Cross Training Questions

What creates a better fighter? A "complete" style or cross training?

I'm interested in (most) people's opinions on this matter. Assuming that said complete style is actually good, I could see it having the advantage of training with synergy. That way, it's guaranteed that the practitioner's techniques wouldn't become compartmentalized, and flow naturally between eachother. On the other hand, cross training supplies more depth in each facet of combat that one trains in than -- say -- training in one style that encompasses multiple ranges of fighting. (Yes you can cross train and then practice everything together, but that's not what I'm asking; I already consider that to be most effective.) by the way, I'm noticing misconceptions about what cross training is. Cross training isn't just dabbling in techniques of various styles, it's actually training in multiple styles simultaneously. For instance, Boxing on Mon & Tues, BJJ on Wed &Thurs, and Wrestling on Fri & Sat. That's cross training. Cross training is not just randomly taking various classes once or twice and never coming back.

Public Comments

1. It depends on the situation. Cross training i see as sport because you're not learning a martial art just techniques from some. If you take a black belt Judoka and he was fighting with a cross trainer that only knows some basic Judo techniques who's going to win? I think cross training is good for sports and fitness but for total defence it's Martial Arts.
2. What makes a better fighter ? Hard work, lots of training and practice, and continuing to push yourself to new levels. It doesn't matter if you take one style or one hundred, If you don't strive to achieve more you will not be able to accomplish what you want. If you really want to be a better fighter you need to also train with realistic contact and speed, as well as conditioning your body, you need to also condition your mind.
3. Cross training. At the very least it's like doing a performance test on a system or machine before you put it into use. And that is vital for everything from cars, to computers to fighting. As a long time doorman, I saw so many martial artists get their asses handed to them on the street the first time they get in a fight with a big strong drunk guy in a bar. A single 'test' by taking a single boxing lesson at a nearby club, (or kickboxing, or mauy thai or judo) whatever would have highlighted issues the system might have, and allowed corrections at their liesure. A lesson like this is safe, legal, friendly and might save their life! It has always surprised me the aversion so many martial artists have to cross training in order test thier systems, since every other area of life and industry does it. -Scratches head....
4. styles dont make fighters
5. I've found training in a martial art to a point where you fully understand it makes you cross train yourself. you take a style then make it work for you. incoroperate things you do instinctivly that may not be "in your style" but the best fighter is usually the one who fights the most. this is how cross training and single styles came to be some people fought enough to figure out what worked most of the time an then put it to use and taught other people
6. Cross Training. There are nuances to moves and ranges of fighting that specialist understand, that a complete style cannot encompass. Honestly I think learning multiple styles for any one range is even better, there are nuances and differences in throws the way Sambo executes them, and the way Judo executes them. One might be better suited for an individual then the other, by training with varied specialists you get a more complete view then any one style can encompass, because it never specializes or focuses on a particular range. A Swiss Army knife has a ton of tools, but it's screwdriver is no where near as good as a regular screw driver whose sole purpose is to drive screws. A complete system is good at giving you the basics of each range, and that is awesome. If that is all one has time and money for, and they devote time, energy, and realistic training then they will do well. However they will not be as complete a fighter as someone who has spent time training in arts that specialize in a range of fighting, and mastering those ranges gives you an edge over someone who has just dabbled in each. Honestly, I don't even see why this is such a big deal to some people, every single "great" Grandmaster has spent significant time in other Martial Arts. Every single person who is considered a "great" or legendary Martial Artist has cross trained in other Arts. And every one of those complete styles' founders trained in multiple arts. While they compiled what they felt was the meat and potatoes for the particular founder or individual. Well a throw he learned from Judo that worked well for him and teaches as part of his curriculum, might have evolved, or may not be adaptable and suitable to my body, where as some other throw might suit me very well, but since he was no good at it, or he felt it was ineffective he left it out of his "complete" style. There are strategies and combinations, and nuances to every aspect of the game. The best way to be complete and lacking of gaps is to