The following article written by Kru Mike Miles has been published in several magazines around the world and several magazines in North America including: Western Canadian Martial Arts Magazine (Vol. 1 No. 3 June 1995) and Round One North American and World Kickboxing News (Vol. 2 No. 3 Winter 1995).


THE MARTIAL ARTS - FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

WHAT ARE THE MARTIAL ARTS SUPPOSED TO TEACH US. The Martial Arts attract people from all walks of life including professional businessmen, laborers, rich, poor, educated and uneducated people alike. Martial Arts has a sporting aspect but also is used as an excellent vehicle for teaching people many other important lessons. Unfortunately, the Martial Arts now seems to have become glorified violence. These days, the violent aspect comes front and center with egos of I can beat you because "I am a Black Belt in such and such a style", or "My training is better than yours." A new fighting fad that you have all read about in the magazines comes to mind. It is not the combat between the Arts that is bad, but it is the attitudes of these Martial Artists who represent their styles with the arrogance of professional wrestlers. It is now similar to the Wild West as to who is the fastest gun. It is because of this attitude that the Martial Arts or being involved in the Martial Arts no longer draws much respect from the general public. On a personal level, I believe the Martial Arts should involve more than just the development of physical skills. It should help teach character development including courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, self-confidence, respect for life and people, interaction with other people, and humility... but does it?

TIME TO EVALUATE WHAT THE ARTS ARE SUPPOSED TO TEACH US.
In North America, many aspects of training in the Martial Arts have changed in recent years. I remember when I first started training in the Martial Arts and I read the tenets (achieved through training) of character development on the wall of the gym. They were supposed to teach an individual humility. Humility always comes with self-confidence (not arrogance). I have always been puzzled by the change many Martial Arts practitioners go through once they achieve their First Degree Black Belt. A Black Belt (First Degree) means you are ‘good’ at the basics period. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, egos become enlarged and suddenly many of these people feel they are ‘Masters’ of all the Martial Arts and the various styles. In past discussions with many Black Belts, they will state that their style works better because of certain techniques and attributes while in their opinion my style does not work because it consists of certain other techniques and attributes. It does not matter to them even if they are way off base and wrong in the analysis of my style (Muay Thai). I always counter their opinions with "Have you trained in my style?" Their answer is always "No, BUT... . These people talk out of ignorance. In my opinion, these new Black Belts are threatened by other styles and are still lacking the self-confidence (and thus humility) in themselves and their style that they have trained to achieve.

Integrity means everything to me. To me it means one must be able to define what is right and what is wrong. The Black Belt who represents him/herself as a ‘Master of all the styles’ (though he lacks the true knowledge of any other styles other than the one he has trained in) are the biggest present day offenders. Another North American innovation is the gaining of ranks (belts and degrees) at accelerated rates. By this, I mean the students/instructors who gain ranks for ego purposes or the feeling of power. Practitioners now fly through belt levels and Black Belt degrees at speeds that leave the Masters in the Orient with their heads spinning. Most legitimate gradings and certifications (in the Orient) require a certain amount of time training as well as age restrictions as part of the grading curriculum. To me there is no other reason for running through the gradings and certification other than to satisfy one’s ego.

Integrity really becomes challenged in the Martial Arts with all of the spurious titles and claims a lot of Martial Artists in every city across North America make. Everyone now claims to teach everything. Many Martial Artists are now ‘Jacks of all trades, but Masters of none’. A lot of Martial Artists have now jumped on the bandwagon and teach the ‘Martial Arts flavor of each month’. A good example is when the UFC took off, a lot of instructors who had spent years teaching traditional stand up like Karate, Tae Kwon-Do, Kung Fu, etc. suddenly became ‘Masters of ground fighting’ without any experience at all. The recent boom in Martial Arts Aerobics is another joke. Speaking from personal experience, instructors who for years put down Kickboxing suddenly are now ‘Masters’ and ‘Champions’ and teaching it because it is the latest fad. None have ever even been on the inside of a ring! Finally, all the Martial Artists out there who claim to teach Tae Kwon-Do, Karate, Kung Fu, African Martial Arts, Kickboxing, etc. and profess to be ‘Masters’ are the ones the general public should be aware of. As an example, if I go to university and take a foundation year and then a year in law and a year in medicine and then a year in engineering, when I put it all together do I have anything? Of course not! But everyone mashes all of their styles together and creates their own ‘new’ style, or claims to teach them all. How many professors in University claim to teach Medicine, Engineering, Law at once? None. The first come back from these Martial Artists is that they say they can do the techniques of each style. Mimicking the movements does not make one a Master. Because I can change the oil in my car and do some basic mechanical maintenance, does that make me a mechanic? People are now teaching things they have learned off of video’s or they are now ‘Masters’ of certain styles after participating in a seminar once. The promise of learning and achieving personal integrity from the Martial Arts seems to have disappeared, and in a lot of cases (not all), integrity is totally lost.

