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What is Tradition

The term traditional is often misused by many people who are trying to gain control or market their art. What is tradition based from? Thinking logically, in the beginning fighting skills were developed without weapons. Later people started to use rocks, clubs then spears. Does this make sense? Later on the use of steal presented itself. We all know how metal changed the playing field. After metal spear heads, arrows, knives and swords came armor plating shields that were added for protection. It is very easy to see this evolution. Some where down this line tradition was added. Should we think that the first people to begin fighting were traditional? Maybe it was the next group who began using clubs and rocks. If I started fighting in a cave man suit with clubs and rocks would I be considered real traditional? I have seen many traditional martial arts changes over the past few decades. This can be viewed as completely hypocritical . I find it also strange for people who all of a sudden find the hidden secret moves to Kata in a traditional art. If the art was traditional you would think it would be taught the same all along. What is traditional? It seems many just use it to promote what they want with their own agenda. "The road to hell was paved with good intentions" However, not everyone's intentions are good. The essence of an art is also traditional. Unfortunately not too many people ever learn or try to teach this. The main essence to any art is self thought. This may come to one by itself or by an inspiration. Many instructors don't want to teach this as they may lose control of the way their students think. Just about every country has a military. Throughout time every country has prepared itself for war. There are traditions in every army. The greatest tradition is the cultivation of a warriors spirit. The weapons change, strategies change, the terrain may change. The fabric and style of uniforms change and improve. Just because these material things may change, it does not mean the military is non traditional. There are some historians and organizations that form groups that reenact civil war scenes or other battles between the North American Indians or Mid Evil times. Are they traditional warriors? It is much easier to teach traditional clothing or traditional weapons. You can open up a school, tell some stories, conduct some reenactment and explain to others that you are the "REAL" thing. You are "TRADITIONAL" Are the soldiers actively serving in today's military non traditional because they do not use muskets? When I was a young boy training in the arts, the classes were very different. The techniques were pretty much the same, but the spirit, the discipline the whole feel of environment was completely different. It was not considered fun, we were not smiling, playing or joking around. It was very much like boot camp in the military. After boot camp we can all remiss thinking it was such a great time and those were the days. But, when we were there, we know the hardship and training we had to overcome. This training taught us the fighting spirit, to endure and carry on beyond all means. It is this SPIRIT that is traditional. This is the spirit that means survival. Dressing up in old style uniforms and waving ancient weapons acting out battles does not necessarily equal traditional. But that's what it looks like on the outside. What is Tradition? By Daniel Verkerke

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