Why do so many people buy into Americanized Martial Arts?

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Crestrom

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Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, American Jujitsu, along with a whole list of other styles.
What people don't seem to realize in this country is that there is more to Martial Arts than just learning to fight. More than learning mindless routines, and only the slight hints of the way martial arts is supposed to be viewed and learned. Martial Arts above all else is about spiritual growth and enlightenment, empowerment of the mind, body and the spirit, and how to use these things in conjunction. There are martial arts that still teach all this in full, but they are rare gems in this country and you must work hard just to find them.
What is more effective, direct and to the point than a move like "Monkey stealing a peach" which is a kung fu move. Kung Fu above most others is just the kind of martial art id recommend.
 
Different people do martial arts for different reasons. I for instance do it for fitness and to test myself vs other people (competition). I have 0 use for spirituality of martial arts, as I use religion for that. I want practicality and effectiveness, not moves that look cool and using Chi to hurt people and defend myself.
 
Because they have little or no choice. I looked forever for a teacher, found a good one, couple years later he moved on. Found another one, not as good, different style 'Americanized" as you put it. There were no other choices. I had far too little with my European and Japanese instructors. Then what? I had enough authentic training to figure some things out, and other things will forever remain missing. You get what you can get from where ever you can get it, but you also have to understand it, hence the folks who blame kata for being useless, when in fact any tool is useless if you don't know how to use it. Sorry for the rant, but you hit one of my pet peeves, being the watered down crap we WERE taught in the 60s and 70s, never mind the further 'watering' of the ultra-modern MMA bunch. I agree with a Chinese art recommendation, on the condition of finding that elusive good instructor, and I would recommend karate (from personal experience) on the same condition. Neither art could be called better, but that is not true of instructors.
 
Well thats your view.......my view is that I want to learn how to kick your a$$, in the fastest, brutal way possible...I'll meditate when i'm with your girlfriend ;D
 
Actually I think spirituality is more of the americanized thing to do. Pre-WW II era asia didn't bother with all spiritual stuff, and it was more about learning to fight. (Which is why martial artist in Asia wasn't very respectable position back then)
This is not including Japan, but they had a problem with the fighting ruling class becoming a civilized aristocracy and spirituality was their solution. But once again fighting was more of the focus. Once WWII ended and Allied troops were baning all martial arts practice (because they were too dangerous) that's when the heavy claims of spirituality and discipline became the selling point. Which is why Americans are so obsessed with Asian martial art and spirituality.
If America had a martial art of it's own and they asked you to pray to God for protection to make sure no one got hurt in class, and an Asian person took this practice and systematized it, they would claim it very western spiritual thing to do. But to us it wasn't meant as a systematized thing, and this has happened from Asia to America, in my opinion.
 
american style is differ for shure... just because thats how u use it doessent mean we all have to be just liek u man and lets be honest americans and brazilians are ruleing mma
 
Isn't "Monkey stealing a peach" just a fancy way of saying grab him by the balls? Anyway, people buy into it because of good marketing and advertising tactics. Something most traditional martial artists are very uncomfortable doing. They feel that they don't need to advertise or resort to gimmicks since they have a legitimate product. Unfortunately, that's only true in a perfect world, but that's not how it works in the real world. In a world where people can get products at the push of a button, selling something that takes a long time to master and requires utmost dedication and commitment is a hard sell. People would rather buy the easy fix or a magic pill, than rearrange their lifestyle and make sacrifices to achieve their goal.
 
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