The Benefits of Martial Arts Cross-Training

Imagine yourself putting together a new shelf from Ikea. You get this list of complex directions, which includes a list of tools you will need to complete the job. Most likely you will need a hammer, a screwdriver, and a decent amount of patience. Now imagine you only have one screwdriver in your tool box and it just so happens to not be the size you need it to be.

Or imagine that you come home to a fresh loaf of bread sitting on the counter. You reach in the drawer to grab something to cut a slice, and all you have is a butter knife. Sure, this will get the job done, but probably not as easily as some other alternatives, and you will probably end up making a bigger mess than needed.

Throughout life we have situations we come across where we need some sort of tool or device to help us complete a task. Usually, you would want to choose the best tool for the job. You would most likely want to choose a tool that will help get the task completed in the easiest and most efficient way possible. Most of us are too busy for anything else. Martial arts and self defense training are no different.

I have dedicated most of my life to the study of martial arts and self defense training. I started at a very young age, with more traditional arts and have steadily progressed ever since to more modern defense systems. Throughout this journey not only have I picked up a decent amount of knowledge on how to defend myself should the need arise, but I have also gained a decent perspective on what the world has to offer as far as self defense training.

Traditional vs. Modern, Sport vs. Reality

To begin planning your cross training, you should develop a decent understanding of the different “types” of training.

First you have your traditional systems which may include Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kung Fu, and so forth. These systems have been around for a very long time, and a majority of the techniques and forms (kata) practiced today, were practiced generations ago.

I started in Tae Kwon Do when I was young, and I believe that my studies provided me with a great foundation to build upon. Traditional arts are very popular, and today you most likely don’t have to look very hard to find a studio at which to train.

Secondly, you have your more modern martial arts systems. These can include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, and Jeet Kune Do. These systems have come about recently and are gaining traction in today’s pop culture. Before the first ever aired Pay Per View of UFC 1, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was unheard of. Royce Gracie was an unstoppable force in the ring because technical grappling was a foreign concept.

Next, there are sport systems. These systems include MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and boxing. These systems are mostly built on a structure for competition. Meaning, you have a set number of rounds for a set time limit, you have a judge make sure no one is badly injured. You have months to prepare for your bout, and most of the time you have a scoring system that allows a winner to be decided if the fight goes the distance.

Lastly, you have reality based defense systems. Don’t get to hung up on the use of the word reality, I mean it loosely. These systems include Krav Maga, Kali, Jeet Kune Do, Defence Lab, and etc. These systems were designed for situations you are likely to encounter when faced with the need to defend yourself. Being held at gunpoint, someone swinging a knife at you, being car jacked, someone trying to jump you, that sort of thing.

Why Would I Cross Train?

Any martial artist or self defense expert who knows what they are talking about will tell you there is no perfect system. There is no system out there that will offer every answer to every problem you will face.

Let’s face it, if there was a “perfect” system, not only would we all be training in it but there wouldn’t be so many systems to choose from.

That being said, every system around today has its own unique qualities. Every single one of them has something to offer that none of the others do. Every system has its place.

As with the analogy I used at the beginning of this article, just because the screwdriver you have isn’t the right size for that particular shelf, it doesn’t mean you should throw it away.

Cross training offers you a chance to better understand what other systems have to offer. How do you know something won’t work better for you, or be useful to you, if you completely shut yourself off from it?

Not only does cross training give you a better understanding of different techniques, but it gives you a better understanding of different viewpoints as well. You have a chance to view the arts as a whole from someone else’s eyes, and you may pick something up that you never considered before.

No one walking around today is the same as anyone else. What works for me in my day to day life and training may not work for you. So, why should you limit yourself to training only in the systems that work best for me?

Getting out there and doing some research, trying new systems, can help you to find different things that truly work best for you in many different aspects. Your body structure, old injuries, muscle tone, height and reach, specific training goals, all these are factors that will dictate what techniques will work best for you. How would you find the perfect fit without going out and trying new things?

But before you start jumping from system to system, understand it is best to build a foundation. Gain a certain amount of understanding of the arts and their principles. If your foundation is weak or nonexistent, you will do nothing for yourself except add much confusion.

If you decide to cross train, give yourself time to not only understand the system you are in, but also understand yourself completely. Don’t look at the journey as a path of collection, meaning you are not trying to collect systems. Merely look at it as a never ending path of self realization through self expression. And remember, knowledge is free, and you can never have too many tools in the toolbox or knives in the drawer.

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