Strength of Repetition

Repetition is a part of the learning process. Every martial art and combat sport system uses this principle in teaching. I think it is self-evident for everybody. But to what extent repetition can shape our individual styles? The answer is: partially because a learning process cannot override our endowments entirely.

Imagine a group of people repeating the same movements over time, like a karate team doing certain forms together or Shaolin monks doing the same techniques million times. Imagine you know each person very well in an exercising group because you are the assistant or the teacher of the group. Now, imagine that their faces are covered, and they are in totally the same uniforms. (Suppose they are the same in height and body type). Can you differentiate their movements and recognize them by their moves only even though they try to do the same techniques? I think the answer is yes. Similarly, in everyday life, all the people are moving, walking, running differently, although they are practising the 'same' movements over time. Then, repetition cannot determine the style alone.

Repetition has two results. 

One is the subconscious creation. The other is the replacement of previous reactions with new ones. But there must be something very personal mixed with the learned moves. Having a unique style comes from this very complex background. Always these two 'forces' shape our style in fighting as well as in general. Every person has natural endowments by birth which is the backbone of the person's style. That naturally determined style can be shaped and modified but cannot be replaced by repetition. Individuality is always a living force that cannot be ignored and enforced but can be supported. Supporting individuality might make progress faster. Then we always need to keep in mind that there are two forces present. One is the inborn and natural (nature), and the other is the societal part from outside (nurture).

The results of two forces (inborn and social factors) make us who we are, in general, and how we appear to others. When we are talking about our fighting styles, we are talking about their outcomes. For example, if someone studies three different martial art styles (at the same time, or one after the other), the result is determined by inborn qualities. And if someone study one and only one traditional style, their individual fighting style is also determined by their inborn qualities. These differences are recognizable to everyone. They are our InFi styles.

Styles Spread or Concealed

Since there is no ultimate truth in this world, there is no perfect style taking and putting on. Styles are born and attached to individuals. As the InFi philosophy says, everybody has a different individual fighting style, then, InFi styles have owners. In short, one person - one style. Therefore, ideally, there should be as many styles in the world as human beings. But the world doesn't show this. There are major styles (trends) and minor styles. Some of them are popular, some are stagnant, and some disappear. Corporate (traditional) systems are always struggling for gaining ground, striving for popularity. Hidden traditional methods might be in danger of extinction.

corporate and InFi styles

Corporate or traditional ways are products, like cars, houses, or fashion trends. People pick them up from sources outside. Corporate styles are not the peoples' inborn or self-created ways; therefore, they can be commerce. If you pay attention to the martial arts or combat sports world, you can quickly notice new and old trends, popular and old-fashioned styles. All these happenings are based on marketing and selling. For example, the Shaolin kung fu is a well-established old-style system from China. Some very progressive fans of the combative trade do not like it. Recently, new trends like tricking or 'Defense lab' are overwhelming the Shaolin teachings with their unique fashion, modern concepts, appearances, and online marketing strategies. Nobody knows how long...

Ideally, there should be as many styles as people living. But nobody could see this. The very base of the notion of spreading them is connected with psychology. People are influencing, and there are people affected. This is the actual game in this world. It means, as we all know, equal power between people does not exist. Of course, one is more potent, and the other is weaker in focusing on one subject only. It is natural. However, it is also natural that every living creature wants to grow and spread something. The degree of their success (or failure) is another topic. So let's go back to the theme of styles.

Usually, every influential, charismatic person wants to teach their style to others. This normal phenomenon is the origin of all the corporate styles we know. One was established some hundred years ago, and others were born in the 21st century. These are peoples' artificial styles (pursued styles or represented styles) but not for the founders. We can say that the founders' style - which becomes a traditional corporate style - is their InFi style. But they are not the followers' InFi style!

What kind of people are the founders of combative styles? Bruce Lee, Oyama, and Ng Mui were InFi practitioners creating their combat styles. Founders are InFi practitioners who spread their techniques to the world. (Certainly, Lee did not establish a corporate style, but thousands of people try to copy his style and follow his JKD.) This is a sharing, marketing, selling-buying activity. But to be honest, InFi, like personality, does not exist without the owner. InFi is inseparably attached to the particular individual who created and it. InFi does not want to be shown up. InFi is a personal combat style or ability. However, the inventive charismatic individuals' founders are not aware of this inseparability. Followers are not creators, and duplication is not a creation. When people follow their masters' path, they are like shadows with no autonomy.

Why do founders spread their style, knowledge, or wisdom? Because they want to influence others, want to help others, or want to gain power over others. It is a business in the financial or humanitarian world. Teachers represent something and want us to accept and follow it without a doubt. Very few martial arts teachers and masters buy our uniqueness, and even fewer support our unique styles to develop further. Individuality, in general, is not nurtured by communities. Communities tend to promote uniformity. But our individual fighting styles exist independently, whether we follow the settled path or not. They live either we are aware of them or not. Moreover, the InFi ways do not reveal easily. Sometimes they are lurking just behind our corporate styles. So, whatever happens in the visible martial arts or combat sports world InFi exists and is safe.

In the first table (above), the black ring represents a traditional style taught by a master, and the orange circle demonstrates the person's actual individual fighting style. These two areas are usually overlapping but never the same. Some new founders base their teachings on their 'orange' circle (InFi), and they do not follow the outsider guidelines anymore. In the second picture, there are hundreds of kung fu students. They seem to be the same. But they are different individuals with their differences in fighting too. In the picture, the community rules, common will, and constraints are overwhelming individuality, but the existing InFi is lurking behind forever and ever. If you do not believe it, attack them one by one, and their reactions will be individually different.

Corporate styles are born, spread, concealed or terminated, but InFi existed, exists, and will exist as long as the human race exists. This is why it is helpful to be aware that you have it and develop your fighting style or ability individually unless you are lucky enough to have an InFi trainer either you follow or do not follow others,

SHAPE AND DEVELOP YOUR PERSONAL STYLE!

InFi Movement on Facebook

InFi and MMA

Some days ago, I had a chat with a martial art expert about individual fighting. After my first two sentences, he said, 'aha, then it is similar to MMA, isn't it?' Yeees, in some respect, it is, I said, but in many essential aspects, it is definitely not.

In columns, I list their attributes. What is more, I start with the well-known concept of freestyle to make the picture even clearer. None of them is a corporate style. I highlighted with green the similarities and with pink the differences from InFi. Each line represents the same aspects in all columns.

In summary, we could call MMA sport InFi or restricted individual fighting. But we must not name InFi as free MMA, in general, because the restraint in MMA is not only technical. The whole mindset is different. The essential discrepancies are in the third, fourth, and fifth lines (above), which are not about freedom or limitation. Of course, all MMA fighters have their InFi out of the contest, and their InFi must be pretty much similar to their competition style. Over and above, InFi is not only an activity. It is a concept, a phenomenon, or a property. Compared with the population, only a few people do MMA, but everybody has InFi.

YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL FIGHTING STYLE 

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!