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Searching for the Martial Arts 'Holy Grail' Since I first started training in the Martial Arts way back in 1975, people have been searching for that one elusive fighting art that answers all the questions, the ultimate one, the best, the one and only. That is like searching for the Holy Grail. You would think with the coming of Mixed Martial Arts that the myth of the one perfect system of fighting would be dispelled forever. But no even now I come across individuals raving about the 'NEW KID ON THE BLOCK' in Martial Arts terms and how this latest art is the best ever and the instructor is out of this world. If I had a pound for every time I have heard this over my 30 plus years in the martial arts I would be living now in the Caribbean, retired. Yet people are still clamouring for the latest and greatest, telling me everything else is rubbish compared to this Baby! I HAVE SEEN THEM CLAMOUR BEFORE AND NO DOUBT I WILL SEE THEM CLAMOUR AGAIN, AS THEY SAY THE 'GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER'. That is until the initial sparkle wears off and the daily week-to-week grind of training sets in and then they will begin their quest again for the 'grail'. Wasn't Brazilian jujutsu the best and the ultimate in some people's eyes a few years back? People were flocking to the BJJ gyms. now when the dust has settled most of the time it is the 'die hards' training, the 'part time trainers and 'Grail 'hunters have fallen by the way side when the shine wore off of working the guard continually and training that arm bar or triangle, drilling those solid basics, just the same as any other Martial Art. The bottom line is you can spend your lives savings on travelling to train with one of the top martial Artist/fighters in the world but it doesn't guarantee you will become world class. Dedication, blood, sweat and tears are the key, no magic solution. The latest flavour might seem the answer at the present but there will always be a new latest flavour waiting in the wings. We can be a fickle lot. Loyalty to ones own instructor doesn't cut it these day. Don't forget it is like the footballer who makes his dream move to the top European club, he will not forget where he started and who gave him that start and showed belief in them in the first place I have run and taught classes since the early 1980's, and I have seen fades come and go and the ultimate art give way to a new improved ultimate art. If I had worried about every new club or system that had opened a class in my area I would have gone under years ago. My belief is no one art has all the answers, which is why I have always been open minded and trained on many mats in many arts with many instructors. I am not afraid to leave my ego at the door and just get on with it. It's a big wide world, big enough for everybody to do what they want and train in what they want. If they honestly believe it's the best they are training in more power to them. If they are still training in it in 10 years time and that club is flourishing great but don't forget many instructors are out there to make a quick 'buck' and a quick name for themselves and disappear into the night. I HAVE HAD MANY PEOPLE LEAVE MY CLUBS FOR PASTURES NEW ONLY TO RETURN SOME TIME LATER WITH THEIR TAIL BETWEEN THEIR LEGS. Do I tell them do f--k off? No (not even if I felt like it). If they come back to me I will treat it as a compliment. I AM STILL HERE DOING WHAT I DO BEST AND I THINK IF I AM STILL AROUND AFTER ALL THIS TIME THEN I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. It takes great tenacity, dedication and hard work to stay the distance, most don't, the same goes for the fickle trainer who will probably move on and still be seeking the 'Holy grail' years down the line. As Winston Churchill once say 'MEN STUMBLE UPON THE TRUTH, GET UP AND WALK AWAY. Some times we can't see the wood for the trees and the bloody obvious is staring you in the face. Instead of spending time flitting from one 'new' art to the next, spending quality time in one for a while might be better. Have a look at these old magazine articles from the 50's, 60's and 70's. They demonstrate we have been searching for the ultimate fighting system for many, many years! Nothing is new, just re-packaged and re-sold...
This one seems to have it 'cracked'. Maybe this was an early 'MMA advert'? We can see this advert is making the point that no one art has all the answers. Something in that I think.
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