If you haven't been studying martial arts for long, or if you live under a rock, you may not know there is a difference between traditional and functional martial arts. You may also not know that there is a "war" going on between the two. Don't worry, the only casualties are traditional artist who enter No Holds Barred Matches or are forced to defend themselves from everyday street crime. Even then it's usually only minor cuts and bruises to their bodies....... and egos.
What is a traditional martial art? Generally speaking traditional arts are older meaning they were founded more that 50 years ago. They are generally an art, not a science. Traditional arts are more of an expiration of a culture (sometimes an accent one) than a realistic means of self defends.
Functional martial arts are more modern, usually first and foremost are concerned with pragmatic self defense, and always changing to better archive that goal. Often they are based on blending many other arts together, using the best of what they each have to offer, regardless of their ethnic background.
