Is it true that most martial arts systems can be broken down into a few core moves with variations?
by 
Anonymous
ANSWERS: 3
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Since I have not studied thousands of different martial arts styles all the way to grand master, I can not actually answer with accuracy ... however, of the styles that I have studied NONE fit your description .... so, I will have to guess and say, "NO".
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In my experience, yes. It just depends on what you call "core", and what you consider a variation or something entirely different. I suspect Takei and I have different opinions on that. At their heart, martial arts are designed to be used under the stress of lethal combat, and as such must be simple. Otherwise we'd never remember it when the heat is on. I mean, a punch is a punch, a kick, is a kick, and hitting someone with a handheld object is the same no matter where you go. In the art I practice most (German Longsword), the entire system, of which many volumes of technical manuals have been written, can still be broken down into about 10-15 BASIC moves. It's the APPLICATION of those moves that becomes complicated, hence the Art... just like music... there are only 12 notes, but it's what you DO with them that makes the music.
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Yes if you are skilled enough, there are only two hand positions open or closed, two foot positions even and un-even, and three blocks, low, middel, upper. From these basics come the thousands of variations.
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