | | open mind to the new styles and see the weakness in |
| and regularity, will prepare you for expanding into other | | | | your foundation style! |