No-Touch Knockouts – Why do I care?
For those that are regular readers, and for those that have stumbled onto this blog and have read a few of my previous posts regarding the no-touch knockout controversy, one may wonder why I care.
I ask myself that very question all the time. I mean why does it bug me so much? Why can’t I just overlook the nonsense, and just forget about it? WHY!?
Well the answer isn’t because I’m such a fine upstanding citizen or that I want to see truth and justice prevail. It’s not because I think my purpose in life is to expose fraud and corruption where and when I can. And its not because I receive accolades from my martial art contemporaries, martial art students, fellow workers, family, or friends because I’m willing to fight the good fight. To be honest most don’t care.
No, the reason is more personal; I simply take offense to the idea, and feel this affects the credibility of the martial arts in general. Clearly with the current state of martial arts, where schools exist that churn out black belts like McDonalds sells burgers, we in the industry don’t need this.
The last thing we martial artists need are people discrediting what we do, and giving the public further ammunition to ridicule what we do. Hollywood has done enough of that already, by highlighting the flash and the fluff, as well as the mystical more-than-real world fighting techniques that work.
I learned a long time ago that credibility is everything, and one’s reputation is all one will ever truly possess in this lifetime.
Now some will laugh at the above, once again questioning the legitimacy regarding the history of my school. However, I’m the first to admit that what little information I’ve pieced together has enough holes to leave room for lots of speculation and suspicion.
I for one would carefully scrutinize someone else with the same story as mine. However, I would never be flipped enough to call them an outright fraud in public forums as others have done to me. Without meeting the person, seeing their skills first hand I wouldn’t be comfortable or feel justified making any assertions.
Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m the first to stringently question the information my teacher gave me, but it’s all I’ve got to work with. I’m also the first to say there is absolutely no proof to verify anything. I’m not trying to deceive anyone by saying there is. I tell people what I do and do not know and let each individual believe what they want.
With that said, back to my point.
As any student of mine will tell you, I’m a big proponent of vital point striking. I believe understanding the various methods of applying vital point striking and other elements of Kyusho Jutsu is extremely important in maximizing the efficiency of ones martial art techniques.
My honest opinion is that you can’t call yourself a martial artist if you have no concept of them, or at the very least some basic tools to utilize them. All real authentic martial arts attack weak points of the body, and that is all the art of vital point striking is about.
I also realize that relying on vital points alone in a real fight is ludicrous. It’s borderline suicide. The art of vital point striking is nothing more than an enhancement system to viable techniques. The art of vital point striking is sort of like adding the whipped cream to the milkshake. You don’t need the whipped cream to make the milkshake taste good, but you want it anyway. It’s that little extra zing that makes the milkshake so much better.
So what is the connection between the art of vital pint striking and no-touch knockouts? The answer is simple; most proponents of no-touch knockouts are also proponents, even major figures—dare I say modern day pioneers—in the art and dissemination of vital point striking.
Given the fact that many people already questioned the validity of vital point striking as they presented it, and believe these proponents were frauds regarding that topic, imagine what they must think now.
Clearly, there is more proof to substantiate that vital points exit. Just spend a few minutes at a vital point class/seminar and your opinion regarding their existence will quickly change (note I didn’t say one’s opinion on their application in a real fight would; that requires a little more time).
My problem, the reason I’m so adamant regarding the topic of no-touch knockouts and extolling the insanity of this belief, is that those who perpetuate martial art myths such as this discredit all the real hard working martial artist who spend numerous years enduring physical hardship to hone their craft.
The martial arts are nothing mysterious or supernatural. They are all based on applied sciences. They were all tested and refined during a time when warriors actually utilized these skills.
To make martial arts something they are not, to take these skills and try to place them in a position akin to supernatural powers is just wrong. It’s a lie. It’s dishonest.
I can’t tolerate dishonesty, and I guess in the end that’s what really bothers me about this topic the most. Clearly, it’s the reason I can’t put this topic to rest.
Lastly, I dislike having to dispel preconceived notions potential students bring into my school. Explaining to someone that their belief, that what they’re searching for, does not, nor ever did exist is just not good for business.
