This is one part of the series, Get Started In The Martial Arts: A Beginner’s Guide.
When Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese strategist, was asked about the ultimate defensive technique, he gave a judicious reply. “To be prepared everywhere,” he said, “is to be weak everywhere.” Master Sun’s wisdom, originally applied thousands of years ago to organized warfare, is equally applicable to individual martial arts today. To complete a breadth of study, one must sacrifice depth, and vice-versa.
Some brash martial arts teachers will claim mastery of the true ultimate martial arts style. This ultimate style combines all the best elements from a variety of older forms of martial arts, so they say, but without all the useless traditions, outdated beliefs, ineffective techniques and other nonsense. This style sounds very good—maybe even too good to be true. Do you believe there is any such thing as an “ultimate” style of martial arts?
Sun Tzu was right: sacrifices, exclusions and trade-offs are an unavoidable fact of life. However, that does not mean that the quest for an ultimate style is a fruitless pursuit. Quite the contrary, consider this: every modern and traditional martial arts style in existence today, represents someone’s attempt to create an ultimate style. And there is nothing wrong with striving for perfection. Why reach for anything less?
Don’t think for a moment that anyone ever sets out to create, synthesize, learn or rediscover a second-class martial art. Everyone wants the best, or most appropriate style, as defined in relation to their own innate talents, previously acquired knowledge and skills, and personal goals and values.
Goals and values are the most important factor in discovering your own, individual ultimate style. More on that topic in the next section.