I have studied many styles and all have valuable information to offer. We seem to have lost the distinction between street fighting and the martial arts. We are raising a generation which believes that the philosophical differences between street fighting and martial arts in just a bunch of bull. All they see is who can beat who and who is the deadliest guy around. All we need to do is take a quick look around the dojo and notice how much smaller our classes are than they used to be.
Nobody wants to devote the time to learn a martial art anymore.
They want to know how to kick ass in five easy lessons. That is sad and the media just perpetuates the idea. Just as the age old debate rages about the difference between good and evil using the same tools and tactics to accomplish their goal, so it is in this situation. A martial artist may be outstanding fighter, when he has to be, but someone who focusses strictly on fighting, will never be a martial artist.