Particularly in Asian martial arts the term 'Family' or 'Family style' is maintained even today. Wrong expectations due to the false setting of the terms provide human misunderstandings at large. This article will help to bring more transparency to the terms and to cleaner set the correct perimeter.
Basic definition first: family is a group of people, which organically belong to the same blood line or enter family ties through marriage. In this context, the biological foundations play the essential role and less some ideological notions. Once the philosophical ideas within the family structure are same or similar, thus the greater the impact on the strength and cohesion of the family bond.
Many Asian martial arts actually come from real family structures, which had maintained the occupation of martial arts as a 'family creed’ or 'family cult' and which has been passed down for centuries from generation to generation within the same family lineage. This in conjunction with certain rituals, which should keep the loyalty of family members always aware.
Not necessarily martial arts, but fine arts or even professions were passed down in similar manner within family clans in the Western family structures from generation to generation. By itself it is known from the recent history, that the profession of the parents was passed on to the children in order to continue. Such structures also have to preserve and to continue the values and achievements of the 'family', which were built up over several generations - but not by strangers or outsiders, only by the same biological line in conjunction with the corresponding loyalty to the family lineage. This can be best observed in family company or companies of tradition, where at least one biological descendant will be chosen with the task of continuing the company.
Martial arts today have outgrown the term ‘family’ for decades. The task or the structure of the family have been taken over by associations, schools or national respectively international organizations of like-minded people. While the fewest protagonists are biologically linked in any kind, the same ideological notion and the loyalty or the belief establishes the basis of cohesion. During the transitional phase from actual family structures to current structures many institutions lived it like a family, despite the non-existent biological bond. That set a requirement towards the like-minded members to live like in a real family structure - with all its rituals and traditions. Depending on the degree and intensity, this can very quickly take on sectarian traits according to today's understanding.
Therefore the term 'martial art family' is a pure virtual idea, that today aims at outlining the goodwill of all members involved. By the sudden change of individual ideas, the break up is being reinforced solidly by a missing biological bond, which had until then always ensured a willingness for compromise with regard to the same family objective.
To ensure a constructive work and continued existence of today's martial art structures, the term 'family' must be replaced by the term 'familial relationship' and lived as such. By this the teacher is a mentor - as long as someone can put any sense to what he teaches. This is the most honest starting point! The supreme teacher with the greatest wealth of experience, then takes the leadership position, but who still cannot successfully realize his works without his team of other instructors and trainers or continue the common idea.
To successfully run this structure, it takes an interpersonal relationship, which should not be factually sober but rather family orientated. Family orientated in this context means, that you can also discuss interpersonal issues. Thus an understanding for the other respective human side can be developed over time, in order to learn how to respectfully deal with the other. And if a more deeper personal form of relationship develops, because ideas and the like match, then this is a basis for a long-term relationship - but still no family!