It is important for people to realize how beneficial cross-training is. I know this is a touchy subject for some people, but some of the things that traditional martial arts teach cannot be used effectively in this day of age. Just because styles were invented thousands of years ago and were once effective does not mean they are now. It is important for people to put there traditional ego aside and at some point realize there needs to be diversity in training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTmyUEo6iY

Approach it with an open mind.

I unfortunately cannot view this as I don't have access to Youtube, although I can say that cross training is not to be frowned upon. Mushashi himself advised, in his 'Book of Five Rings', not to master just one style, Jeet Kung Do is an amalgamation of various styles, AShihara/Enshin Karate is similar. Hapkido is the same as well as modern styles like Krav Maga etc.
I only suggest, as I have travelled that route, not to have too many 'styles' that you chasing. I recommend training to shodan or equivalent. before starting to cross train as in all the links in this forum regards cross training

Don't confuse ring fighting with real fighting.

Don't forget that traditional as well as modern martial arts are taught for self-defense and character build as well as the history. This is not a real fight situation its more of a contest which means nothing in real self-defense. A real kung fu master probably would not have any reason to fight that guy taking what ever shame it will give him. Also, that guy looks to be about 3 times that guys size and just laid on him and over powered him which is nothing impressive and he broke the guys arm which means he is nothing but aggressive powerhouse with no control.

Like we all said before it comes down to training not the style. To many people get sucked into the fact that they are the best at their school and will not leave to test their skills else where trying to implement and further their knowledge.

martial arts really arent used as much for REAL self defense. the fact is that if people back then had the technology we have today, they likely would not have ever needed a reason for hand to hand combat, and hence no MAs. If people are so worried about staying safe, carry a taser, stun gun, mace, or a gun. A stun gun is like hand held dim mak, without the killing part. My point is that there is nothing wrong with traditional martial arts, and if you are cross training just to becoming a killing machine and beat the crap out of everyone, might as well give up and buy one of the above as an alternative. However; if you really do enjoy cross training, then by all means enjoy yourself. I for one know a few people who do muay thai/bjj because they have dreams of becoming these amazing fighting gods and its ridiculous and the only reason i posted this.

I get the feeling that you had a "light bulb moment" & discovered this "truth". Sorry to break it to you, but this is Old News.

It never ceases to amaze me that noobs think they're the Isaac Newton of MA as they scoff @ the Traditional ways & proclaim that the modern ways are best. It only shows that they never took the time to really study our roots.

I'm not saying that cross-training isn't advocated...just the opposite but as it was said before, get a strong education in a base art before running off to become a "Jack-of-all-trades" (master @ none).

owari

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7838193923189617407&q=kung+fu

If you watch the old trad techniques on here


http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dhtl3oIa2AA&mode=related&search=
Karate
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MZ4YtZb3e0M&mode=related&search=

You might find lots of techniques in the as you call new methods that have existed from the as you call again trad method

Interesting debate

Oh my God!!! let us drop our traditional techniques immediately and study under the new masters who have learned to do a takedown...

Gimme a break...

traditional, modern, futuristic..whatever, technique is technique. People's "modern" techniques have to derive from somewhere after all these thousands of years a takedown is not something new neither is a punch or a kick or anything else.

Here we go again...

Yes, crosstraining is beneficial to all martial artists.

Yes, grappling skills are an important addition to the training regimen of any martial artist who wants to be well rounded in terms of both fighting and self-defense.

But, no, the fact that cross-training and grappling are beneficial does not negate the fact that TMA still have a lot to offer in terms of fighting skills (i.e. striking) if trained in the right manner (i.e. alive, vs. resisting opponents).

I train in TMA. I have cross-trained in other things. I have been taken down and submitted, but I have also made grapplers eat my right cross/side kick/front kick etc.

It is the fighter and how the fighter trains, not the style, that is most important.

Sheesh, how many times do we have to say that!!!


Peace,
Mike