Perseverance requires the Martial Arts practitioner to set their goal (be it a higher grading or degree and/or perfection of a/or many techniques), and with hard training and tenacity will achieve that goal. To develop from a First Degree Black Belt to a Fourth Degree Black Belt usually takes 9 years (according to curriculum while training in the Orient). I am amazed at the people in North America who go from First Degree Black Belts to Fourth and Fifth Degree Black Belts in 4 to 5 years, while training a couple of times a week. It leaves me wondering if we as North Americans are better physically developed or have less patience than the Martial Arts practitioners of the Orient. It seems the Orientals must be doing something wrong because they spend a lifetime mastering their styles. In the West, it seems people are more inclined towards accumulation of techniques. People want to learn more and more with every class. The pursuit of knowledge is important but one should be able to perform the techniques satisfactorily before adding in more. Unfortunately, this emulates our lifestyle of wanting bigger and better possessions all of the time. However in the Far East, practitioners refine their techniques over and over. They take what they have and make it better and make it work. Muay Thai is a great example of this philosophy, the fact that it does not include an extravagant amount of strikes (but does use all the bodily weapons), but what the style has works well and has been refined through years and years of battlefield practice and fighting in the ring. It has been tested in combat! Perseverance in combat taught practitioners in this style what does and what does not work. In the other Martial Arts, the use of multi-colored belts in North America is again a product of accumulation and impatience. North Americans want to see quick or immediate results in our fast food society and mentality. This can be due to lack of perseverance, lack of self-confidence, boredom or the inability to commit to achieving long term goals. I suspect the rainbow spectrum of belts were introduced to keep practitioners interested and show a ‘quicker’ and more obvious advancement in one’s ability. It appears that the Martial Arts practitioners in the Orient must be missing something and could learn something from the North American practitioners when it comes to using the belt (rainbow) or achieving higher degrees in shorter periods of time, ... I DOUBT IT!

"WRITE WHAT YOU ARE TOLD, OR ELSE"..."
Another couple of tenets is courtesy and respect for other people. In another magazine I wrote an article called "Kickboxing has no heroes." In this article I gave a personal opinion on the state of Kickboxing in North America, and more specifically in Canada. I personally evaluated the talent Canada has at the moment to promote the sport nationally. The article handled the evaluation with fairness and sincerity, and it made it clear that it was my opinion. I was shocked and surprised by the reaction I received from one of the people I wrote about from out on the West Coast. This person contacted me and criticized my article and told me I had no right to give my opinion of him. I feel his criticism of the article is fine because a written piece should inspire one to think. I told him I did not say anything bad about him and that he should be happy to be written about and receive some press (this proves he is getting some recognition), and that it would give him some added and extra publicity. He then stated that if I could not write about him (what he wanted), not to write anything at all. Then came a shining example of lack of self-control from him. I was dumbstruck when he finished the discussion by him threatening me physically. Honestly, I did find the threat very funny but was surprised he would resort to this.

