Personal Protection - The Importance of Cross Training

(Page 6)

Sensei Tom Gillis

When I first started training martial arts I fell into a very dangerous trap. I used to put down other martial arts. I thought that whatever art I was studying was superior to any others. However over the last several years I've come to realize that the different martial arts actually have more in common than they do apart. I've cross trained in 14 different martial arts. The only art I work at mastering proficiency in out of those is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, and some of those arts I've only trained at 1 or 2 seminars, but what I've learned from seeing all these different martial arts and trying them is that there's actually way more in common than what the average martial artist, or even most martial arts instructors, realize.

Let me illustrate with a few examples. A kimura in BJJ is the same as an oni kidaki in Bujinkan. A take jime in judo is the same as a rear naked choke in BJJ. An omote gyaku in Bujinkan is the same as a gun inversion in Hapkido. A hook punch in boxing is the same as a hooking knife stab in Balintawak Arnis. A Jeet Kune Do straight blast is the same as a katana thrust in Kenjutsu. That's not to say that these technique are done exactly the same way but in each example the core body mechanics AND the physics and anatomical principles at play are the same.

When you think about it this makes total sense. There are only so many ways to move the human body. More importantly there are only so many ways to move the human body in a way that maintains structural integrity, balance, skeletal alignment and power. Remember also that empty hand martial arts come out of armed martial arts. Therefore it makes sense to develop a combat system that relies on the same body mechanics regardless of the weapon engaged in combat. Often if you track the lineage of a martial art back in time far enough you realize that it didn't actually originate where it's currently situated. For example Gracie Jiu Jitsu goes back to Japanese Kodokan Judo, which goes back to Chinese Kung Fu, which goes back to Indian śastravidyā. Bujinkan Koto Ryu is another example, its lineage tracks to Cho Gyokko in China.

So what should all this mean to you? It should mean that regardless of your martial art of passion don't put down other martial arts. Each has something to offer the others. It also means that while there's nothing wrong in having pride in your particular history and lineage and striving to master one martial art, it's good to explore and be exposed to others. They may help you see your own art in a new light and help open new doors.

A few weeks ago I was attending a Bujinkan class with Shihan Jay Creasey and he had us working on spinning hook kicks. Rarely in Bujinkan do you see spinning hook kicks and he told us that the kick we were training isn't part of our system. So then why train it? It increases balance, trains the eyes to track targets in a 360 degree circle, increases flexibility in the hamstring and hip, teaches how to move and maintain relative distance and range to an opponent and increases thigh abductor and adductor strength. Those are all things that will help with the rest of Bujinkan techniques as well as self protection and martial arts in general.
In conclusion to develop as a martial artist I would encourage you to cross train in different martial arts and keep an open mind. In the words of Soke-dai Braezeale, “there are no bad martial arts systems, just bad martial artists.”