No one likes or respects somebody who “bursts their bubble.”
I ask myself that very question all the time. I mean why does it bug me so much? Why can’t I just overlook the nonsense, and just forget about it? WHY!?
Well the answer isn’t because I’m such a fine upstanding citizen or that I want to see truth and justice prevail. It’s not because I think my purpose in life is to expose fraud and corruption where and when I can. And its not because I receive accolades from my martial art contemporaries, martial art students, fellow workers, family, or friends because I’m willing to fight the good fight. To be honest most don’t care.
No, the reason is more personal; I simply take offense to the idea, and feel this affects the credibility of the martial arts in general. Clearly with the current state of martial arts, where schools exist that churn out black belts like McDonalds sells burgers, we in the industry don’t need this.
The last thing we martial artists need are people discrediting what we do, and giving the public further ammunition to ridicule what we do. Hollywood has done enough of that already, by highlighting the flash and the fluff, as well as the mystical more-than-real world fighting techniques that work.
I learned a long time ago that credibility is everything, and one’s reputation is all one will ever truly possess in this lifetime.
Now some will laugh at the above, once again questioning the legitimacy regarding the history of my school. However, I’m the first to admit that what little information I’ve pieced together has enough holes to leave room for lots of speculation and suspicion.
I for one would carefully scrutinize someone else with the same story as mine. However, I would never be flipped enough to call them an outright fraud in public forums as others have done to me. Without meeting the person, seeing their skills first hand I wouldn’t be comfortable or feel justified making any assertions.
Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m the first to stringently question the information my teacher gave me, but it’s all I’ve got to work with. I’m also the first to say there is absolutely no proof to verify anything. I’m not trying to deceive anyone by saying there is. I tell people what I do and do not know and let each individual believe what they want.
With that said, back to my point.
As any student of mine will tell you, I’m a big proponent of vital point striking. I believe understanding the various methods of applying vital point striking and other elements of Kyusho Jutsu is extremely important in maximizing the efficiency of ones martial art techniques.
My honest opinion is that you can’t call yourself a martial artist if you have no concept of them, or at the very least some basic tools to utilize them. All real authentic martial arts attack weak points of the body, and that is all the art of vital point striking is about.
I also realize that relying on vital points alone in a real fight is ludicrous. It’s borderline suicide. The art of vital point striking is nothing more than an enhancement system to viable techniques. The art of vital point striking is sort of like adding the whipped cream to the milkshake. You don’t need the whipped cream to make the milkshake taste good, but you want it anyway. It’s that little extra zing that makes the milkshake so much better.
So what is the connection between the art of vital pint striking and no-touch knockouts? The answer is simple; most proponents of no-touch knockouts are also proponents, even major figures—dare I say modern day pioneers—in the art and dissemination of vital point striking.
Given the fact that many people already questioned the validity of vital point striking as they presented it, and believe these proponents were frauds regarding that topic, imagine what they must think now.
Clearly, there is more proof to substantiate that vital points exit. Just spend a few minutes at a vital point class/seminar and your opinion regarding their existence will quickly change (note I didn’t say one’s opinion on their application in a real fight would; that requires a little more time).
My problem, the reason I’m so adamant regarding the topic of no-touch knockouts and extolling the insanity of this belief, is that those who perpetuate martial art myths such as this discredit all the real hard working martial artist who spend numerous years enduring physical hardship to hone their craft.
The martial arts are nothing mysterious or supernatural. They are all based on applied sciences. They were all tested and refined during a time when warriors actually utilized these skills.
To make martial arts something they are not, to take these skills and try to place them in a position akin to supernatural powers is just wrong. It’s a lie. It’s dishonest.
I can’t tolerate dishonesty, and I guess in the end that’s what really bothers me about this topic the most. Clearly, it’s the reason I can’t put this topic to rest.
Lastly, I dislike having to dispel preconceived notions potential students bring into my school. Explaining to someone that their belief, that what they’re searching for, does not, nor ever did exist is just not good for business.
No one likes or respects somebody who “bursts their bubble.”
Labels: Essays, No Touch, The Martial Arts
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