Because of this, I would venture to say that even an ineffectual system, which does not actually prepare a student for "mortal combat," but which teaches them other aspects of the craft as it were. Is better than no system at all or not having become involved in martial arts period.
By that I mean the respect it inculcates, the discipline it enforces, the camaraderie it teaches along with team work, self-control, confidence, honor, and its requirement for physical exercise and sacrifice is well worth the negative aspects it may also offer.
In defense of rote learning and repetition of techniques used in many facilities, they have their important function. Even though I do not believe that Mr. Clerc was totally against them in his book, he only meant that they are not the sum total or epitome of martial arts training or even the most important part for that matter. Mental acuity, flexibility, adaptability, fluidness, counter movement and much more are far more critical in self-defense, than merely learning a set of static movements, as he implies.
They (forms) do however allow, for the strengthening and toning of muscles needed to master the other skills and they tend to assist in the underlying development of so many other aspects of the martial artist, such as concentration, endurance, balance, breathing, resistance, stamina, power and others. Try as a beginning student in martial arts to hold a forward lunge punch position for five minutes for instance. The beginner will be lucky to endure 25 seconds of such exertion and muscle strain. So they do have a very important purpose. However Mr. Clerc is correct that they are merely the tip (visible portion) of the massive iceberg that is the serious study and training of marital arts.
If the art being taught is worth anything at all, it will, on top of all else, teach the student how to avoid confrontation, especially if they are not as good as they think they are, but even more so, if they are that good. For any martial art that creates bullies or ultra-ego offensive showoffs, due to belt colors or rank, as I have seen many do. Has violated its first and foremost duty and failed to teach its student anything of value.
It is true that, regardless of what anyone else may say "the greatest martial artist of all.is the one who never has to use his skills." So learning to bend with the flexibility of the young oak sapling rather than standing ridged like the might oak must also include lessons in using this vast martial arts knowledge in avoiding confrontation as well. It is much like defensive driving where you watch the road five hundred yards in front of you constantly.
This is the first and foremost principle of the true martial artist. Knowing that you have the skill to defend yourself as a last resort, but using all your training, cunning and "reading of the situation and your potential attackers," to counter with wisdom, humility, intelligence and counter-activity any potential threats, before resorting to violence towards another.
That being said, I have also often contemplated the same difficulties as Mr. Clerc in evaluating the modern martial-art trends particularly here in America. From Karate to Taekwondo the Americanization of the martial arts has as Mr. Clerc indicates. Become nothing more than assembly lines of unearned advancements through a wide variety of colored belts to a "Peter Principle" position of incompetence. Read the book you will certainly agree.
Unfortunately, and it pains me to say this, as one who has been inside the beltway sort of speak, the new systems are designed along the lines of "a pyramid scheme." Designed to give an instructor or group of individuals first a business of his own, then money in the bank and also prestige that is often times not deserved, in the overall scope of actually teaching students to be capable of defending themselves in real world situations.
There has been a regressive process going on for years, a watered down of the ancient and esteemed philosophy of martial arts. It seems to be an American tendency, to accept a cheapened version of everything, to save a buck or a minute's time or the exertion needed to truly achieve ones goal or earn its accompanying respect.
The Americanization of the martial arts has lowered the bar so that in almost every activity less than qualified individuals will have an opportunity to succeed even when not ready. They are allowed to participate in various activities, without having to truly earn the right through hard work, self-discipline, dedication, sacrifice, effective training and setting the highest of goals for oneself. We have become so time sensitive that expediency has become the driving force rather than wisdom, understanding and true ability.
Mr. Clerc's book would be an absolute Godsend for just about every instructor, student and program regarding martial arts to have as a required and continuous read before beginning or entering any martial arts program, as well as a continuous reading requirement during that training.
It should be said at this point that there are some out there who do teach and preach this philosophy and it shows in the way they work-out and the way they compete, but that appears to be the exception rather than the rule. Mr. Clerc's view is a valuable tool to consider in evaluating the present historical position and the future of martial arts training.
