Main Index
The Development of the
Elite-Fighters
System of Martial Arts
Part 3 - A Scientific Approach
Written by - Kevin Lamkin
One of the exciting things that I looked forward to when I began studying martial arts was that the statement that martial arts is the art of scientific fighting. I have always been scientific minded and have acquired degrees in chemistry and physics. I taught physics at the University of Louisville while attending graduate school in physics. The disappointing thing to me was that although many eclectic and and American martial arts systems advertised a scientific approach, and even used scientific terminology, the principles of fighting and scientific truth were often not in agreement with each other. This is due to the fact that most martial arts masters either only knew rudimentary knowledge of science, or had not fully developed their system before becoming famous. I respectfully discussed some of these problems with Ed Parker, founder of the American Kenpo system, in the late 1980s. Ed Parker said that he had studied some undergraduate physics in college and utilized the information the best he could when he developed American Kenpo. He like what I had to say and had me to publish articles in his I.K.K.A. newsletter for the last two years of his life. The column was entitled "Kenpo Physics." What he asked me to do is to educate his kenpo organization how they were incorrectly using physics terms and also to introduce new ideas and scientific approaches to kenpo. The newsletter was discontinued shortly after Ed Parker's death.
The misapplication of science to martial arts is apparent in many other areas of the martial arts world. This article is not to educate you of the science of the martial arts, but to show you another root of motivation and direction that Eric Lamkin and I took when we developed the Elite-Fighters System of the Martial Arts.
When applying a scientific principle, or experimenting with a theory of science to any endeavor, two things must be present. The experiment or experience must be:
For instance, if your instructor tells you that if you concentrate your chi on your finger tip and touch your opponent on his temple at 3:00 pm, he will die in 48 hours. Naturally, you probably will not go around touching people in this manner, so the effect will no be observable nor repeatable. Therefore, it falls into a category outside of science - more into the realm of metaphysics and fantasy. But, there are an incredible number of people that have bought into the whole mess of chi and the death touch. It is really a religion.
If, however, your instructor shows you how you can grab your opponent's wrist, straighten his arm and apply pressure against the back of his elbow to form a painful arm bar hold, you then have a repeatable and observable experience. You can then experiment with this procedure with partners of various sizes and strength to develop this observation into a theory. After having further experimented with this theory to be reliable, your can then state that you have a utilized the principle of a lever and fulcrum to develop the arm bar concept of grappling.To objectively study any topic, you must learn the underlying principles on which the topic is built. Otherwise, you can easily be misled by:
There is a close similarity between the 'freshmen' studying science and martial artists claiming that they are studying the science of fighting (sometimes terming it "martial science" to sound more official). The similarity is that often the student will say, "I have a new theory of ...," or "I have just discovered a new idea that ...." Often, their new theory promises to be the final, ultimate secret, never before thought of, etc. For an idea to become qualified as an official theory, principle and even law, three criteria must be met. The new idea, or hypothesis must:
- Satisfy, or fulfill, all previously known and accepted laws and principles without contradiction;
- Satisfy, or fulfill itself without contradiction;
- Predict, or prepare the future for an outcome, or outgrowth of the new idea, or hypothesis.
An example from science is the Law of gravitation. Isaac Newton observed a phenomena of falling objects, experimented and theorized an explanation of why and how objects interact. After repeated experimentation he developed his theory of gravitation. His theory satisfied all previous knowledge of masses interacting, remained consistent within the framework of his hypotheses and prepared the way for a future theory developed by Albert Einstein. Because Newton's theory has held up under repeated experimentation over the centuries without contradiction, it has become known as a Law of Nature. Einstein has extended this law with theories of his own. These theories have also maintained consistent under experimentation, however, our current technology will not be able to fully test Einstein's theory for an estimated two hundred years, before it becomes an accepted law.
Applying these basic criteria to martial arts will determine if the martial art is truly 'scientific.' The basis from which a martial art must satisfy all previous knowledge of martial arts is taken from the five essential qualities that a martial art must possessed to be considered a 'complete system.' It is agreed among martial art masters that a complete system must:
- Utilize all ranges of fighting - long range (kicking), medium range (hand striking), close range (locks and throws), close range (grappling, chokes and ground fighting)
- Utilize defensive applications for all types of attacks (empty hand and armed attacks)
- Utilize defensive applications against multiple attacks and multiple opponents
- Utilize offensive applications; i.e., how to preemptively attack for the purpose of defense or survival
- Study the usage of weapons
Applying all of these criteria and qualities, one can determine if the martial art is truly 'scientific.' The following chart briefly compares the most popular arts and indicates where the breakdown occurs to disqualify the art as an art of 'scientific fighting.' The chart indicates whether the art adheres to theories or philosophies that cannot be observed or repeated, if the art satisfies previous knowledge, remains consistent with itself and prepares for development of the future.
Art
Name |
Observable/ Repeatable |
Consistent
with Past |
Consistent
with Self |
Plan
for Future |
Elite-Fighters
System |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Tai Chi Chuan |
No (claims chi power) |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
American Kenpo (various styles) |
No (claims chi power) |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Kung Fu (various styles) |
No (claims chi power) |
Yes/No ( not all arts meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Tae Kwon Do (various styles) |
No (claims chi power) |
Yes/No ( not all arts meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Judo |
No (claims chi power) |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Gracie Jui Jitsu |
Yes/No (chi power is taught but not emphasized) |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Karate (various styles) |
No (claims chi power) |
Yes/No ( not all arts meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Kick Boxing (various styles) |
Yes/No (chi power is taught but not emphasized) |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
| Pankration/ Grappling |
Yes |
No (does not meet the five essentials of martial arts) |
Yes |
No |
Filipino Arts (various styles) |
No (claims chi power/ forces of nature) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Jeet Kune Do |
No (claims chi power) |
Yes |
Yes |
No (the system was never completed) |
Many martial artists get upset when confronted with this data. However, if you are in an art that claims to manipulate power from within (chi) or from nature (the force of Star Wars??), then you are really practicing a religion, not science. And if you really are determined that you possess the abilities to use these powers, then there is a reward for you! Click here
If you are in an art that is not complete, then you are not studying a complete martial art. Many stylists really enjoy what they are doing, but under close scrutiny, the style imposes rules or excludes certain criteria which makes the art unique only under those auspices. Judo for example has no strikes, weapons, nor the ability to defend against multiple opponents. Jeet Kune Do stripped of the eastern philosophies would be fine, however no system had been fully developed during Bruce Lee's lifetime. Therefore, no goal has been set where the art should direct its practitioners. Kick boxing is fine for a sport, but it does not point a way to a future generation of fighters, nor does it satisfy all of the qualities of a complete martial art system. Martial Art Styles that are self contained; like Judo, Tai Jutsu, Tai Chi Chuan, Gracie Ju Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, etc., are basically worlds within themselves (cults). These arts often do not allow their practitioners to practice 'outside arts' and develop inner circles around there 'master' to get final authority on any subject. These are truly martial art cults. True 'scientific fighting' allows all scrutiny to exist for verification, validation, and repeatable experimentation.The Elite-Fighters System of Martial is designed to satisfy all of the above criteria. Our goals are:
If you are a martial artist that has been searching for meaning and direction in the arts, or if you are completely new to martial arts, looking for the right way to start without being sent down the wrong path, start today. Enter the Praetorium.
More information will be posted. You can also find more information
about the system at the FAQs page and the Forum.
Contact us at: webmaster@elite-fighters.com
Copyright
2003 by Elite-Fighers.com®. All rights reserved. Duplication of
materials is strictly prohibited
without written permission by the authors. Contact webmaster@elite-fighters.com