train every aspect of unnarmed combat (and armed combat via hand gun courses, Arnis, etc.) with different styles and get what works the best for YOU. A complete system is a swiss army knife. A Cross Trained Fighter has the actual tools in a toolbox. He can screw a screw better than a swiss army knife guy, he can cut a tree better than a swiss army knife guy can, and he can build a house better than a swiss army knife can. The Swiss Army knife has everything he needs, but it is not as effective as the tools designed specifically for a task. (Meaning he can outstrike a guy who has some training in striking, due to his specialized training, he can outgrapple a guy who dabbles in grappling due to his specialized training, etc.) That being said, some people don't have time, money or the exposure and ability to train in many different styles. A complete style will suit their needs, especially if they train realistically. (Meaning at high intensity against resisting opponents) Just my opinion.
7. Well believe it or not before there were no questions like this, fighting used to mean just that, fighting, that included wrestling, grappling, pressure points, striking, kicking..... Even the modern styles used to be trained like MMA, Karate was always taught with Judo and JJ and is still like this in Japan, Muay Thai had grappling and ground fighting, maybe not as advanced as BJJ but at least it was something, and Kung Fu always involved the mastering of more than one style and ptting them together, I think in the animal styles when you mastered the five, panther, crane, tiger and snake they combined into the dragon style (but don't quote me on that) So the question you should really be asking is not if cross training is effective but why has cross training being eliminated from most systems? Was is sport perhaps... If you do TKD it would be harder to win trophys if you "wasted" time wrestling. Was it just lack of the knowlege by the trainers? Was it McDojoism? Maybe the place can't afford mats even which are essencial to wrestling and Judo
8. "I would rather have one mighty oak than a forest full of saplings." is what my teacher says Most arts are a complete system that will address all ranges of combat as well as hard/soft techniques and grappling/striking techniques. But really the quality and frequency of one's training will override what the style are training in.
9. Very good question. I think for self defense purpose- A good, realitstic, truly "Complete" art would suffice. Kajuknebo comes to mind very quickly in my head. For competition- Either you have one art with many arts or piece of arts working around it, or you're completely cross trained, in my opinion. I really think the concept of starting with one art, then working around that is a very good strategy. Not to imply neglect of the other ranges, but like: Anderson Silva being a bjj black belt, but primarily hitting people with his outstanding striking, Bas Rutten, et cetera... I think it also depends on the rules for the second option as well. I know a lot of styles have certain rules that make certain techniques illegal (Like striking in Judo randori), but I know of some that don't, or allow for extensions of ranges like Hapkido for example- In some schools of Hapkido, there's groundfighting, so it's basically anything goes in sparring when it comes to the ranges, and with others, they at least allow strikes with throws, and some basic ground things (Possibly some locks). I think the first one also depends on the style too. I was taking this art called "Kyukido" (Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Judo, and Jujutsu) with Hapkido for a few months. It is natural that the "Synergy" if you will, grows with the individual. When we initially started sparring: It was just TKD sparring that was point, light, and full all together. The more we progressed, the more the parts grew together, and while I was in a special situation*, we eventually ended up sparring all-around, minus the situation. That's how the style always goes: You learn strikes, throws, locks, and groundfighting basics, but you keep moving on with it, until they all work together. So I agree with a mix of the first answer, and Judomofo's answer. A complete system would be like a swiss army knife vs. a tool box, but what are we screwing in? A screwdriver is going to be better than one on a swiss army knife more than likely, but why would I need a that, if I'm just screwing in a blade on my celing fan? If I'm working on a plane: Then yea. I'm probably going to need a toolbox, but the fan blade? What's wrong with the swiss army knife? lol And I do agree with your ending Kin: That's the most ideal, and I know that's what many a MMA fighters do. Take some styles throughout the week, then put it all together in the end. I'm hoping my first duty station is Arizona (Tuscon). If it is: I've got many styles in mind from what I've seen. (Hirado jujutsu, Kyokushin, Capoeira, the boxing gym has MMA and Muay Thai, et cetera; It's going to be like a candy store for me! Now all I need is Sanda... *Laughs*! :p) I may not always agree with you or judomofo for example, but I do wish you luck with your training. I'll be able to train that much: When I get out of college. lol :p