Bruce Lee paradox

Yesterday I put forward a question whether Bruce Lee was right or wrong by saying, 'I do not believe in styles'.

The base of the question is the known fact that styles exist and have continued to exist ever since he claimed this statement in an interview in 1971. Seemingly there is not too much effect of his claim on the popularity of styles, even though he appears to be the most famous, influential, legendary martial artist. Millions of Bruce Lee fans and believers are practising one or more martial art styles. Millions of martial art beginners, inspired by Bruce Lee, started to learn traditional martial art styles. Consequently, some contradiction is apparent, and the question is justifiable.

Now, I publish my friend Milagros' great answer to the question.

'The Dragon is right; people should not rely on style. People try to keep an open mind; I believe this is what the Dragon wants to install in his teachings. Those who rely on styles limit their own potential. Also, I believe the Dragon is trying to help his students minds to be set free

(Why do you think styles exist?)

I think people want to build a false sense of security and say to them selfs. "Hey this is my style or this is not my style". Thus, creating a false identity. People want to put their ability forward on a style level to receive acceptance. People want to categorize themselves to belong, this is the worst thing to do. It's OK, to be part of a community. But, the community can't be a part of your soul. This is the reason the Dragon had always said don't duplicate. I believe he wanted to push his students to work with what works and not even copy him. I'll use my self an example, this way I no one has to feel as if they are targeted. I have a background in Tai chi, Kung Fu, Mantis, and I just started Wing Chung. I would not consider this my style; I would consider this a part of my skin, a way to honestly express myself(as the Dragon said). Others may take a completely different path to express themselves. One is not wrong, and the other is not right. It's really what you have inside as a graphic designer when people see my work. Some ask me, What is this?. I respond, what do you see?. I receive many different answers. Everyone sees what they have inside. That is why there is no such thing as style. You can't label a soul a style. You can't label vision a style. You are what you are. This is what the Dragon, I believe was trying to teach.'

Let's think of a situation when someone wants to be a Karate, Taekwondo, or a Wing Chun student, and Lee goes to him saying, 'don't be!' just express yourself. Would he understand?

In some subsequent posts, I will investigate and explain the problem philosophically and psychologically with some significant facts about him. 

Just for thinking forward, relying on his persuasive opinion, can we ever say that 'we do not have styles'? Can we say Bruce Lee had no style while thousands of people try to copy his distinctive 'style'? Isn't the way of our self-expression our style? Is the concept of 'Individual Fighting Style' manifested in reality??

Interest in martial arts is declining?!

There is plenty of evidence that the interest in martial arts has been declining in the last decade.

It is apparent, and I think the reason is the internet, globalization, and new trends. Those people who have an affinity towards combative activities, and want to find and improve their InFi style, cannot be kept in schools for long. They are studying for a while and leave.

The internet opens the eyes of the open-minded. You can see whatever you want on the web, and the masters cannot keep secrets the same way as 30 years ago. Consequently, teachers are not authority figures nowadays; they become customer service givers.

Changing trends is another issue. The popularity of martial arts is waving. MMA, Krav Maga, and Tricking are the new trends. It is simply a fashion, in my opinion. The popularity of these trends does not mean they are better. They are new, and strongly promoted through the media.

In connection with individual fighting styles, some traditional techniques can be helpful to watch or learn - others cannot. In particular, tricking is rather gymnastics than fighting. Kraw Maga is rather a self-defence system than a style. And MMA is simply a sport.

Individual styles behind traditional styles

Creating our (individual) style is a natural process. Everyone makes their style automatically. The statement is general but can be applied to any specific field. Martial art, combat sport, and self-defence are not exceptions. People who are practising fights, creating fighting styles. They are unconsciously (or consciously) creators of their fighting styles.

Whatever one is learning, only a part of it will be absorbed. The other part is going to be rejected automatically by selfhood. Moreover, every absorbed aspect will be accompanied by the person's uniqueness. The evolving individual fighting style is separated from the favourably practised traditional style. In other words, practising a conventional technique entails improving the invisible individual fighting (InFi) style.

For example, if someone is studying Wing Chun kung fu or Kyokushinkai karate, teachers control improvement according to the tradition. At the same time, behind the scenes, the InFi style is evolving automatically, according to the nature of the person in question. Then there will be two styles for each practitioner. One is traditional (socially directed), and the other is the natural individual fighting style. The conventional style is visible during the learning process or demonstration, and the InFi style reveals in unexpected situations only. For example, while a traditional style teaches 108 techniques in a rigid choreography, the personal style contains only 23 flexible techniques with their unique and personal taste and twist. Consequently, the individual styles are created, not learned.

But what if someone is making a new style from two or more combative systems with the intent of sharing, spreading and teaching, for example, for business. (Many traditional styles were born in this way.) That created style is not going to be InFi anymore. InFi style (personal combat style) is not reproducible since it is individual. Teaching one's style will be a corporate style with rigid rules and forms but not InFi. InFi is a living, ever-changing, and evolving personal style. Hence, in theory, there cannot be two same InFi styles - similarly as two men cannot be the same. In theory, the Individual Fighting style is inseparable from the owner.

In summary, my friends, think it over and be aware that whatever you are practicing (karate, kung fu, boxing, aikido, jiu-jitsu, krav maga, or mixed martial arts), it is on the conscious surface. It is the visible part. And behind it, there is your authentic InFi style evolving or dormant. InFi is not a school; InFi is your secret style. Nobody knows your InFi style better than you!