Gregg A. Loney 

Progressive Fighting Systems Instructor
Modern Krav Maga Instructor
JEET KUNE DO Practitioner and Instructor
6th Degree Black Belt TKD   
2nd Degree ASN               
Founder Hapkido Concepts
Founder WORLD Martial Arts Elite LLC 
Co Owner ASSAULTS Defense Systems LLC 


Instructing martial arts has taught me many things
and a few that I feel every instructor should apply.
One, never stop learning or get to comfortable in
your ways. Two, evaluate and update your style,
system or way continuously. Seems like common
sense. However traditional style instructors tend
to stop putting themselves out there and are
content learning a new form or kata in their style
to achieve a higher rank. This practice misleads
the public into thinking a high rank automatically qualifies them to teach self defense, a very
dangerous and irresponsible thing to do.

Instructors need to take the time and responsibility
to test their style for real effectiveness. They should learn from other instructors who have either been there and used it, or instructors who are continuously working with people that use their skills for survival. This way they can get input on what is working well and what is not, also why a technique might be failing. There is nothing wrong with learning a traditional art it can build invaluable attributes and benefit you enormously. The best of the best all have a traditional background, it just will not fully equip you to defend yourself.

Even MMA as awesome as it is, may not the best
choice for self defense, throw a knife in the octagon and see what happens. Trading blows, locks and holds
is just not good self defense. Lets enjoy the benefits
of traditional and sport martial arts, but let's also be
smart enough to know where to separate the art
from the functional.
 
“When your life depends on it, you cannot train
in what might work. You must train and know
what will work."