Kung Fu Systems and Karate Styles? What's up with that...

While spending a sleepless night thinking about this a few years ago, I came to the following categorizing conclusions and I thought that this was as good a place as any to share those ideas:

Art: Physical expression of an idea, concept, or emotion; tangible or intangible; purposely created by a thinking and feeling sentient being.

Types of Art: Literature, music, "physical art" (dance, martial art), etc

Martial Arts: Physical expression of a specific philosophy or set of philosophies using combat-type movements and scenarios (either real or imagined).

- Differs from a Combat system or a Martial Sport; Each generally lacks a "higher" philosophy around which it bases it's operation.

- Are generally categorized by similar domninant combative methods and tactical doctrine (I.E. - throws vs kicks vs joint locks)

- can be further categorized by region of origin (I.E. - Korea, Japan/Okinawa, China, Indonesia, Nevada, etc)

Types of Martial Arts: Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, Arnis, Boxing (if taught with an underlying "higher" philosophy), Kung Fu

Martial Art System: a general method of achieving a more specific philosophical goal relative to the teachings of a particular individual or group of individuals; an overall "how and why" within a specific martial art; has distinct exercises and forms, if applicable, that distinguish it from other systems of the same art

Types of Martial Art Systems: Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, WTF TKD, Praying Mantis, American Kenpo

Martial Art Style: specific method of teaching a martial art system within the confines and philosophy of said larger System (see above); usually focused upon the teaching methods of a specific instructor (past or present); often uses similar but separate methods to teach the same material

Types of Martial Art Styles: Japanese Goju Ryu, Southern Tiger, Ed Parker’s American Kenpo

Martial Art Schools: refers to the specific methods and practices of a particular instructor and their students and not the physical location

Types of Martial Art Schools: AC Wiley’s Nahate Goju Ryu, Jimmy Cole’s Songham TKD, Royce Gracie’s BJJ

Often an individual teacher will have a method different enough from others within the same style that the SCHOOL will develop, over time, into a new style (over time is the key phrase there). That style will grow and change into a separate system as more students learn from this instructor or his students. If it is individual enough to stand on its own, the system could eventually turn itself into a separate art.

For example (simplified): Higaonna learned martial arts from Ryu Ryuko and other teachers, he taught the art Nahate (later Karate) to Miyagi; Miyagi taught karate at the school level, it was different enough to warrant being named a different style (Goju Ryu); The style gained a following and split into Okinawan and Japanese Goju Ryu (Two styles of the now System); Each split into different styles of Japanese and Okinawan Goju Ryu based on the different instructors methods and now there are Okinawan, Japanese and American SYSTEMS of Goju Ryu, each with their own styles and those having their own separate schools.

My thoughts…