Possible?

If you study a JMA, could you possibly remove all context/connection/relation to Japanese culture and still have the same art? Why or why not?

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Wolfgang says:

I could think of a million better things to do in Japan for a month besides jumping off of picnic tables. - x893

suppose you could

the BJJ classes i have been to have a very different flavour to the JJJ classes

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"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

I dont think you would. When you remove the context/connection/relation of a culture from any art the art either will take on another culture or die! BJJ in not without context/connection/relation to culture, its just more of a western culture and not an eastern culture. I personally believe the study of the history/religion/philosophy that surrounds the art (Im not say MAs are religious in nature but alot of the promenent practisionars where) sound be at least cassually studied to give us an idea of where that art came from. Just like an Athrologist or an Archiologist studies the past of the world to better understand where we come from is it not important to be educated on what we devout our time and spend thousand and millions of dollars over our life time to learn? Pope is absolutely right BJJ has a different flavor than JJJ, thats because its Brazilian (and possible a little USA) in nature. Look at American Kickboxing and a Chinese equivallent (such as WC or CLF) they look very different from American Kickboxing but that dont mean either has less value then the other. It still all comes down to the intent. Its just the culture that has made them look different.

Sure you could. Just repackage it with star-spangled uniforms and call it "Kickin' for Krist."

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Lmfao

You can play basketball without any reference to the US culture, other than maybe the "Spalding" and "NBA" on the ball itself. So why should you get a "japanese mindset" to learn how to hiptoss someone with something that got a japanese naming ? It starts to get something different when changing something on the sports and practice in an important, and very different way. Like dancing on the court to samba rythm in basketball.

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"Fawning, but proud!" - (at least sometimes, in rare cases)
"Killing them all didn't make it any better..." - "Are you a freak or something ???" - Max Payne
"Theft is a crime, even in Iraq." - Me.

All art changes when you change the culture around it.