Having spent my life in the Martial Arts and Muay Thai/Kickboxing (both fighting and training with some of the best), I gave an honest evaluation on the talent Canada has to choose from right now. Some of the fighters are/were Champions. However, being a Champion goes beyond wearing a title belt. A title belt should show a physical and mental skill level. However, with the skill should come some humility. A Champion is looked on as a role model, and as a friend of mine Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez says, "Be a Champion in life". I believe people should look up to you and want to be like you. Inspiration created by oneself for others is a very nice and important compliment. The situation with the athlete who did not get what he wanted boggles my mind. What do sports writers and especially boxing writers have to put up with when they write an article that may be seen as unflattering by the boxer they are writing about? Fortunately, none of my evaluations about this athlete were negative and I stated what I felt each fighter needed to improve on to become a larger and better recognized figure on the Canadian Kickboxing scene. Consequently, this athlete has faded from the fight scene. He is not in the public eye like he used to be.

"I LEAD THE MOST EXCITING LIFE!"
Another tenet is indomitable spirit. I have always believed in myself and my principles even when it has been against overwhelming odds. A big test to many Martial Arts practitioners is rumors which fly rampant in the Martial Arts circle about them. Most of the practising Martial Arts instructors out there have been unwillingly involved in rumors. Speaking from personal experience as the title suggest, "I lead the most exciting life." It makes me laugh at times because I really do not know what I (personally) am missing. The whole problem comes back to egos and who is the deadliest etc and the stories that eventually start and feed the rumors. I personally have always come under fire by them. I have heard it all when it comes to rumors, everything from me being in bar fights to having appendages broken from defending myself, to wiping out multiple opponents in self-defence situations to just about anything you can imagine. For me let’s put it to rest, NO! I have not seen with Elvis Presley or abducted by aliens. Rumors can drive one crazy. Having an indomitable spirit, believing in oneself having the confidence to do what one wants to do and succeeding brings success. An indomitable spirit will know that one does not need to worry about rumors, disproving them or letting them affect your life and happiness. For myself, being talked about means I am a force to be dealt with. As many of my respected peers say, "Worry when they stop talking about you!"

People have called me brash. This is partly a defense mechanism to avoid wasting time listening to people and their rumors and partly because I am quite a shy person. But through years of training and learning from my peers, anyone recognized for their ability is open to rumors and speculation. No matter what one does to prove these rumors false, rumors will always continue. Focus on your goals in the Martial Arts and all the positive things.

When I first opened my school in the late 1970’s it was just like out of a Bruce Lee movie. I had Black Belts from all kinds of styles, boxers, wrestlers, street fighters, tough guys, individuals who had consumed large portions of spirits, and just about everyone you can imagine come to my school and challenge me. I almost lived in the gym (still do) and did not get time to get out and mingle, let alone go to bars. I do this (teach) to this day to give children and adults a chance to achieve something for themselves. There is no feeling in the world like when a child smiles after laboring hard trying to learn a move and then finally achieving it. I take a lot of pride in watching my fighters achieve things they never thought they could, knowing in their future they will never sit back and wonder about themselves or their athletic pursuits or careers, "What if?" The Martial Arts have given me a lot and it is nice to give something back. Giving back to others shows respect for others and what a great world this would be if everybody would do this!

LESSONS IN LIFE AND IN BASIC HUMAN NATURE IN THIS MATERIALISTIC WORLD.
When it come to the Martial Arts and the different styles, there will always be comparisons. It does not matter what style you practice, be proud of it. In studying basic human ego, if two people went out and spent money on a car and one bought a Mercedes Benz and the other bought a Jaguar, ego will usually will have one state his/her car is better than the other car. The other person will make the same comment (usually). The point of the matter is that no one wants to think they are wasting their time or money training or following a particular Martial Arts style. Most people buy what they feel is the best product to have them achieve their own personal goals. Everyone practises what they feel is ‘best’ and is ‘well suited to them’. Upon examination, and by using my initial comparison, the different styles of Martial Arts really are both cars (just different ones). As long as you as an individual are involved in the Martial Arts, go for it, be proud of it and may you achieve all of your goals!

What it comes right down to is that the Martial Arts is supposed to make you a better person. It does not matter what style you study, just have fun. As my Muay Thai Acharn (Master Teacher) Panya Kraitus says, "Smile, enjoy life, be polite." Life is far too short. The world is too full of hatred, too much war and too much killing. Be thankful for what you have. Most importantly, maintain your integrity, self-control, indomitable spirit, courtesy, humility, respect for life and other people and perseverance.

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