We have all heard the term "Jack of all trades and master of none" and we have probably met a few. It is easy to superficially dabble in a lot of things but it is really hard to take the time and get REALLY good at something.
There are more and more people falling into this category. I think it is the sign of the times. Stick-to-it-ivness isn't valued like it used to be. People tend to be more like collectors now.
In my opinion, I believe there are two reasons for this and both revolve around ego and insecurity. First, I think that many people haven't experienced the satisfaction of undertaking something for a very long time and doing it well. They then become impatient before the process is complete and try something else. Secondly, I believe that people feel they need to do as many different things as possible to keep up with the Jones'. It is like a high school kid who has friends who all do different things and feels that he or she also has to do all those things too to be liked or accepted.
The center of attenion.... "Look at me! I'm better than you. This will make you look up to me with great awe!"
It's hard for a person that deep into themselves to really see it for what it is: imaturity and insecurity. They think if they have "more" of something then they have a greater value as a person.
I see this in both martial arts and fitness. Martial artists seem to want to do as many different things as possible or whatever the latest fad may be. Why? Don't they feel comfortable with what they are training in already? Are they bored? Do they think that it will make them better than everyone else? Fitness trainers are the same way. They have to get a whole bunch of certifications that revolve around a "scattering" of skills like post-pregnancy fitness, pilates, aqua-robics, step interval classes, kickboxing, youth functional training, diabetic fitness, etc. Do they think it makes them more marketable? Are they hoping to make more money (scam) with all this extra "knowledge"?
All of these are examples of a bunch of "Jacks" but no masters. They are trying to get a huge breadth of knowledge when what they should try to get first is a great depth of knowledge in one area before they branch into other things. They think they are experts. Experts look at them as fools.
There are more and more people falling into this category. I think it is the sign of the times. Stick-to-it-ivness isn't valued like it used to be. People tend to be more like collectors now.
In my opinion, I believe there are two reasons for this and both revolve around ego and insecurity. First, I think that many people haven't experienced the satisfaction of undertaking something for a very long time and doing it well. They then become impatient before the process is complete and try something else. Secondly, I believe that people feel they need to do as many different things as possible to keep up with the Jones'. It is like a high school kid who has friends who all do different things and feels that he or she also has to do all those things too to be liked or accepted.
The center of attenion.... "Look at me! I'm better than you. This will make you look up to me with great awe!"
It's hard for a person that deep into themselves to really see it for what it is: imaturity and insecurity. They think if they have "more" of something then they have a greater value as a person.
I see this in both martial arts and fitness. Martial artists seem to want to do as many different things as possible or whatever the latest fad may be. Why? Don't they feel comfortable with what they are training in already? Are they bored? Do they think that it will make them better than everyone else? Fitness trainers are the same way. They have to get a whole bunch of certifications that revolve around a "scattering" of skills like post-pregnancy fitness, pilates, aqua-robics, step interval classes, kickboxing, youth functional training, diabetic fitness, etc. Do they think it makes them more marketable? Are they hoping to make more money (scam) with all this extra "knowledge"?
All of these are examples of a bunch of "Jacks" but no masters. They are trying to get a huge breadth of knowledge when what they should try to get first is a great depth of knowledge in one area before they branch into other things. They think they are experts. Experts look at them as fools.
6 comments:
Bruce Lee said to train in many different things to get better. This is contrary to what you are saying. I look at what he says as truth
I taught for a number of years. A lot of people like to try all the new fads in martial arts before they get really good at one thing. Then they think they are experts. It takes time to lay down a good foundation.
Bruce Lee never gave his own training a chance to evolve. Quite honestly, he wasn't very good. He was fast, he was buff, he had a giant pumpkinhead- oh, and he was famous. I think that I'll give myself the opportunity to really learn the art that I endeavour to perfect.
Well, as a practitioner of a traditional form of Kung fu, I can say that Bruce Lee's ideas were not totally incorrect but the truth be told, he was advocating an immature understanding of the traditional arts. The forms, paired or single all prepare for fighting, they all contain living, practiced techniques and body motion training. What Bruce Lee said was correct, if someone else has something that works there is nothing wrong with learning and using it, even if it is not from your own style, but if you understand your own style fully this easy to due, but you must build the foundation and continue or else you will be like a someone who takes a Bachelors in Liberal Arts, you read and learned all this different stuff but you are good at nothing in the end
I think what he is trying to say is that someone who gets a blue belt in BJJ, a brown belt in tae kwondo, a black sash in kung fu, and took Filipino MA seminars for a few years doesn't quite have a grasp of what a martial art is or how it fits into the MA universe because that person thinks they know it all. In reality, they hardly know anything. There are a lot of MA instructors who do this and then start teaching. They usually inflate their ranks to match their ego.
True True True. A strong foundation is key. Nobody wants to be jack of all trades, master of none.
Bruce says: Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.
Maybe I buy into the Bruce Lee hype too much, but wouldn't simply "Deny the classical approach or classical approach absolutely 100%" be the worst?
Again... Chapters 29 page 5 (j/k)
If we cling to any artistic technique it can limit our artistic expression.-Art is the expression of the self; the more complicated and restrictive a method is, the lesser the opportunity for expression of one's original sense of freedom. The techniques, although they play an important role in the earlier stage, should not be too complex, restrictive, or mechanical. If we cling to them, we will become bound by their limitations.
Why is this not valid? Can't this be true for any art? martial or not?
I personally like to think he was the real deal, his body was the result of his training. Truly inspirational. Based off what I read (...in a book) he appears to have trained harder than the average MA to perfect himself and "his" art.
I like to think he wasn't just an Asian dude with an ego and aviators.
He dedicated his whole life to martial arts. (no??) What makes you say he wasn't very good?
He was fast, buff, and could kick Kareem Abdul Jabar in the head...
Plus he trained a lil' which Chuck Norris
Wasn't he at least kinda good?
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